Think your adorable pooch has star power?
The cuteness factor isn't enough to get your pet on camera. Although the right look is paramount, temperament and training also figure in to which animal gets cast for a modeling job.
Dogs should have some obedience training. At a minimum, they have to be able to sit and stay. There's extra credit if they can bark or lie down on command. They also need to be at ease in an unfamiliar environment filled with strangers, lights and possibly unexpected noises.
Cats? They're trickier, since they can't be trained like dogs. Show cats, well socialized therapy cats and cats that are used to being on a leash tend to be best suited to camera work.
The animal's color also plays a role. Photographers say that black cats and dogs don't show up as well in images because their dark coats absorb the light and make it more difficult to distinguish their features.
Have an unusual pet? There's less competition, but also less demand. Debi Pool's agency, Animal Talent Pool, has provided hamsters, mice, snakes and fish as well as bulls, cows, chickens, roosters and sheep for commercials.
