THEY are the furry fashionistas who earn megabucks for looking unbearably cute.
Pet influencers are big news on Instagram, which means lucrative contracts from major brands.
Even Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton has got in on the act – by signing his British bulldog Roscoe up for pet modelling and getting paid more than £500 a day.
Layla Flaherty set up pet modelling agency Urban Paws (urbanpawsuk.com) in 2015 and represents 2,500 animals, from cats and dogs to parrots and llamas.
The average rate for one of her models is £650 but some have earned five-figure sums.
Layla, 37, who lives in Liverpool with her Yorkshire terrier Mr Buttons, says brands love real animals that people can relate to, rather than posh pooches and coiffured kitties.
She says: “The most in-demand pets at the moment are mixed breeds, followed by the classic breeds, so it’s Airedale terriers, Jack Russells and the family breeds like labradors, retrievers and cockapoos.
"With cats, it’s always a moggy, a mixed-breed domestic cat.
“Models need to be well-trained and socialised and able to work with actors.”
Layla says some owners can be competitive when it comes to the careers of their precious pets, but welfare is always the top priority.
She says: “You do get some divas. Just like the dance mums, there are pushy pet parents.
“If we feel someone is in this industry for the wrong reasons or pushing their dog too much, we have to put the animals’ welfare first and refuse to work with them.
"Thankfully most of our dog mums and dads are just more than happy to see their pets reaching lots of people.”
Here, four proud owners tell RACHEL SPENCER what life is like when a canine’s career takes off.
Kenny: £650 a day
HE was found as a stray aged seven, suffered nightmares and PTSD and has been diagnosed with autism.
Kenny’s owner Jane Tooms, 50, who adopted him from the Dogs Trust, believes he was previously kept locked away for many years.
Now 11, Kenny’s love of routine and sharp focus means he is a great model.
The Parson Russell terrier has a personal trainer and uses a treadmill, goes to a doggy dentist every six months and has monthly coat strips.
He has worked with Kit Butler for H&M, plus campaigns for Reebok, Aldi and energy company Equinor.
Jane, from York, says: “Kenny didn’t have a nice life to start with and was taken back to the shelter many times.
“But we revolve our lives around him and take him everywhere, including the sports store where we work, so he’s finally settled.
“He’s a typical scruffy terrier but calm and placid. He loves wearing costumes and can sing on demand, shake paws and do a high five.
"I’m so proud of how he’s recovered, from having nightmares to being so happy and being a supermodel.
“It’s like a fairytale ending for a rescue dog.”
Barry The Puggy: £200 a day
LOVEABLE Barry has worked with Pets At Home, Virgin Media, Sky Bet, Spotify, Firebox and Carpetright.
Owner Nicole Lane, 32, from Birmingham, works in customer services and spends hours during days off chatting online to his 85,000 Instagram fans all over the world.
Six-year-old Barry does not know any tricks but is calm and loves posing, so it is always easy to get the perfect shot.
Nicole says: “I love spoiling him and he has around 30 different harnesses and bow ties.
“He generally lives a very normal dog life, so his day is made up of walks, cuddles, snoozing – and posing for Instagram.
“For his fourth birthday we had a pool party for 40 of his friends in a luxury Georgian manor house, with dogs on inflatables.
“We raised money for Zoe’s Place, a local baby hospice.
“My proudest moment was a photoshoot for Ava pet food, which is specifically for pugs.
“He was such a pro and took 20 minutes to get the shot.
“Every time I go in Pets At Home I look at it and think, ‘I can’t believe it’s Barry’.”
Rupert Bear: £500 a day
WHEN Rupert the cavapoo hears a camera click, he knows it is time for some tasty cheese or chicken.
Owner Karen Power, 43, from Portsmouth, says he loves posing and staring into the camera.
She decided to join a pet modelling agency after his Instagram page took off.
Rupert, three, whose diet is mostly fresh food, has worked with Marks & Spencer, Not On The High Street, yappy.com and Fetch.
Karen, who trained to groom the fluffy pup herself and takes him everywhere she goes, likes to “twin” with him, meaning they have 30 matching outfits.
Rupert, who has 25,000 Instagram followers, has a further 100 bandanas and bow ties of his own.
Karen says: “We got Rupert after my children had grown up and he is my world. Managing his social media and modelling is a full-time job, and he’s so eager to please.
“He loves people and posing and focuses intently on the camera.
“Our favourite job was when he had to eat spaghetti and meatballs sitting at the table of a posh London restaurant.
“People were stopping and taking photos of the shoot.
“Seeing him in the Christmas Marks & Spencer advert was such a proud moment.”
Lily, Boris, Mr Darcy: £800 a day
THIS trio of impeccably trained golden retrievers have modelled for Dyson, Sainsbury’s, Vax, Ruffwear, Purple Bricks, Barbour, More Than Insurance and Primark.
The family, who live with owner Suzy Cole, 28, in West Bridgford, Notts, comprises mum Lily, eight, and her pups Boris, five, and Mr Darcy, two.
Suzy, a property developer and dog walker, has taught them tricks including walking backward on their rear legs, “say your prayers”, balancing on the base of her feet and hopping as if injured.
When they are not modelling, the three dogs, who have nearly 30,000 Instagram followers, love splashing in mud and streams and even have their own bathroom and blow dry station.
Coats are kept in top condition with a raw egg with each meal and they have 50 outfits, including Christmas pudding and Easter bunny suits, plus bandanas.
They often go off exploring with Suzy and her boyfriend Aaron in their camper van.
Suzy says: “We have been in the Arctic, in sub-30C temperatures, watching a pod of 20 orcas and humpback whales from a boat.
“They’ve seen the Northern Lights, been on a gondola in Venice and raced with us down a mountain skiing.
“With their modelling and travelling, I’ve even had people say they wish they were our dogs!”
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