“She was the firstborn,” says Lena Dunham of Ingrid, her eight-year-old Mexican hairless pug. “I was single. I was living in New York. I was by my lonesome. It was post-breakup. I needed a little buddy and a companion.”
A friend who knew Dunham had a soft spot for hairless creatures—her mother is allergic to cat hair, so the family had kept hairless cats—sent her photos of a hair-free pup living at A Purposeful Rescue, a Los Angeles shelter. People were, Dunham says, “losing their minds on the internet over this dog”—perhaps a slightly exaggerated description from the woman over whom people actually have lost their minds on the internet. There was some back-and-forth, but eventually the dog—”the size of a loaf of bread”—was flown across the country in a blue onesie covered in a banana print, and that was that.
Photographed by Emilia Staugaard
“The first night, I tried to put her in a crate, because I know that’s the correct dog-owner thing to do,” says Dunham. “And she cried, so I took her out, and she fell asleep on my chest and she slept for 14 hours. And she’s slept for 14 hours in that position every night ever since.”
Of course, there have been changes in Dunham and Ingrid’s lives in the years they’ve spent together: a transatlantic move; a marriage (for Dunham); a bestselling memoir, years in the making; a rehearsal-dinner speech heard round the world. Most important of them all, however? The adoption of a new companion—the five-year-old Cornichon, a half-Havapoo, half-Chinese Crested dog—by Dunham and her husband, the musician Luis Felber.
Cornichon (or Corni, as he’s known) entered the household (which now also includes pigs named Victor, Cherry, Lila, and Leslie) about one week after the Dunham-Felber nuptials. Dunham admits to haunting the adoption message boards, where she encountered “Dobby” (as Corni was then known) living in the Welsh countryside. He was “this little guy with no hair on his body but a perfect bob haircut,” says Dunham. “And somehow, in the fever blush of early marriage, I got Lu to rent a car and drive up seven hours to Wales.”
Naturally, there was the matter of nocturnal real estate to settle: who would bed down where, specifically. “The first couple of nights they slept on either side of my body, like my body was the dividing line in a war. And then on the third night, I came into the room and they were facing each other with their arms and legs wrapped around each other.” Now, Dunham and Felber wake up to this scene every morning. “I sometimes joke that Ingrid is my dog and Cornichon is her dog.”
A hairless dog is not, Dunham will acknowledge, everyone’s aesthetic ideal. “Drunk men in England on a Friday night will really make their opinions known,” she says. But it’s appealing to her that her creatures elicit such strong reactions. “It’s a real litmus test to see who sees Ingrid and Corni and is absolutely charmed, and who sees them and is absolutely revolted.”
Ingrid has a number of health challenges (skin issues and the like), so she, especially, can be confronting. “I understand that it’s a lot for people to take in,” Dunham says. “But at the same time, I’m not going to force her to wear a shirt.”
That idea—of being yourself, no matter what kind of reaction it gets—may be the underlying, if inadvertent, through line of Dunham’s public career. But to hear her tell it, to be Ingrid’s guardian has been as powerful a lesson in perseverance as anything else Dunham has experienced. “I’ve dealt with health things and Ingrid’s dealt with health things. And she’s just so … dogged. She has arthritis and joint issues. She had to have a big operation in order to remove cysts on her back. When she was very young, she had one eye that didn’t have tear ducts, and so it had to be connected to her salivary gland to save the eye.” Through it all, Dunham says, Ingrid has been nothing but determined and joyful. “And it really changed the way I dealt with my own illness.”
Vogue: What is your dog’s best quality?
Lena Dunham: I think Ingrid’s best quality is her sense of humor. And Cornichon’s best quality is his loyalty.
Who would voice your dog in a movie?
Ingrid would be voiced by the late, great Louise Lasser. And Cornichon would be voiced by James McAvoy.
Describe the voice you use to talk to your dog.
I’d say the voice I use to talk to my dog is kind of like the one Lily Tomlin used for a character called Edith Ann, who was this weird little kid. I do an Edith Ann voice specifically for Ingrid. And Lu’s voice when he talks to the dog is much more like David Attenborough. He’s doing this grand narration, while I’m really getting down to their level.
What is your dog’s weirdest nickname, and how did you come up with it?
Ingrid’s nickname is “Chanchita.” Chancha is a Spanish word for a female pig, and then it turned into Chanchita, which means “little pig.” Then one time I googled “chanchita” and found a cartoon called La Tiendita de Chanchita, which is like “The Little Store of the Little Pig.” Now we always talk about Ingrid’s store and what she sells. It changes every day. We have this whole story about how Cornichon was managing the money at the store, but he made mistakes, and now they’re broke. There’s a lot going on at La Tiendita de Chanchita. Sometimes she’s also called “Ingy Pingy” or “Ingrita,” which became “Ingritita,” which became “Ingritititi.”
Cornichon is called “Corni” on a day-to-day basis. He’s also called “Chon Chon.” “Cornholio” is one he gets a lot. But usually just “Corns.”
Where is one place you wish you could take your dog?
I wish we could take them to the top of Machu Picchu, because it’s a place Lu loves. Also, we love going to Peru because one of the most popular dogs there is called the Peruvian Inca Orchid. They’re hairless dogs, and you see them in all sizes and all different breeds. So we’d go there and think: You guys aren’t weird! If you came here, you’d see all your friends.
Where is the strangest place you’ve taken your dog?
