Dogs have been featured in magazines for as long as magazines have been around. In fact, one of the first ever magazine covers was a painting of a dog! Over the years, dogs have continued to be popular subjects for magazine photographers and artists. Today, we're going to take a look at a famous Great Dane who has graced the pages of magazines all over the world.

I met Sophie through Instagram last December. Like me, Sophie has an enormous love for the Harlequin Great Dane. Sophie is the human mom to Harlie, a two-year-old, yup you guessed it—Harlequin Great Dane. Sophie and Harlie are my international Dane friends, living in London. I saw Harlie being featured on one of the billboards in London’s West End for Mayfair’s Christmas shopping in 2021. At that moment, I needed to know everything about Harlie’s career—how she got started, what training was involved, and what were the biggest and best brands. Harlie's fame also got me thinking about famous Great Danes throughout history. From Scooby-Doo, the beloved animated detective dog, to Marmaduke, the comic strip star, Great Danes have long captured the hearts of millions. Even Apollo and Admetus, the Great Danes aboard the Titanic, are remembered for their loyalty. It’s no wonder Harlie has followed in their paw prints, becoming a star in her own right.

Take a look ....

Who is Harlie Eberjager?

Harlie—stage name Harleen Quinzelle—came to Eberjager Great Danes from the infamous Tamzdane kennels, U.K., and is a 2-year-old Harlequin Great Dane. First and foremost, Harlie is a cherished member of our family who brings us all great joy. She is also a working Assistance/Service Dog trained by Julia Rush from Bosker dogs and myself, and lastly, is a high fashion model within her own rights. While she loves to perform and enjoys socializing in the city, her favourite place—when she isn’t snoozing for 20 hours a day—is the park where she can let loose and run free.

Did you do any special training?

Julia Rush is a huge supporter of positive behaviour training. Over the last two years, she has been teaching us how to ‘owner train’ the skills Harlie needs to perform her duties as a working Assistance/Service dog. She has mastered many tasks such as interrupting an autistic meltdown, exceptional impulse control to retrieving medication, and these skills are very useful in the modeling industry!

Did you plan on Harlie being a dog model?

No, not at all! Harlies main role was to be a working Assistance/Service Dog. She is an exceptionally hard worker, taking everything in her stride, never wavering when her assistance is needed. She is also the foundation dog to our kennel, where we would love to specialize in working assistance/service dogs for families, so falling into modeling was a delightful surprise and a bonus!

How did Harlie get into dog modeling?

We live in Central London, U.K., and the giant park we visit frequently for training and exercise is a popular filming location for lots of TV programs and movies in the U.K. So, initially, right place, right time has been a huge factor in kickstarting her career.

One day, on our usual park walk, The One Show—which is a TV show on the BBC—were filming a warning segment on puppy scams at the height of the pandemic. We were approached by the main TV Show presenter and Harlie was invited to hang around and play in the background for the segment. We were so proud!

We posted Harlies background acting debut to her Instagram account. A few days later, were contacted by a very popular UK presenter, producer and high fashion model, Charli Fisher, via Instagram who invited Harlie to appear in her photoshoot for Glamour magazine. In the height of the pandemic where we were concerned about the lack of social exposure, we were so grateful for the opportunity, so we jumped at the chance.

After her fashion shoot debuted, we were then contacted by the owner of Urban Paws pet modelinging agency and invited to apply. Harlie has been on their books ever since.

How can I get my dog into dog modeling?

Training and socialization are the key elements to kick start your pets/dogs career.

Training and proofing basic commands like sit, stay, come, lay down, move to the mark, pick up, drop, come here etc are crucial so your dog can quickly and consistently follow directions when on set. Remember, so much money has already been spent on the shoot already so nobody wants to wait around for an untrained pet. Further training involving tricks and out of the ordinary commands can elevate interest in your pet.

Socialization is important for the wellbeing of your dog and regularly exposing them to outside stimuli means they will be comfortable and confident on set, so expose them daily to various situations, even as adults. You should never stop proofing training and socializing your dog. Make sure you document all of your dogs achievements, post to multiple social media platforms and begin to search for pet modeling agencies in your area and start the application process.

