Welcome to Merly TheCosplayDog's Website!
Who is Merly? @TheCosplayDog
From SyFy interview (May 2018):
Meet Merly. She is a 5-year-old Blue Heeler/Kelpie x Border Collie mix who is a Service Dog that cosplays with her handler, Amanda. Merly started cosplaying in the Fall of 2016. Amanda has made over 40 different outfits for her, mainly focusing on Marvel, as that is her favorite fandom. She often makes characters based on upcoming movies/shows or guests that they are going to meet.
Amanda was inspired to begin after attending her first con dressed in civvies at Comicpalooza 2016. Later the same year, Amanda cosplayed as her favorite character, Magneto, from X-Men: Days of Future Past, & Merly went as Deadpool to Alamo City Comic Con. This is when the Merly TheCosplayDog Instagram page had begun.
What is your relationship with Merly & How did you meet?
"I rescued Merly in May of 2015. She was at the Houston SPCA. She hugged me, so I knew she was the one for me. We have a powerful bond. She knows when I am having psychological or physiological issues and will come to me or perform her required tasks."
How did you find out that Merly would like to cosplay?
"I did not know if she would like it, but when I was making her first costume, she posed for me during the fitting process. I had to put it on and off probably a dozen times for fitting. She did not mind at all & liked to get treats after anyway, so she started to enjoy it.
It is interesting to me, though, how she enjoys putting the clothes on. The base costume (consisting of the body, neck, and arms) she gets excited to put on, and will stick her head right through the neck-hole herself. The masks she does not get as excited, but still sticks her nose through. I know Merly does not mind - but I do not like to leave them on too long, because heck, even masks bother me when I cosplay! She does really like posing for pictures for con-goers though, and loves the subtle attention - even though they can't pet her when she is working. Merly seems to enjoy when we have a guest booth because people can give her more attention and check out her prints & merch for sale.
What is your process when you put together a costume for Merly?
Honestly, I wing everything that I make, especially if it is a new concept. When I first started, I made a base pattern for the body pieces. Over time, I have modified & added to specific patterns for new or different cosplays. Working with leather or pleather has to be the most difficult, because it doesn't have much stretch or give any leeway for error. I have to make them perfectly so that Merly has maximum movement for walking and such. Foam armor is a bit of the same issue - but I have gotten the masks, gauntlets, & neck armor down quite well. Wings are a whole different story ;)
What was the most satisfying feeling when taking Merly & your cosplay to a con?
I enjoy the attention that Merly gets the most (smiles in the crowd, etc.). It isn't me that people pay attention to, which is honestly fantastic on my end, because I do not like to be the center of attention to avoid a panic attack. If I am in full cosplay (mask, etc.) that does help a lot though. I don't mind posing with Merly in that case, but I still am not very good with talking. Anyway, I love to see people smiling, pointing, and admiring Merly in her cute costumes.
What was it like to be on AMC's Comic Book Men? What was it like to see Merly on National TV?
It was nerve-wracking for me, since as said above I do not do too well in public or recorded situations. But Merly stayed calm, as she should, the whole time & performed very well on the show. We had a lot of fun, & Merly even placed in the top 3. It was surreal to watch the show when it aired. I have even had con-goers ask me if that was Merly from TV. It is pretty cool that people recognize her.
Favorite celebrity experience at a convention or signing?
I have a few, honestly! My personal favorite wasn't even at a convention. I met Michael Fassbender , my all-time favorite actor, hence my first cosplay being Magneto & my cosplay page called Fassynating cosplay - you can see why it is spelt wrong now ;). I met him at COTA in Austin, and he was extremely friendly, genuine, & had a full conversation with my fiance & I. He even signed my replica Magneto helmet.
But for a convention, I think I enjoyed meeting Ben McKenzie the most - he was charming & said that Merly was "so clutch" when he saw her change from BatDog for her his photo to Dogpool for a photo with his wife, Morena.
A few of my & Merly's other personal favorites were:
Tom Holland - who gets in trouble from the photo op people for petting her too long every time :)
Charlie Cox - who attached Merly's leash to him for the photo!
