Cute dogs abound on commercials and TV. If you’ve ever seen an adorable dog celebrity, chances are you’ve glanced at your own pet and wondered what it would take to get him on the red carpet. An incredibly cute dog is of course, important, but there’s a lot more to it than just being cute. If you want to make your dog a model or actor, here’s what you need to know.

Social skills are important

Perhaps the most important skill a dog actor or model will need to have is a good attitude. Your pet needs to enjoy working with other people, not be too high strung, and to enjoy busy and active situations. If your pet doesn’t really like strangers, other animals, or new situations, they are not a good candidate for acting.

Start training!

Lots of dogs are cute, but if they can’t perform they won’t make a good doggie star. The more tricks your dog has up his sleeve, the more likely he is to be picked. Teach your dog all basic obedience, as well as fun tricks such as jumping through hoops.

A useful trick is to teach your dog to go to and stand on a marker. That way they can be faced away from you if needed, and positioned the way the photographer or crew wants.

Join a Talent Agency

Their are hundreds of pet talent agencies all over the world. This is where you will need to submit your dog’s portfolio if you want them to perform. There are lots of scam agencies out there, so if they demand any kind of up front fee to have your dog’s photo submitted, run away!

Keep your dog’s photo updated, and if he learns any new talents keep those updated as well.

Don’t push it

Sometimes, your dog won’t like a certain thing. They may prefer to be a model rather than an actor, or prefer the engagement of acting over sitting around and having their photo taken. It’s important to be sensitive to their needs, and not push it if they don’t want to do something.

If acting is too much, they may prefer to do another sport entirely. It’s okay to let them relax with a little scent work or a round of agility if they’d rather not be acting. If they really don’t want to act, you’ll know.

They might have their tail up and wagging when its time for modeling, but drag their feet when asked to do performances they know by heart. If they’re very shy, they may not like any part of performance at all, and would prefer to stay home.

Sets can be a crazy place full of noise, activity, and fun. If your dog loves to be the center of attention he’ll be wild about joining the fun. In general, you’ll know what your dog thinks of acting after working with him for a little while, and know if acting is the right choice for him.