For Jean Fischer, Kobe is more than a beloved rescue dog. He is a reminder to slow down, appreciate the everyday and never judge a dog by its breed. We speak to Jean about style, love, rescue and the lessons she has learned from living alongside her extraordinary Staffy.
How would you describe your style?
Jean Fischer: “I’m still trying to figure out my own style and it’s constantly evolving, and definitely influenced by whatever I’m currently obsessed with on Instagram. I like being comfortable, so maybe a little bit of Sporty Spice? I always tell myself I’m going to wear more colour, but somehow I end up in neutrals every single time. Makes an outfit feel instantly more sophisticated. That said, as a dog mum who mostly works from home, I’m in loungewear 99% of the time.”
Pretty much anything I post of him goes viral. Understandably, looking this handsome.
What inspires your content?
Jean Fischer: “I originally started creating fashion content by sharing my OOTDs, basically outfits I was already wearing and then decided to turn into content. But surprisingly, it was interior content, especially my DIY projects, that really took off and brought a lot of new people to my account. I usually see something I love from another creator or on Pinterest and then try to recreate it in my own way. And then Kobe came along and now he’s become the star of the show. Pretty much anything I post of him goes viral. Understandably, looking this handsome.”
How did Kobe become part of your life?
Jean Fischer: “In 2024, my fiancée and I were looking for a bully breed at our local shelter. Originally, we were hoping for a girl, but the shelter workers recommended a very special male dog who could be perfect for first-time dog owners like us. Kobe had already been at the shelter for a year. He was an incredibly easy and lovely dog, but because he had a terminal malignant tumour and nobody knew how much time he had left, he didn’t have a single applicant. He was five at the time. So even before we met him, somehow we already knew we had to give this dog a chance. And then we saw him and that was pretty much it. I guess it was fate, too. I had always imagined having a “blue” American Staffordshire Terrier one day. I just never imagined that he would come into my life with quite such a story.”
He really doesn’t seem to waste a second worrying about tomorrow. There’s definitely a lesson in there somewhere.
What makes Kobe so special to you?
Jean Fischer: “I honestly don’t think Kobe knows that he’s sick. As far as he’s concerned, he’s just living his best, and extremely spoiled, rescue dog life in Berlin. So what amazes me most is how incredibly strong he is. He has already outlived the vets’ initial estimation of his life expectancy by a year. He really doesn’t seem to waste a second worrying about tomorrow. He just enjoys his walks, sniffs, naps, treats and being cuddled. There’s definitely a lesson in there somewhere.”
Has Kobe changed your everyday life?
Jean Fischer: “Absolutely. I always thought I was a proper extrovert who loved being out and about, surrounded by people and having plans. Turns out, I absolutely love being at home with just my dog (and fiancé, obviously). I will now happily cancel plans to stay home with Kobe and I don’t feel guilty about it.”
You never really know how much time you have with the people, or animals, you love. So why waste it being mad when you could be enjoying the moment instead?
What has Kobe taught you about yourself and life?
Jean Fischer: “Knowing that his tumour isn’t fully curable and that things could potentially take a bad turn quite quickly has taught us not to take a single day with him for granted. It sounds cliché, but he really has made us appreciate the everyday things, a walk around the neighbourhood, a lazy Sunday afternoon, lying on the sofa together. And he’s also taught me not to stay angry at someone for too long. You never really know how much time you have with the people, or animals, you love. So why waste it being mad when you could be enjoying the moment instead?”
Have you experienced prejudice because of Kobe’s breed?
Jean Fischer: “I’d say maybe 10% of the people we meet on the street are nervous or negative towards him because of his breed. The other 90% absolutely adore him. They call him handsome, want to pet him and usually end up completely obsessed with him. Because he also LOVES every person. I try to educate people wherever I can, especially when it comes to the different bully breed names. Kobe is very often generically called a “pitbull”, even though he’s an American Staffordshire Terrier (mix). But honestly, once people meet him, the stereotype usually disappears pretty quickly. It’s hard to be intimidated by a dog whose main ambition in life is apparently to be as close to you as physically possible.”
I’d love for people to reverse that. Get to know the dog in front of you. You might just find the biggest softie underneath all those muscles.
What do you wish people knew about Staffies?
Jean Fischer: “I wish more people knew how affectionate they are. They have this strong, muscular appearance that can make them look intimidating, but most Staffies I’ve met are incredibly loving, sensitive dogs who thrive on human connection. Kobe, for example, would happily spend the entire day pressed against me, or at least until he overheats. Also, Staffies have a very unique way of playing. They can sound absolutely terrifying, growling, making all kinds of dramatic noises, while actually having the time of their lives. Once you get to know them, you realise that what sounds like a dog fight is usually just two idiots having fun. I think people often see the breed first and the individual dog second. I’d love for people to reverse that. Get to know the dog in front of you. You might just find the biggest softie underneath all those muscles.”
