According to Canadian pet photographer Weiler, the secret to getting great photos of your dog is to make it fun and full of "high-value rewards." Now, these can actually be different depending on each individual dog. But the rewards are worth their value in gold if it means that your dog will be well-mannered on the big day of the important photo shoot.
"What motivates your dog? If it is treats, get the best tasting treats you can find and use these to reward your dog for good behavior. Even better if you can do a little training each day before you require a certain behavior. You’ll be so much happier with the result on the big day, and your dog will thank you for all of the opportunities to earn tasty treats!" Weiler told Bored Panda.
We were also curious to find out what faces dogs make when they're 'smiling' like we are. " What we call a dog smile is actually a relaxed mouth, usually with a bit of their tongue hanging out. It is different from the very stressed, tense closed mouth and the opposite which is the long, dangling tongue hanging out of the mouth," Weiler, the pet photographer, explained.
"So, the dog smile occurs when the pup is relaxed, happy, and confident. It goes without saying not to put your dog in situations that make them nervous or uncertain. At this time of year, that can mean prickly tree branches, rustling paper, and please, do not wrap them up in lights. Wait them out. Sometimes, dogs will really focus on you if you are asking for a certain behavior, for example ’sit,’ and watch you intently with a closed mouth. Just pause for a bit and you might find that they will relax and that little smile will show itself," the photographer said.
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Remember to keep in mind that your dog is a member of your family: you wouldn't force your kids to take a photo if they didn't want to, so don't pressure your pet either. The PDSA, the UK's leading vet charity, explains that there's a "ladder of communication" when it comes to dogs and how they deal with stress.
For example, turning away, pawing someone away, or walking away could indicate that your dog is slightly stressed. Meanwhile, creeping or having its ears backs shows elevated stress levels. While growling and snapping show very high levels of stress. Keep an eye out for these to see how your pet feels about having their picture taken.
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Keeping your dog well-behaved and feeling good during your holiday photo shoot can be a challenge. But it’s important to stay playful and accept any mistakes that happen as they come along.
After all, your dog doesn’t really understand what photography is or why it needs to look ‘presentable’ and stay still. To your dog, what you’re doing probably looks like a fun game (or something incredibly tedious, from the expressions of some of these pets).
Enlisting the help of a squeaky toy or a snack can work wonders. Especially if your dog is well-trained and listens to your commands. All the while making sure that the lighting is alright, the angles are good, and that everyone looks happy in the portrait.
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At the end of the day, there’s no such thing as a ‘perfect’ Xmas photo. But the goofy pics that you take with your dog messing everything up might just make for the most memorable snaps that you’ll be showing your friends over and over and over again.
We think it’s time to redefine what ‘perfection’ means and to fully embrace our ‘ruined’ photos (and our best boys and girls).
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