MINTO – A rescue terrier from Minto might be the region’s top dog at the moment after a starring role in a Canadian Super Bowl commercial.
Hiccup is a 12-year-old terrier mix owned by Angela Ewtushik and Rick Rauwerda, operators of Harriston-area dog boarding and training business R&R Pet Paradise. He showed off his acting chops in a commercial for credit score company ClearScore that aired on Canadian airwaves during the Super Bowl.
In the commercial, Hiccup disapproves of his owner’s suggestions to save on money including cutting back on dog jerseys, collector’s edition mini-footballs and trimming the snack budget.
“I’m pretty lucky, Hiccup is the complete package plus he has the look … that TV, Hollywood look, you know the scruffy Benji-looking dog,” Ewtushik said in a phone interview.
“He’s got personality, you see it just looking at him.”
Ewtushik got Hiccup 11 years ago when he was one from a Manitoba-based rescue organization.
This isn’t Hiccup’s first foray into the world of commercials having done work for companies like RBC, CIBC, Petsmart, Lysol and Toyota, but Ewtushik said this role is definitely Hiccup’s biggest and first time as the main focus.
“Normally in a commercial the actor is the main part. Say they shoot maybe half a dozen scenes, the dog might be in two of them whereas this one Hiccup was actually in every scene,” Ewtushik said.
R&R Pet Paradise is no stranger to having well-trained dogs with a dog show called the Power Paws, involvement with the SuperDogs from the CNE and even an appearance on Canada’s Got Talent with one of their dogs.
Ewtushik explained training a dog for film is a bit different as they have to be able to handle different environments and take commands from different people whereas a lot of dogs get comfortable taking command from their owner.
“Hiccup is very food motivated, so if anybody’s got a treat in their hand or whatever, he knows he’s getting a treat he’ll work for them,” Ewtushik said.
And he worked it for ClearScore, getting two commercials out of him including the football themed one.
Ewtushik doesn’t have cable so she didn’t see the commercial during the Super Bowl but heard from friends it aired sometime in the second half.
“I’m not a real football fan but I was really eager for the Super Bowl this year,” Ewtushik said.