Drew Powell - who took not 1 but 3 pictures on his own camera with several of Merly's cosplays & shared on his personal page
John Wesley Shipp - who jumped out of his booth and ran to us at the back of his line just to get a picture on his own phone of Merly dressed as the Flash
Karl Urban (2nd fav actor) - who complimented my dress/me & thought Merly was the sweetest
Meet Merly. She is a 5-year-old Blue Heeler/Kelpie x Border Collie mix who is a Service Dog that cosplays with her handler, Amanda. Merly started cosplaying in the Fall of 2016. Amanda has made over 40 different outfits for her, mainly focusing on Marvel, as that is her favorite fandom. She often makes characters based on upcoming movies/shows or guests that they are going to meet.
Amanda was inspired to begin after attending her first con dressed in civvies at Comicpalooza 2016. Later the same year, Amanda cosplayed as her favorite character, Magneto, from X-Men: Days of Future Past, & Merly went as Deadpool to Alamo City Comic Con. This is when the Merly TheCosplayDog Instagram page had begun.
What is your relationship with Merly & How did you meet?
"I rescued Merly in May of 2015. She was at the Houston SPCA. She hugged me, so I knew she was the one for me. We have a powerful bond. She knows when I am having psychological or physiological issues and will come to me or perform her required tasks."
How did you find out that Merly would like to cosplay?
"I did not know if she would like it, but when I was making her first costume, she posed for me during the fitting process. I had to put it on and off probably a dozen times for fitting. She did not mind at all & liked to get treats after anyway, so she started to enjoy it.
It is interesting to me, though, how she enjoys putting the clothes on. The base costume (consisting of the body, neck, and arms) she gets excited to put on, and will stick her head right through the neck-hole herself. The masks she does not get as excited, but still sticks her nose through. I know Merly does not mind - but I do not like to leave them on too long, because heck, even masks bother me when I cosplay! She does really like posing for pictures for con-goers though, and loves the subtle attention - even though they can't pet her when she is working. Merly seems to enjoy when we have a guest booth because people can give her more attention and check out her prints & merch for sale.
What is your process when you put together a costume for Merly?
Honestly, I wing everything that I make, especially if it is a new concept. When I first started, I made a base pattern for the body pieces. Over time, I have modified & added to specific patterns for new or different cosplays. Working with leather or pleather has to be the most difficult, because it doesn't have much stretch or give any leeway for error. I have to make them perfectly so that Merly has maximum movement for walking and such. Foam armor is a bit of the same issue - but I have gotten the masks, gauntlets, & neck armor down quite well. Wings are a whole different story ;)
What was the most satisfying feeling when taking Merly & your cosplay to a con?
I enjoy the attention that Merly gets the most (smiles in the crowd, etc.). It isn't me that people pay attention to, which is honestly fantastic on my end, because I do not like to be the center of attention to avoid a panic attack. If I am in full cosplay (mask, etc.) that does help a lot though. I don't mind posing with Merly in that case, but I still am not very good with talking. Anyway, I love to see people smiling, pointing, and admiring Merly in her cute costumes.
What was it like to be on AMC's Comic Book Men? What was it like to see Merly on National TV?
It was nerve-wracking for me, since as said above I do not do too well in public or recorded situations. But Merly stayed calm, as she should, the whole time & performed very well on the show. We had a lot of fun, & Merly even placed in the top 3. It was surreal to watch the show when it aired. I have even had con-goers ask me if that was Merly from TV. It is pretty cool that people recognize her.
Favorite celebrity experience at a convention or signing?
I have a few, honestly! My personal favorite wasn't even at a convention. I met Michael Fassbender , my all-time favorite actor, hence my first cosplay being Magneto & my cosplay page called Fassynating cosplay - you can see why it is spelt wrong now ;). I met him at COTA in Austin, and he was extremely friendly, genuine, & had a full conversation with my fiance & I. He even signed my replica Magneto helmet.
But for a convention, I think I enjoyed meeting Ben McKenzie the most - he was charming & said that Merly was "so clutch" when he saw her change from BatDog for her his photo to Dogpool for a photo with his wife, Morena.
A few of my & Merly's other personal favorites were:
Tom Holland - who gets in trouble from the photo op people for petting her too long every time :)
Charlie Cox - who attached Merly's leash to him for the photo!
Drew Powell - who took not 1 but 3 pictures on his own camera with several of Merly's cosplays & shared on his personal page
John Wesley Shipp - who jumped out of his booth and ran to us at the back of his line just to get a picture on his own phone of Merly dressed as the Flash
Karl Urban (2nd fav actor) - who complimented my dress/me & thought Merly was the sweetest
Merly in Action
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