My Career as a Dog Photographer...

... seems in serious doubt.

The Lion King

Some people say...

...that I treat my dog like a child.

I don't know where they get this idea.

The Rookie

This is Junket. She's a 12 year old sheep dog.

Um, let me make that clearer. She's the SHEEP'S dog. She grew up with the sheep, lives with the sheep, eats and sleeps with the sheep. She thinks she is a sheep. However, she still barks like a dog, (a big, angry dog) whenever a coyote or other stranger tries to enter the sheep pasture. Which is the whole point.

This is Churchy, a one year old Maremma sheep guardian dog. Churchy will take over for Junket someday in the big pasture.

But first she needs to learn some manners, like not jumping on the sheep or up on the gate when you're about to open it.

Right now Churchy spends a lot of time in a pen with half a dozen easy-going ewes, which is where the rookies learn proper sheep etiquette. Eventually, though, she'll be the dog in sheep's clothing who'll surprise a coyote crossing the big pasture late some night.

The Graduate

For the past eight weeks, I've been taking Trip to a puppy class.

They only other puppy in the class is Trip's brother Ozzy (on the right), who lives with a family in a town a few miles north of mine.

With only two puppies in the class, some liberties are taken. Trip and Ozzy are given a bit of time to say "hello" at the beginning of each session.

This usually starts casually enough...

... but soon leads to a little bit of rough housing...

...and then more...

...and more...

...until finally someone says "Enough!"

And then we have two quiet pups again.

Both pups graduated this week - here's Ozzy's class picture.

And here's Trip's.

One Thing I Hate...

Are dog owners who...

.. don't pick up after their dogs!

Photographing Dogs - II

Aw, isn't that cute! Big old Bon is getting along with little Trip. Let's take their picture. Sit Trip! Sit Bon!

Trip: Didja hear that?!!

Bon: What?
Trip: That funny noise! I think it was to the right!

Bon: Where?
Trip: No! Wait! I think it was to the left!

Bon: Where? Where!!
Trip: Oh wait. Nevermind. It's just the shutter.

The New Dog

Wheeeee!

Ooooh!

Yikes!

Awwww!

Grrrrr!

Whaaaa??

Whoa!

To be continued....

Rotate!

Bon is a long-haired German Shepherd.


She's not much of a "trick" dog.


She'll sit and lay down and stay (if she doesn't see something she'd like to investigate).


But she excels at rotating.

How to Mortify Your Dog

Photographing Dogs

Good girl Olive! Nellie, Zuni! Sit!


Nellie - back up! Sit! Stay! Zuni! Sit!


Zuni - what are you rolling in? Nellie - come back! Olive? Olive?

The Model

Okay - so you've got a new lens...


and you want to test it out...


Why does it always have to be me??