‘Dogspotting’ Is A Group Where People Share Only The Best Unexpected Encounters With Dogs (50 New Pics)

Bored Panda got in touch with Toronto dog photographer Karen Weiler to learn more about how to approach dog owners if you'd love to take a picture of their pet. Weiler was kind enough to walk us through the right etiquette in these situations.

"When you want to approach someone to photograph their dog, you want it to be natural. Your goal is to have an easy conversation that makes it easy for someone to say yes. So, even before you approach someone, take a moment to observe what they are doing," the professional photographer explained that it's essential to slow down and perceive what's happening around you.

"Are they in the midst of a training session, perhaps trying to teach a new skill or correct a behaviour? Don’t interrupt. Have they just arrived at the park and the dog is busy looking for the perfect spot to do his business and take in all the sniffs? Let them settle before approaching them. Do they seem to be avoiding people/dogs in general on this walk? There is probably a reason and you don’t want to be a cause of stress. Today is just not the day," she shared some of the things to keep an eye out for.

"Of course, if you see someone who is relaxed with a happy dog, you need to strike up a conversation. The easiest way is to give them and/or their pup a genuine compliment. Be specific. Saying something like, 'What beautiful markings on your dog!', or 'I see how well he walks on a leash—you must have done a lot of training,' is so much more warm and inviting than something generic like, 'I love your dog.' Most people will respond positively."

Then, based on the dog owner's reaction, show some personal interest. Ask them about their pet's name, breed, and age. "The trick is not to make it sound like an interrogation, but simply have a conversation. Generally speaking, people love to talk about their dog," Weiler told Bored Panda.

"After that, you need to ‘pitch’. Something simple like: 'I’m a photographer (point to your camera) and I love photographing dogs I meet on walks. Would you mind if I photographed your dog?'" she gave some spot-on advice on how to approach this.

"Be prepared to explain what you will do with the photos. For example, is it part of a project to publish on your blog, or will it be shared on Instagram, or even submitted to someone else for publication? Whatever it is, be honest. Now, wait for the answer. If it’s a yes, go ahead and photograph their pup, show them the results, and offer to send them the photo! If it’s a no, respect their decision. Thank them for their time and move on. I find it rare that someone will say no, but when they do, I know that there are plenty of others who will say yes," the Toronto dog photographer explained.

According to Weiler, there are a few things that you should definitely be aware of and careful about. For one, you shouldn't come up behind someone and startle them. Something else to avoid doing is approaching the dog or petting it without asking for permission first. "Safety first. So, generally speaking, I don’t ask someone to take their dog ‘off-leash' for a photo if they were not already running free—I teach the person how to hold the leash so that I can remove in Photoshop."

Bored Panda was also curious about how photographers, professional and amateur alike, can gain the trust of a dog they just met. "If you’ve been given permission to photograph the pup, ask the human if there is anything you need to be aware of. Move slowly and use a calm voice when greeting the dog. Always ask before offering any treats. You can show the dog your camera and let them sniff it," Toronto dog photographer Weiler said.

"Work with the person to gain the dog’s trust. The pup trusts his human and will look to them for cues as to whether this situation is good or not. So, let the person handle their dog —ask them to position their dog where you want him rather than doing it yourself. Let the human ask for a sit using commands and/or hand gestures the dog already knows. Of course, praise and/or treats work wonders in getting a dog to work with you.

According to the team running the Facebook group, ‘Dogspotting’ in and of itself is as much a sport as a lifestyle. The premise is very simple: you spot random dogs, you take a photo, and you share it on the Facebook group, making the 1.8 million members’ day that much brighter. 

Created all the way back in late February of 2008, it sometimes feels like ‘Dogspotting’ has been a part of the internet forever. Considering how much people love cute animal pics, we’re pretty sure that the social media project still has a long and bright future ahead of it. (Here’s us hoping that our Benevolent AI Overlords love dogs as much as they do cats!)

Before you start taking hundreds of photos and posting all of them all over the ‘Dogspotting’ feed, there are a few rules that new members have to be aware of. Most of them are very common sense things like treating everyone else, including the moderators and administrators, with respect. That includes not pushing your beliefs on anyone, as well as avoiding posting distressing content.

When it comes to the actual content that you post, originality is king. ‘Dogspotting’ is all about photos of random dogs that you see live, in person. It’s not about resharing cute dog pics that you might find somewhere online (no matter how awesome and soul-healing they might be). Meanwhile, if you’d like to share pics of your own dogs or dogs that you know, you can post those pics on the ‘Dogspotting Society’ Facebook page, instead.

Moreover, dogs that you spot in places where there are bound to be dogs, like at the vet’s or an animal groomer’s, don’t really count as spots. There has to be an element of surprise and the unexpected in your photos! In other words, don't go for low-hanging fruit.

You have to approach the entire lifestyle with an open heart, not a calculating mind. Likes, comments, and views are all very well and good, but they’re not the main focus. Having fun and engaging with the community is the point! In short, be original. Be kind. Be the type of person your dog thinks you are. 

What’s more, you shouldn’t take photos of service animals, even if you get the owners’ permission. The mods and admins remind the members that they should only post pics of members of the Canidae family of animals. That includes dogs, foxes, wolves, jackals, and coyotes. However, jokes about Snoop Dogg, the rapper Pitbull, and various random animals with the caption “this is a weird-looking dog” don’t count as quality content.