Breed: Bernese Mountain Dog
Date of birth: 21/10/2024
Gender: Female
Neck circumference: 50cm
Chest circumference: 77cm
Base of neck to base of tail: 63.5cm
Weight: 34kg

General Description

A fifteen-minute walk with Lorelai has a habit of turning into a full hour, because strangers simply cannot pass her by. Known affectionately as Rory, she treats every outing like a red carpet, greeting each new admirer with a sweep of her tail and a soft, knowing look that says she is well aware of how lovely she is. Her tri-colour coat – deep black marked with rust and clean white – frames a gentle, open face, and though she has the grand frame of her breed she still carries herself with the bounce and mischief of a puppy.

Bernese Mountain Dogs descend from working farm dogs of the Swiss Alps, brought over the mountains by Roman settlers more than two thousand years ago and prized for pulling carts and guarding flocks. That heritage of steady, willing labour lives on in Rory’s calm, cooperative nature. The breed enjoys a devoted following today: Irish President Michael D. Higgins keeps Berners at his official residence, while Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn have posed as Mr and Mrs Claus alongside their own pair – fitting, given how naturally the snowy, sledding image suits the breed.

On set Rory is a reassuring presence. She keeps her composure under pressure, welcomes handling and grooming from unfamiliar faces and responds well to hand signals and non-verbal direction. She travels comfortably, works happily outdoors and around water and shrugs off the hoover without concern. One note for the diary: sudden claps or bangs can occasionally prompt a bark, so a heads-up before any loud effects keeps her settled.

Rory’s size paired with her sweetness makes her a natural comfort figure on screen, the loyal giant who grounds a big-hearted family feature or a heartfelt advert. She lies down on cue, holds a settled stay and props her paws up on an object when a scene calls for her to lean in, all with an unhurried calm that the camera loves. Her Alpine roots open a seasonal door too: trained to pull a small cart or sled, she is tailor-made for festive campaigns, winter tales and any snowy set where a grand, good-natured dog completes the picture.

There is range beyond the tender beats. She speaks on request for a watchful or announcing moment, ducks under and around obstacles with surprising agility for her build and hops confidently into a car boot, which suits road-trip stories and rural adventures. Comfortable in a GoPro harness and experienced with motion capture, she can also underpin fantasy and creature work, where her stature lends a mythic, storybook quality.

In the studio Rory is a seasoned hand, having posed for the camera since puppyhood, and she is unfazed by professional lighting and flash. She obliges a photographer by holding her position and staying composed between setups, which lends itself to large-breed pet food, supplement and bedding brands after a dog who looks both regal and huggable. Her sumptuous double coat is a gift for grooming and coat-care labels, and she wears clothing, hats and festive accessories with easy good humour.

Her real flair, though, is for people. A born meet-and-greet dog with a genuine social following, she shines at live events, in-store activations and brand-ambassador work where charm and patience matter most. Steady with props and reliable during product placement, she brings a wholesome, feel-good warmth to lifestyle and homeware shoots that few models of her scale can match.