It all started with the ‘Stupid Pet Tricks’ segment on the popular late-night TV talk show Late Show with David Letterman for Hero. The trip to New York City was a resounding success that saw the famous talk show host chuckle approvingly at the Border Collie’s antics when Hero blew soap bubbles on cue.
Now, Hero and his owner Sara Carson have set their sights on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. At only 17 months old and 18 years old respectively, the dynamic young duo is taking the pet-loving community by storm.
Having trained the family dog, Maple, to compete in provincial level competitions and win titles including Agility Dog of Canada and Expert Trick Dog, Carson was ready for a new challenge, and in November 2011, she adopted a little eight-week-old Border Collie puppy she named Hero.
“He is the most outgoing, smart and just all around amazing dog,” she writes on her website. Together, they have accomplished far more than she ever imagined – including the appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in November 2012 as well as another on Animal Planet later that same month.
If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere
For the Letterman show, Carson and Hero traveled from their small town of North Bay, Ontario, to the Big Apple, and it’s all captured on video, including a hilarious sequence with Hero lolling around in his hotel room bed.
Now, they’ve set their sights on another popular TV talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Carson has started a Facebook campaign featuring a photo of Hero holding a sign that reads: Help me get on Ellen. The plan is to get as many ‘Likes’ as possible to convince the showbiz folks that Hero deserves a spot on the show.
Any dog can be great
A professional dog trainer, Carson wants to use Hero’s growing fame to help spread the message that dog training is a fun opportunity to bond with your pet.
“The reason I want to get my dog on Ellen is to show the world that any dog can be great, any dog can be extraordinary” says Carson. “And, that spending quality time with your dog is important. Doing more with your dog not only strengthens your bond, but allows for you to have fun with your dog doing activities they enjoy.”
“Being on Ellen would also show the world that if you put your mind to it…you can honestly do anything. I am 18 years old and I have been on ‘Animal Planet’ and ‘David Letterman.’ My dog Hero is only 17 months old and has accomplished so much in just one year.”
Carson plans to complete her ‘Quest to get on Ellen’ by spreading the word on social media and is just putting the finishing touches on a video that will provide an additional source of encouragement for Ellen, including “reasons she should have my super Hero on the show.”
Reward the good, ignore the bad
As a professional dog trainer, the main piece of advice Carson offers to dog owners is “to just have fun with your dog. Patience and consistency are key for actual training, but you need to keep rewarding the good and ignoring the bad.” Sounds like a good advice for humans, too.
