Yesterday was supposed to be Harlow’s big break.
He had been asked to go to an ad agency downtown to do a photo shoot for a really big pet product brand. Naturally I was hesitant to agree to this. I mean I don’t want to sound selfish or anything, but I’m supposed to be the star of this family. I’m the one who has been working tirelessly going to auditions and trying to get an agent hoping one day I’ll “make it.” Yet it was Harlow who booked his first big gig- without even trying I might add.
So like the good stage mom I am, I said okay. Of course Harlow was ecstatic. Let’s not kid anyone here, the guy is a total attention whore. Yesterday he was full of demands before the shoot. Bathe me, scrub my ears, brush my teeth, give me turkey meat, more turkey meat, now a cheese stick. … Again, I’m a good stage mom so I let it happen.
Harlow was so concerned about looking good he actually tricked me into thinking he was going to be a little bit professional about this whole thing. And that got me excited. If one of us was going to make it I guess I could accept it being him. I could live in his shadow for life, I’ve already done it for the past three years anyway.
But I was wrong about the whole professional thing.
I knew things were going to be bad when we got into the elevator in the building and Har just started going crazy. Not like a scared crazy, just a crazy-crazy. A vizsla-crazy. He’s been on elevators before, all city dogs have, but for some reason yesterday he started jumping on the walls and barking at the buttons.
When we got off on the floor of the ad agency Har ran straight for the front desk and put his paws on it looking for treats. He thinks that every time we go somewhere he just has to put his paws on a counter and he’ll get a treat. And because we live in Lincoln Park, that’s typically the case. Every business serves dog treats. And they reward his bad behavior because “he’s just so cute,” or so they say… Speaking of bad behavior, Harlow isn’t exactly well trained… He used to be. Kind of. But he’s a jumper. That’s pretty much my fault though because when I walk in the door I kind of encourage it, what can I say I like Harlow hugs. And who am I to judge, I’m not exactly the best trained human, I don’t always stay when people tell me to, so whatever.
After he made his presence known to everyone in the office, truly everyone, we were guided into a room with a white backdrop. The photographer showed us some example photos of what he was looking for, “just a relaxed chill look,” he said as Harlow ran full on zoomies around the small office, pausing only to jump on the chairs and desk, a look of pure excited mania in his eye.
Here’s the thing about Vizslas, they’re not chill or relaxed. They are crazy. I love Harlow so much and will never stray from having a Vizsla, but they cray. I regularly get asked if Har’s still a puppy because he still has that clumsy puppy energy. He’s going to be four in two weeks.
As you can imagine, he didn’t sit in front of the white backdrop and pose nicely. He did anything but. I tried treats, I tried commands, I tried sitting in front of the backdrop nicely myself, but nothing worked. He was tossing his big break down the drain and he didn’t even care. I think every shot probably looked like this.
And then after all of his running around, he got super diva like and demanded he be brought an ice cold glass of water. With a lemon.
And also a good neck rub.
I’m not supposed to mention the brand he was shooting for (just yet) but if his shots get chosen you’ll be seeing his mug all over the place on product packaging. Sadly, I think we all know this won’t be the case.
I guess not all dogs are cut out to be model-dogs. Not this guy anyway.
You had one job, Harlow. Just one.
Haha. I hope we do start seeing Harlow all over the place! But mine would be the same…have to say hi to everyone and she's diva at home so give her starlet status…and there's no going back.
My cousin's pitbull is 8 and people still assume he is a puppy. He is a maniac and a lover so all he wants to do is play and give you a good lick. If only all boys were like that…
It was all just too exciting, Harlow couldn't handle the pressure. I think after a few more gigs Harlow will calm down and become a natural. It will be like "a photo shoot? Oh I do those in my sleep".
HAH thats awesome! I hope he gets picked!
Hahahaha that last photo!
Awe I hope they choose him!!! My Aunt and Uncle had a vizla and he was cray cray also. They ended up rehoming him because they couldn't handle him. Needless to say they haven't gotten a new puppy since then but they aren't real cut out for dog people anyways!!! I didn't think Buster was really that bad but whateves!
how can dogs be chill??? both my dogs are nutso and I like them that way (most of the time). I do hope he gets picked. We all want to see!
I love the picture of Harlow with undies on. I always put human clothes on my dog.
After seeing the last picture, I think Harlow's true calling is Calvin Klein underwear modeling! I'm sure he didn't want to lower himself to just pet products.
Dying.
It's like when people think Floyd is a sleepy, innocent angel. Not in the least. Most recently evidenced by the fact that he's taken to NOT walking and lays down in the street in the middle of the neighborhood. Divas.
Harlow is so funny! I have a GSP and a GSP mix and they are both crazy too.. and jump. Oh, you're not supposed to tell them to hug you when you get home? OOOps.
Bahaha, love this post SO much!
Harlow for the wiiiiin!
What a diva
That last shot is just plain awesome. And I totally let my dogs jump on me when I walk through the door too. Oops…maybe we're not supposed to, but how can you resist their wagging tails and puppy eyes?
Who doesn't love puppy hugs at the door? Watch them pick the craziest picture of him for their packaging haha
Its like they know they are supposed to be good and then all hell breaks loose! Hope he makes it big!
I think he just realized that YOU are supposed to be the star of the family.
How are you suppose to be chill when you're in a brand new place with all these new people to meet and things to smell.
Aww, that would have been so fun!
This post. So good! This is Matilda to a T! She expects treats on every counter and is seriously a diva if don't present her with one when she enters your business.
And the jumping. And the craziness. And the people who think she is still a puppy (she's almost 6)….
So stinkin' funny, per usual. "Chill" does not exist in Harlow's dictionary, so they should've gone more along the lines of "sit or no treat or walk."
lovelovelove,
Erica
cominguprosestheblog.com
Oh Harlow what I can I say, well I don't really know what to say so I will say nothing
Haha… Diva dog says the working thing just isn't for him mom.
ha ha ha! : )
bisous
Suzanne
lol that is hilarious, your dog is a diva
Jumping must be a Vizsla thing just like the zoomies. We've never allowed Vino to jump on us and always correct the behavior. Three years later, she's still a jumper :/ Vino is so good at posing, except she tosses her ears back and impersonates Dobby. Every.Single.Photo 🙁