Breed: Springer x Cocker Spaniel (Sprocker)
Date of birth: 05/05/2023
Gender: Male
Neck circumference: 41cm
Chest circumference: 62cm
Base of neck to base of tail: 64cm
Height to shoulder: 32cm
Weight: 18kg

Toby has two settings: full speed and photogenic. Occasionally both at once. A Springer x Cocker Spaniel cross (known affectionately in breed circles as a Sprocker) he has inherited the Springer’s boundless forward momentum and the Cocker’s instinct for charm and his owner describes a dog who is most himself when someone is paying attention to him, which on a professional set is precisely the quality that matters most. He is black with a white chest and chin, a colouring that gives him a dapper, almost tuxedo-like quality, and he carries himself with the unself-conscious confidence of a dog who has yet to walk into a room he didn’t immediately improve.

The Sprocker emerged as a deliberate working cross in the UK, pairing the English Springer Spaniel’s drive and stamina with the Cocker’s more compact frame and finer nose. Gamekeepers and wildfowlers favoured the combination for its versatility in the field and the resulting dog tends to be athletic, highly trainable and socially at ease in a way that neither parent breed quite achieves alone. The Cocker’s Hollywood credentials are well established – the breed’s most famous screen outing remains Lady and the Tramp – while the Springer’s eagerness and expressiveness have made it a recurring choice for advertising campaigns requiring a dog of infectious energy. Toby draws on both traditions and adds his own considerable personality on top.

Toby’s natural charisma and love of attention make him a director’s ally in any production that needs a dog who genuinely performs rather than merely tolerates the process. He thrives in front of the camera, gravitates towards people and brings an expressive, animated quality to whatever he is doing. His confidence in new environments and with unfamiliar people suits fast-moving commercial shoots where there is little time for extended settling. Family dramas, energetic advertising formats and any content requiring a dog with visible personality would find him a natural fit. His striking black and white colouring gives him a graphic quality that works particularly well on screen.

That tuxedo colouring photographs cleanly and boldly across a wide range of backgrounds and lighting conditions, making Toby a versatile subject for both studio and location work. His enthusiasm for human interaction means he engages naturally with whoever is behind the camera, producing the kind of genuine expression that styled shots rarely achieve. Pet food and treat brands, outdoor and adventure lifestyle companies and family-oriented consumer campaigns would all benefit from a model whose energy is as evident in still photography as it is in person. As his training develops, his repertoire will only broaden. The foundation of confidence and sociability he already possesses is exactly what the rest is built on.