The trick to a good dog photo (also works with cats) is grabbing their attention, and the easy way to do that is with treats or their favourite toy. If you want you can position them in the best light with the best background (although I tend to just react when I see a good photo opportunity), ask them to sit or stay (ok, this might not work with cats!), then ask that they focus their attention on the treat or toy. It’s much easier than photographing humans who will likely be thinking “get on with it, ugh I hate smiling like this” because your dog is thinking “OH MY FREAKING GOD IT’S MY BALL AND I WANT IT!”
You can get the “looking majestically into the distance and not at the camera” look by getting someone else to hold the treat / toy / ball off to camera left somewhere, or using those ball throwing sticks and gesturing to throw it.
I think I’ve posted this before, but this is a good example. We’re halfway through a ball throwing game here, and I’m gesturing to throw it again.
I’m not very practiced at using a camera one-handed. I think that is my biggest problem WRT dog pics. Plus my dog is not safe to let off the leash.
Yeah, that was a phone photo which is much easier. I use the volume button on the side to trigger the photo, so it’s easy to one-hand. When I’m using the DSLR which can’t possibly be one-handed, I use different techniques, or get another person to get their attention. I’ll often photograph them while they’re doing something specific or predictable (like running towards me) so I know what to expect.
Nesrie
3040
If I had a good read on my what kitty (kitties) like at any given time I wouldn’t keep buying better food vets and friends convince are higher quality only for them to reject it, or toys I keep tripping over that provide less entertainment than the cardboard box they came in.
Perhaps when I am older and less prone to last minute desires to go somewhere, I will have a dog again and enjoy a little more predictability than I have now. My lil sister’s dog freely comes with her now, and he’s a pretty easy cute keeper that marginally gets along with the cat if they engaged at all. He’d be fairly photogenic except he broke his shoulder, and it’s a hit or miss when it comes to pain or limping.
My mum swears by those little feather toys - they’re like a handful of feathers tied together, either loose or usually on a stick with string hanging around the house. Of course every cat is different but she’s had quite a few and reckons they’re the most popular. Boxes are the ultimate “hands off” toy though. She’s just recently got a rescue bengal (a cat, not a tiger I’m assuming) and it took a while to come around, but the ol’ feather toy gets plenty of attention.
We’re lucky in that we have in-laws to look after our dogs when we go away, and failing that we have some good kennel and pet sitter options for emergencies.
Skipper
3042
Now that is a great pic. “Throw the ball, dad. Dude, come on!” You can hear it almost. Plus it looks like they are smiling.
Thanks.
Oh, they are! They’re never happier than during our ball playing sessions. They’re super affectionate dogs in general, but ball playtime is THE BEST. I’ve had to buy two separate ball flingers because Bolt is super competitive (and a lot faster) than Ursa. But this way I can throw Bolt the ball one way, and Ursa the other way. Funny thing is, Bolt will often grab his ball and be most of the way towards Ursa before she grabs hers, he’s just ridiculous. But when they play chase, he’ll moderate his speed to stay just slightly ahead of her. It’s fun to watch.
My dog is overenthusiastic about chasing balls too. She will hurt herself, and come back limping. (Our yard is kind of lumpy I guess.)
Nesrie
3045
For Shadow, it’s wands. It’s his favorite toy by far, but it also requires a vessel to use, that would be me. He also knows I don’t really do subtle, so over the years he’s found ways to really, really let me know it’s time to play like what he did last tonight.
Line all three of them up between my office and my bedroom forcing me to step over or on them. I don’t normally have more than two out at a time, and I keep backup to avoid devastation but he managed to hide one after the move making me think only two made it so I produced another… and there they are, three wands just waiting for me.
Lamalo
3046
I think this photo I took nearly four years ago is my best one. He’s just looking outside at some bird allowed me to get real close to his face with my phone.
Poor fellow is sick now, crying every time he leaves his sandbox and licking his privates. Taking him to the vet.
Skipper
3047
That is the type of pet picture we don’t get to see often. “Hey mom, play time maybe? Mom. MOM. HEY!”
That’s also very intelligent thinking by Shadow. He knows your path through the house. What’s fun is how well they adapt to our schedules and plan on it. Waiting at the door when you arrive. Going to rooms before you do because they know when you usually do. In bed and waiting for you before you head there, etc. Pets really are a blessing for us all. I’m so happy to share life with mine.
One of our dogs will get her toy and bring it to the door and wait on either me or my girlfriend to arrive home. So if you happen to be home when this happens, she’ll suddenly not be in the room. You round the corner and see her standing, holding her toy in her mouth sitting at attention at the back door, just waiting. She’ll sit there for quite some time. It’s so cute. Then when the door opens she does little spinning circles and though she’d been quiet up to that point, she starts squeezing the squeaker for the toy with her mouth. her excitement is so contagious.
Lamalo
3049
Seems like it, vet gave him some antibiotics. No worms, fleas or anything like that.
Nesrie
3050
You know. I love cats, and I grew up with way more animals than that. I wouldn’t give up my kitties for he world, but I do miss dogs. I had one kitty that would wait for me to get home, either because he knew the time or heard me arrive but that was just a means to escape because I turned him into an indoor kitty to extend his life.
Your dog sounds adorable, and yeah they learn our behaviors for sure. Shadow adjusts his behavior almost immediately when I adjust mine, even shifting his wake-up times from when I commuted to the stay at home and work stuff. The wand though, never had a cat drag them around like he does. I woke up this morning with one draped over me too.
LeeAbe
3051
One of my girls had a UTI last year. She perked up within 24 hours of the antibiotics. Hopefully you see results quickly.
I was going for the debonair look here, but I think instead she’s looking rather quizzical. Probably because she was wondering what I was going to do with the other ball in my right hand. :)
Lamalo
3054
Better, though sleepier than normal. Tomorrow is the last day for the antibiotics.
Lamalo
3056
This his him sitting on my jacket passively objecting me heading out for work.
Hard to believe he could fit into my helmet over four years ago.
