Breed: Cocker Spaniel
Date of birth: 05/02/2025
Gender: Female
Neck circumference: 30cm
Chest circumference: 56cm
Base of neck to base of tail: 52cm
Height to shoulder: 38cm
Weight: 12kg

General Description

Every so often a dog arrives who genuinely adores being admired and Bramble is one of them. Show her a camera and she melts into position as if she has been rehearsing all morning, gazing out from beneath those long silky ears with the soft, soulful expression that has made her breed a national treasure. Her owner describes her as a typical affectionate Cocker who craves attention, poses for photographs entirely of her own accord and regards a tummy tickle as fair payment for a job well done.

Her colouring is a real rarity. Sable Cocker Spaniels carry dark-tipped hairs over a warm orange undercoat, so Bramble’s coat shifts between rich chocolate and glowing russet depending on the light, a finish that gives photographers something new in every frame.

The Cocker Spaniel is among Britain’s oldest gundog breeds, developed to flush woodcock from dense cover, which is exactly where the name originates. Nicknamed the “merry Cocker” for its perpetually wagging tail, the breed has claimed more Best in Show titles at Crufts than any other and has wagged its way through popular culture, from Lady in Disney’s Lady and the Tramp to Lupo and Orla, the much photographed companions of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Off camera Bramble is happy, cuddly and calm. She welcomes strangers warmly, accepts handling and grooming from people she has only just met and pays no mind to hairdryers or vacuum cleaners, so styling between setups runs smoothly. Two notes for the diary: she can be timid around larger dogs and will quietly keep her distance rather than cause a fuss, so bookings alongside big co-stars need a little planning, and flapping fabric such as gazebo canopies is best kept out of her eyeline.

Bramble carries the classic English country look, which earmarks her for period pieces, costume dramas and anything set around a farmhouse kitchen or a stately home lawn. Her gundog heritage shines outdoors: she relishes working in open countryside and takes to water without hesitation, so riverside walks, beach scenes and muddy welly-boot adventures are all comfortably within her range.

She can be placed in position and will settle into a down or a sit on cue, hold a standard stay while the action unfolds and stay quiet on command when a scene demands silence, a combination that keeps takes clean and schedules on track. Her gentleness with children and ease around other animals cast her naturally as the devoted family pet in dramas, soaps and heartwarming Christmas advertisements, while her proven motion capture experience means digital and VFX productions can call on her too.

In the studio Bramble is in her element. She holds a pose under professional lighting and flash without flinching and her aptitude for product placement lets stylists arrange items around her while she waits serenely for the shutter. Because she reliably leaves food alone when asked, pet food and treat brands can shoot packaging imagery with the product right under her nose, a skill that saves precious time on set.

Her autumnal colouring pairs irresistibly with tweed, knitwear and waxed jackets, tailoring her to countryside fashion labels, heritage lifestyle brands and rural tourism campaigns. She wears clothing, hats, glasses and accessories cheerfully, so eyewear ranges and seasonal collections gain a willing mannequin, and her comfort in a GoPro harness invites adventure and outdoor equipment brands to capture a dog’s-eye view of the trail. Add in her love of meeting new people and she becomes a delightful ambassador for live events and exhibitions, greeting visitors with the merry Cocker charm that never fails to draw a crowd.