Breed: Golden Retriever
Date of birth: 05/06/2025
Gender: Male
Neck circumference: 52cm
Chest circumference: 76cm
Base of neck to base of tail: 74cm
Height to shoulder: 55cm
Weight: 32kg

General Description

Cory talks. Not metaphorically; he produces a wonderful conversational grumble on cue, a low, expressive rumble that sounds for all the world like a dog with opinions. Pair it with a proper bark on command and you have that rarest of things: canine talent with dialogue. It suits him, because Cory is the entertainer of our books, a big pale-gold comedian whose idea of a perfect introduction is to amble over and lean his full weight against your legs until someone gives in and cuddles him.

His owner bred the litter he came from and had every intention of keeping a girl – then Cory’s personality happened and the plan quietly collapsed. That sweetness defines him. He is confident and outgoing with people and animals alike, adores children and while his youthful exuberance bubbles between takes, he switches into work mode impressively fast and stays there, with the patience for long sessions to prove it.

He is no stranger to a set either, having shot a campaign for Butternut Box at just fifteen weeks old and taken professional photography, studio lighting and flash in his stride ever since. Loud noises leave him unmoved and even the vacuum cleaner counts as a friend.

The Golden Retriever was engineered as the ultimate soft-mouthed gundog, able to carry game across country without leaving a mark, and Cory puts that inheritance to charming modern use: he carries a basket, holds an item gently for the camera and retrieves from water like the specialist his ancestors were. The breed’s famous “lean” (that full-body gesture of affection golden owners know so well) might as well have been named after him.

Comedy comes first. A dog who grumbles back when spoken to is a scriptwriter’s gift, perfect for talking-pet advertisements, dubbed voiceover content and sitcom reaction beats where the family dog gets the last word. His lean transforms into scripted affection on demand (flopping against an actor’s legs, lying flat, rolling onto his back or side), which fills tender scenes in dramas and tear-jerking charity appeals without a single retake.

Behind the humour sits a thoroughly drilled professional. He hits a mark, places an item, works positionally, sends away and takes direction from across a set, with an emergency stop and strong recall keeping everything safe off lead. His soft-mouth carrying opens up classic storytelling business (fetching the post, delivering a basket, presenting the crucial prop), while hoop jumps, tug of war and confined-space work stretch his range into action and adventure territory. He is also motion capture ready for digital productions.

Put a mattress under Cory and watch him earn his fee. A 32kg retriever who lies flat, sprawls on his back and settles on his side on cue is purpose-built for bedding, mattress and sofa campaigns, and his pale colouring glows against linen whites and soft greys. Family lifestyle, home insurance and household brands get the archetypal gentle giant, while his comfort in clothing and with a GoPro adds knitwear ranges and adventure content to the menu.

His carrying skills give art directors a moving hero shot and his target-trained nose and paw touches let him interact with items precisely where they need him. At meet and greet events he is a pure crowd-pleaser, leaning into every new friend and offering the occasional grumbled remark. For double-dog bookings he can also appear alongside his housemate Alfie, our patched Dalmatian, an instantly striking pairing of spots and gold.