Meet Beanie: the fluffy face of Co-op Insurance

In May 2022, we partnered with Mars Petcare to find a fluffy new face for Co-op Insurance. Lots of delightful dogs and cool cats applied, and we had a great time watching the entries roll in.

We were looking for a pet that caught our eye, whatever their size, shape or breed. Our winner was chosen by Co-op Group CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq, with expert assistance from her husband and their twin daughters.

After some spirited discussion, they landed on our wonderful winner Beanie – a 3-year-old golden doodle from the Isle of Wight, who had a cheeky smile that won them over.

Beanie won a photoshoot, the photos from which were used in Co-op Insurance marketing activity over the following year. We also sent her a hamper of toys to say a big thank you.

Beanie’s entry photo, look at that smile!

Beanie lives with Martin, Jane and their daughter Grace, so we caught up with Martin to learn more about her life.

"Beanie joined our home in May 2019. As a puppy, she looked like a teddy bear. Before her, we had a border terrier called Poppy for nearly 14 years. It was very difficult losing Poppy, but after having a dog for so long, there was a space in our lives.

"Once we saw Beanie, we fell in love with her on the spot! She was cuddly, fun, confident and no trouble to train – she’s a quick learner. My best tip for new dog owners is to train them early using consistent and simple commands."

Martin had lots to tell us about Beanie’s personality, describing her as a mischievous, energetic joker who makes the family laugh every day. If she wasn’t a dog, he thinks she’d be a human toddler, which gives you an idea of her energy and curiosity.

When asked about Beanie’s cheekiest moment, Martin replied: "The time she took an entire homemade pizza from the worktop and ate it!"

It’s clear that Beanie is a real part of the family, cuddling the people she loves (her favourite activity) and joining in with any dancing on her hind legs.

When she’s not dancing or soaking up lots of cuddles, you can find Beanie running on the beach and into the sea, which has some extra benefits for Martin and Jane.

The long walks around the beautiful Isle of Wight keep them active and getting plenty of fresh air, while Beanie’s personality always makes them smile.

Beanie's photoshoot

So, we know she’s a champion pizza stealer, but how did Beanie find being a supermodel for the day? “The photoshoot went well," said Martin. "The photographer, Simon, is clearly a dog lover and won Beanie’s friendship quickly.

"He was worried she might not like the flash but she was completely unfazed. She was more nervous about getting onto the paper backdrop, but we got her there with plenty of treats and encouragement!"

Once Beanie felt comfortable in front of the camera, she was a natural and our photographer Simon got lots of great shots for us to use.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to Martin, Jane and Grace for entering Beanie to the competition, letting us take over their living room for the day and taking the time to answer our questions.

Finally, a big congratulations to Beanie, who was a worthy winner and did herself proud as the fluffy face of Co-op Insurance!

If you have a dog or cat of your own, why not check out Co-op Pet Insurance? We cover old, new and rescue pets too (modelling experience not required!)