An affectionate companion
Hedley frontman Hoggard loves Mud; just don’t put the pooch near a suitcase
Most adoring pet owners would do anything for their cherished companions, but could they speak for their furry or feathered or finned friends and tell us what they are thinking? To find out, we’re putting pet owners to the test with the personality questionnaire made famous by French novelist Marcel Proust. Meet Jacob Hoggard and Mud. As the lead singer of Canadian rock band Hedley (currently on a 28-city cross-country tour), Hoggard’s latest collaboration involves two of his greatest loves — music and Mud.
Hoggard outfitted his German hunting dog (part Munsterlander, part Pudelpointer) with a GoPro — dubbed the “Mud Cam”— to capture the behind-the-scenes making of the band’s latest album, Hello. “He’s always with me so to know we could kind of create his perspective was super exciting,” explains Hoggard.
Unlike Hedley’s fans, Mud tends to fall asleep when Hoggard gets in front of a microphone. Rather than a case of Mud’s taste in music, recording forces the self-professed “super kinetic” musician to stay put, which is Mud’s cue to relax. What is Mud’s current state of mind?
Somewhere between peace and just sheer panic. Mud has a lot of energy so every day I take him into the park and run with him for over an hour just so he gets all of his energy out. Which living person does Mud most admire?
Oh man, whenever my grandpa’s around, Mud is sitting right beside him. I think it’s because my grandpa is the most notorious for sneaking him bites of food. What is Mud’s greatest fear?
Inanimate objects. I kid you not. Anything darker in colour — like a suitcase in the middle of the sidewalk will just make him stop and kind of cower, and he’ll slowly walk around it. What does Mud regard as the lowest depth of misery?
The boat ride home — when he’s sitting and he’s all wet after a long day of hunting. Either that or the ride to the beach. We’ll go a certain route and all of a sudden he can see the ocean. That period of sheer anxiety he experiences — knowing in a matter of moments we’re going to be running around on the beach and in the ocean. What does Mud consider the most overrated virtue?
I feel like Mud sees through a lot of external beauty, and I think Mud is attracted to the heart, and to kindness and to the soul. He really is attracted to energy, not so much esthetics. I think it’s a very valuable trait he has. What is Mud’s most marked characteristic?
It’s how affectionate he actually is and he’s very physical. I’ll start scratching the back of his head while I’m driving and as soon as I take my hand away he starts pawing at my hand and reaching for it again — and he’ll just hold his hand on mine. He loves putting his head in people’s laps and loves putting his arm on your shoulder or against you. What is Mud’s motto?
I’m hungry. It’s actually funny because it’s also my motto.