We bring them to a lot of places that are considered naughty for dogs. I remember the moment I thought, “I can’t believe we’re here together!” was when Ingrid and I went to Wales together to do some re-shoots for Industry. We stayed in this hotel in the middle of Cardiff. It’s a tall, glass hotel, and there was a huge, crazy storm. The window panes were shaking, and Ingrid was growling and screaming. I was like, “I’m sorry. I know you wanted to be at home and not in this high-rise in Cardiff, but I promise you, something great’s going to come out of it.” And then we ended up moving to England, and now she’s a British girl.
England is much less “no dogs allowed.” We take them to our local French bistro at least a couple of times a month and all sit in this half-moon booth together. There’s a great restaurant called Bellanger in London, and they’re so good to the dogs. We went for our anniversary, and they brought each of them a little stack of steak. We sit there, and they sit between us, and sometimes Lu will tie a napkin around their necks, which really kills me.
If you could tell your dog one thing, what would it be?
I guess what I always want them to know is that I’ll always come home to you. Every time I pack my suitcase, Ingrid gets so despondent. Sometimes she gets inside it. She can’t settle down. She gets so worked up. Every time Lu leaves the house, Corni gets upset. I just want to say, “We’ll never leave you.”
What is the most human thing your dog does?
Ingrid doesn’t have a tail, and we later found oThat’s because she doesn’t have a tailbone. She sits kind of like an old monk meditating—she rolls back onto her butt. One time, Seth Meyers posted a picture of her and said something like, “That’s not a dog. That’s a weird little man in a dog suit, and he’s been conned.” And honestly, that’s exactly what she looks like when she sits like that.
I’d say the most human thing Cornichon does is sometimes in the morning, he’ll lie down next to you and just stare deep into your eyes. It’s like he has this moment where he’s overcome with romance and needs to have a deep eye stare. And I’m like, “Your gaze is searing, it’s too much for me, and I need to look away.”
What’s the most dog thing your dog does?
Sometimes Corni will lift his leg without realizing Ingrid is sniffing around, and he’ll pee on her head. I don’t love that. And the most dog thing Ingrid does is roll in fox poop to the point where we have to wash deep inside her ears because the smell is so strong. At the end of the day, she just can’t help it. We see it happening and we scream, “No, no, no, no, no!” But Ouai makes dog shampoo and it smells amazing. So after eight doses of Ouai, she smells like a beautiful influencer.
Questions for the dogs:
Lena Dunham: Do you two even know your full names?
Ingrid: Of course I do—I’m Ingrid Dunham de Felber!
Cornichon: What’s a name?
It’s what we say when we want you to stop barking at e-bikes.
Cornichon: Ohhh… no, still don’t get it.
Well, it’s Cornichon Browne Felber.
Cornichon: But I’d say I’m more caramel-colored.
Let’s not split hairs.
Ingrid: Especially because we don’t have very much hair!
What’s your sign and do you relate to it?
Ingrid: I’m a Virgo, like your beloved grandma. That’s why I’m SO cozy.
And Corni, you’re a Taurus, like me!
Cornichon: What? I’m not a tourist, I’m a London boy!
You have a whole big box of toys you never play with—why?
Cornichon: Because my favorite toy is Truman.
He’s not a toy, he’s a cat.
Ingrid: Same difference.
Photographed by Emilia Staugaard
Ingy, what’s your favorite snack?
Ingrid: NOT olives. I hated that olive so much I almost ran away.
Photographed by Emilia Staugaard
But I didn’t offer it, you stole it.
Ingrid: You can’t steal what’s already yours, and I own this place.
Worst habit?
Ingrid: I am perfect—an angel, if you will; a model; an influencer AND a philanthropist. But Corni is always noshing on his own butt like that’s a normal thing to do!
Cornichon: You’re one to talk, you wet the bed!
Ingrid: I did that THREE times and it was because mum was “dating” and the guys were in my freaking space.
Photographed by Emilia Staugaard
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic of Lena Dunhams hairless dogs and the life lessons shes shared about them
General Background
1 Wait Lena Dunham has hairless dogs What breed are they
Yes she does She has two Chinese Crested Hairless dogs Theyre a breed known for having hair only on their head feet and tail
2 What did she say her dogs taught her
Lena has said that caring for her dogswho require a lot of special attentiontaught her to stay calm be patient and keep going even when things get messy or difficult They helped her manage anxiety and accept imperfection
3 Why would a hairless dog teach someone about staying calm
Hairless dogs are highmaintenance They get sunburned cold and have sensitive skin that breaks out easily You cant rush their care routine Looking after them forces you to slow down focus on the present moment and handle daily challenges without losing your cool
Care Practicalities
4 What are the biggest challenges of owning a hairless dog like Lenas
The biggest challenges are sun protection temperature control and skin care They also need regular bathing and moisturizing which takes time and patience
5 How does caring for a dog with skin problems help you keep going
When your dog has a skin flareup you cant just fix it overnight You have to stick to a routine of washing wiping and applying lotion It teaches you that progress is slow and that you have to keep showing up every day even when you dont see immediate results
6 Are hairless dogs good for people with anxiety
They can be Lena has talked about how her dogs needs forced her out of her own head Because the dog relies on her for survival it gives her a sense of purpose and a reason to get out of bed which is a common grounding technique for anxiety
The Mindset Philosophy
7 What does staying calm look like in practice with these dogs
It means not panicking when the dog gets a scrape or a rash It means accepting that the