Breed: Havanese
Date of birth: 04/09/2024
Gender: Male
Neck circumference: 33cm
Chest circumference: 38cm
Base of neck to base of tail: 40cm
Height to shoulder: 28cm
Weight: 5kg

Not many dogs can claim a television debut before their first birthday but Bertie Maximus Roberts is not many dogs. His flowing black and white coat, touched with warm brown at the ears and the backs of his legs, frames a face of such expressive intelligence that the judges on ITV’s This Morning Pup Idol placed him sixth out of a thousand entrants and invited him straight back for round two. Inquisitive and deeply affectionate, he has the kind of sparkling personality that photographers and casting directors notice immediately.

The Havanese is Cuba’s only native breed and the country’s national dog, descended from the now-extinct Blanquito de la Habana that arrived with Spanish settlers in the 18th century. Long favoured by Havana’s aristocratic families as a refined companion, the breed found its way to Europe and North America after the Cuban Revolution and has since built a devoted following for its silky coat, sharp mind and warmth towards people of all ages. Ernest Hemingway and Charles Dickens were both known admirers of the type.

Bertie greets the world with curiosity and affection. He is sociable with children and other animals, travels well and has already demonstrated considerable composure on a busy live television set. He also takes instructions in Italian, which feels entirely in keeping with his air of quiet distinction.

Bertie’s television experience and natural showmanship make him a ready-made performer for family entertainment formats, children’s programming and light entertainment productions where a small dog with genuine character is worth its weight in screen time. He recalls reliably, walks to heel, maintains consistent eye contact with his handler and will hold an item in his mouth on cue – a skill he demonstrated memorably when he carried an invitation directly to the Pup Idol judging panel. His comfort being handled by strangers and his ease on set around crew and noise give producers confidence that he will perform consistently across a full shoot day.

His touchscreen interaction ability and agility foundation work broaden his appeal further for interactive or digitally-led productions and children’s content where a clever, responsive canine co-star is central to the format.

Bertie’s most talked-about party trick, drinking from a water bottle in a manner that suggests he is sipping through a straw, is the kind of spontaneous, joyful behaviour that social media campaigns and lifestyle brands spend considerable budgets trying to manufacture. It is entirely natural to him. Coffee brands, soft drink labels, wellness companies and anything positioned around everyday leisure moments would find that single ability alone worth serious consideration.

Beyond that particular flourish, his lustrous coat and compact proportions make him an appealing subject for boutique pet grooming products, luxury accessories and children’s lifestyle brands. He wears clothing and hats without complaint and is thoroughly comfortable being handled by unfamiliar photographers, which keeps shoots moving at pace. His existing social media presence at @havabertie suggests an audience already forming around him before his professional career has properly begun.