I knew I was in for an interesting photo session when I got the very first email from Justin’s dad, in which he described Justin as “kind of a jerk sometimes”! It was shortly followed by Justin’s mom, describing him as “A little piss-ant! But excited to pose for you!” As you can probably imagine, I normally hear my clients describe their dogs as “sweet”, “loving”, “adorable”, etc – but Justin’s parents weren’t pulling any punches! Haha! I absolutely loved their raw honesty – because what dog doesn’t act naughty from time to time? – and I knew we’d have an entertaining time together as we photographed Justin Bieber in all his naughtiness. (Good thing he’s actually pretty adorable after all!)

I know you’re wondering, so I’ll answer the question: his parents aren’t actually fans of the pop star. As it turns out, on the same night that Justin’s mom chaperoned her younger cousin to a Justin Bieber concert here in San Diego, her roommate’s dog (to everyone’s surprise) had puppies. Due to the timing, they named one of those puppies Justin Bieber, and that was the puppy his mom ended up adopting! And he was a completely normal (albeit mischievous) dog until about age 2, at which point he became paralyzed. There was no trauma – it was all natural causes – but unfortunately he lost the use of his back two legs. And ever since then, his parents have accommodated Justin with ramps to their front and back yards, as well as a wheelchair that makes it easier for him to get around. But he’s actually quite capable of getting around on his own; his back half just kind of drags behind his fully-functional front half. So that’s exactly how we let him run loose during our session… and to be honest, he’s actually pretty quick for a dog that only runs with two legs! Something tells me Justin doesn’t actually know (or believe) he’s a handicapped dog; his bright spirit and relentless curiosity tell a different story. So if you meet him, or (more likely) if he barks at you when you walk by his house, just smile and tell him he’s a good boy. Because I don’t know any other little rascal that ignores all the odds stacked against him and still finds a way to light up his parents’ lives the way Justin Bieber does.

Here’s the face of the little “piss-ant” himself, JB. Look at those big, innocent eyes – you can hardly believe he’d do anything naughty! (Trust me, he can. I’ve heard stories.)

Sometimes JB rocks a hoodie. Because he occasionally gets cold… and because it perfectly matches the pretty red flowers in his yard, too!

We went to Balboa Park and played a bit of fetch – and this boy can RUN! It was the most adorable thing to see him propel himself forward with his front two legs, ears and tongue flapping in the wind, while his back two legs dangle behind. I’m telling you, this dog does not know that he’s handicapped.

Christine & David, thank you for introducing me to your incredible & hilarious little boy! I had a great time with all of you, and I can’t wait to get together again soon! :)