Breed: Dalmatian
Date of birth: 24/05/2023
Gender: Female
Neck circumference: 40cm
Chest circumference: 68cm
Base of neck to base of tail: 58cm
Height to shoulder: 62cm
Weight: 25kg

There is no mistaking a Dalmatian in a crowd and Riley is a particularly fine example of the breed. Her bold black and white spotted coat is crisp and graphic in the way that makes photographers instinctively reach for their cameras and her long-limbed, athletic frame carries it with the kind of natural poise that cannot be taught. Independent, highly attentive and, by her owner’s own admission, a little bit nosey, she brings a spark of personality to everything she does.

The Dalmatian’s origins remain genuinely contested. Thought by some historians to trace back to ancient Egypt and by others to the Dalmatia region of Croatia, the breed spent centuries working alongside horse-drawn carriages, earning a reputation for stamina, elegance and an affinity with people that has never diminished. In popular culture the Dalmatian enjoys perhaps the most recognisable screen legacy of any breed, immortalised by Disney’s One Hundred and One Dalmatians in 1961 and a fixture of fashion imagery and luxury brand campaigns ever since. Riley has already put that heritage to practical use, having modelled beds and dry robes for George Barclay.

Warmly sociable with people of all ages and thoroughly comfortable around other dogs, Riley travels well and settles easily into new environments. She responds to hand signals and is patient through extended sessions on set.

Riley’s striking appearance and attentive nature make her a compelling presence in contemporary dramas, fashion-forward productions and any storyline that calls for a visually arresting canine with genuine on-screen personality. She sits, lies down and holds a stay on cue and can be placed in position with precision, giving directors reliable control during dialogue scenes. Her emergency stop capability and solid recall mean she can be trusted in more dynamic sequences where timing matters. The fact that she bows on command is a pleasing bonus for productions that need a theatrical flourish.

Her confidence around children and other animals makes ensemble scenes straightforward to stage and her calm temperament under pressure means that busy sets with multiple crew and equipment cause her no concern whatsoever.

Few breeds carry the graphic impact of a Dalmatian in print or on screen and Riley’s coat photographs with exceptional clarity against almost any background or colour palette. She is already experienced with professional studio lighting and flash photography and her previous commercial work for George Barclay demonstrates that she translates that comfort directly into usable, polished imagery.

Outdoor lifestyle brands, luxury pet product companies and fashion labels seeking a canine presence with undeniable visual authority would find her a natural choice. She wears clothing willingly and meets and greets crew and clients with equal enthusiasm, making her a genuinely pleasant subject to work with across a long shoot day. Her willingness to work with water also extends her range to waterproof clothing campaigns, wellness brands and any outdoor or adventure-focused brief where a spirited and sure-footed Dalmatian adds exactly the right energy.