What brands has Harlie worked with?

Harlie has appeared in Glamour magazine showcasing Cartier, Gucci and Jimmy Choo. She is the face of new company Animal Empawrium and appeared on the BBCs The One Show. And most recently, Harlie promoted Mayfair London as the 2021 Christmas shopping dog for the high-end clothing lines. Giant billboards of her were plastered on the streets of Londons famous Westend. That was a really proud moment! Harlie was also a Breed Ambassador at Discovery Dogs 2021, expertly meeting and greeting the crowds.

What is the earning potential in dog modeling?

Earning potential in dog modeling depends on a range of factors, such as your dogs breed or what type of pet you have and if it is in high demand or displays out of the ordinary talents. Usually, it’s an hourly rate that varies but is negotiated by the pet modelinging agency with the brand on your pets behalf.

How far do you travel?

So far, all of the opportunities have been close to home in London so we haven’t had to travel far yet. Traveling expenses are also covered within the fee. We are currently in the process of arranging a pet passport so that Harlie can fly to other places for future opportunities.

How do you know if Harlie has been selected?

Our pet agency will telephone us to check Harlies availability. If she is available, her profile—among others—will be presented to the company who are interested in hiring an animal. If Harlie is what they are looking for, the agency will contact us to confirm. Otherwise, we don’t hear back and wait until the next request!

Do you know what will be required of Harlie before the day of the shoot?

Yes. The day before the shoot, we receive something called a call sheet. It contains the location, time and expected commands so we can prepare beforehand. We don’t know which company she has been hired by until we get there.

How do you prepare Harlie for a shoot?

It’s a long process, beginning very early in the morning! We head to the local park at sunrise for training, proofing commands we know are going to be required, socialization and most importantly, fun.

We return home for a small snack before grooming begins with a clarifying shampoo, a whitening shampoo, conditioner, teeth cleaning, coat maintenance and nail manicure. This can take over an hour.

We then prepare her travelling case stuffed with various leads and other pet comforts including blankets, bedding, water, toys, baby wipes, snacks, and the most important thing, a slobber cloth!

Does Harlie like modeling and does she perform easily?

Filet Mignon is a huge motivator for Harlie. We pack enough steak and chicken to the amount of her usual breakfast and suddenly, the supermodel is ready to strike a pose!

All of her training aids in the smooth transition from assistance work to modeling. She really does enjoy the attention and meeting new people on set and is always excited for an adventure.

What kind of things can Harlie do?

These commands, alongside her photos, are listed on our pet agencies website where companies can peruse her profile and select her if she is what they are searching for.

This is a comprehensive list of abilities and traits for dogs trained with limited vaccines: they are animal-friendly, cat-friendly, child-friendly, dog-friendly, people-friendly, and can work outdoors, with water, and from a distance. These dogs are also assistance dog trained and capable of performing various tasks, including fetching items, giving paw, going to bed, going to a mark, lying down, sitting, standing, staying, recalling, and speaking/barking on command. They can balance on objects, jump into/out of a car boot, jump up/on/over an object, and perform positional work and product placement.

Additionally, they are trained to be vacuum-friendly, hairdryer-friendly, happy to be groomed and handled, vet-friendly, and can wear pet clothing, accessories, or a Halti collar. These dogs can also kiss, give a high five, look at their owner or at a point, touch items, play ball, and are toy motivated. They are well-behaved and travel well, can be placed in specific positions, back up or rewind, and are trained to work with a harness/lead. With a focus on versatility and adaptability, these dogs are a perfect fit for various tasks and environments.

So, there you have it! A famous Great Dane in the world. Harlie the fashion and therapy dog. She really made a name for herself and brings joy to people all over the globe.

Do you know any other famous Great Danes? Let us know by sending us a message! And be sure to follow Sophie and Harlie on Instagram (@eberjager_greatdanes) or check out their website for more adorable photos and updates!