I’m thrilled to be able to share a new and FUN session with you, featuring two of the sweetest Aussies! Meet Evie and Owen! Evie is the older sibling while Owen is the puppy, and that certainly comes through in both of their personalities – but they have more in common than they have differences, and both of them were very happy to be out and about for their photo session. I can’t say that I blame them, I was just as excited – this was one of my first sessions since March when I could finally be behind the camera again! :)
We started off at Coronado, in order to create a portrait with the San Diego skyline in the dogs’ background. I’m happy to say that after a bit of getting used to the pier, and realizing that good obedience would earn then lots of treats, the dogs were happy to pose for us! And after just a few photos, the “stationary” portion of the session was over already – because we packed up and headed to the beach, where these Aussies came ALIVE! I’d venture to say that the beach is their happy place. :) And while they’d never actually been to the particular beach we visited in La Jolla before, you would have never known – they knew exactly what to do! No sniffing around and getting a feel for the place was necessary; they knew sand + water = fun. They were like energizer bunnies – no off button! It was great to see them have so much fun running around, and as a result we have a lot of action photos of these pups. I’m betting they would have played all evening if we would have let them!
Evie & Owen have an incredible bond, too. They are both social dogs and wanted to say “hi” to other dogs we saw at the beach, but what blew me away was how they always happily came back to each other. They truly enjoy each other’s company and are just adorable companions.
This photo session was a great way to start getting back into the swing of things! We had such a nice afternoon and it was just a perfect reminder of why I do what I love.
Let’s start with one of my favorite images – with the San Diego skyline! (With a photo like this to start off with, come on, you know we had a great session!)
I could watch them run around at the beach all. day. long.
A pet photographer’s dream, these two!
And as much as I loved photographing them as a pair, their individual portraits came together beautifully as well. I’ll include a couple here for an extra-large sneak peek than what I normally do, since I know their parents have been waiting patiently for this blog post! Evie gave us no shortage of outtakes…
… and Owen was extra-curious about the treats we brought!
Dianne & Ann, thank you for such a lovely time! I cannot wait for you to see the rest of our images!
This is an exciting post, because it’s the first post-COVID session I get to blog about! I’m so happy to share one of my very first photo sessions back, especially since it features these two adorable Australian shepherds, Crystal and Sky! Sky is a 1-year-old, 70-lb welcoming committee who just can’t help but love everybody. He’s a big, bouncy boy! His older sister, Crystal, is on the complete opposite of the spectrum in many ways – most noticeably in energy level. She is 15 1/2 years old, taking things at a slower pace, and is unfortunately battling bone cancer – which ultimately was the reason for this photo session. I made sure to give her plenty of extra attention and to make her feel as special as possible. Both of these Aussies are such sweethearts!
Crystal and her mom’s bond is indescribable. They have been very close since day one (literally) and I’m so glad I was able to witness their connection. I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen a bond that strong before, and let me tell you – it was truly beautiful! I wanted to be with them and soak up their calm, peaceful energy all day. We decided to have the photo session at their home to make it as easy as possible for Crystal. And thankfully she rewarded us with some lovely poses & expressions while she relaxed in the backyard & garden.
Sky, on the other hand, wanted to take things a bit faster! He wanted to show me around the whole yard and run around for a bit. Plus he was quite put out when it was Crystal’s turn for photos – I mean, it’s confusing why you have to share the spotlight when you’re that handsome. It was a bit of a challenge to balance their different energy levels, but we made it work just fine. And I think it’s safe to say that the Aussies’ favorite part of the session was when the Vienna sausages and goat cheese came out! Neither dog seemed to mind working for those, haha!
This is Sky. Look at that handsome boy… such a good dog. Even if he is a little silly. :)
And this is Crystal. See her one blue eye? What a special girl.
This turned out to be such a lovely afternoon. Dori, I’m excited to share all of the images of your beautiful Aussies with you very soon!
This is a rare kind of blog post! I don’t normally share “sneak peeks” for my Puppy Plan clients – but then again, most Puppy Plans don’t get interrupted by coronavirus! I am so disappointed that this pandemic has interrupted my time & planning with several amazing clients – and certainly not least of all on that list are Maple & Waffles, adorable Maltese puppies from San Diego. This boy-and-girl sibling pair are the CUTEST little fluffs, and we visited Windansea Beach for our first session in the Puppy Plan. While they were a little trepidatious about the water (hey, I don’t blame them, Maltese dogs weren’t built for swimming!) they quite enjoyed running around the sand and enjoying the view from the safety of their mom’s arms.
So I’m happy to introduce you to these pups – and to give their mom a peek at a few photos for now, until we can finally get together and go through the rest together in person!
They may have been new to the beach scene, but they sure figured out how to strut their stuff pretty quickly!
Good dogs and a beautiful beach – what more could you ask for?!
Colleen, I can’t wait until I can finally see your adorable kiddos again! I hope quarantine is treating you well!
Times are undeniably strange these days during the coronavirus quarantine. Days are starting to run together, and I think just about everyone is missing social interaction! I’ll admit that I’m feeling just a tad bit stir crazy – maybe you are too? Thankfully, I’ve come up with a few fun ideas that may keep you and your pup from too much boredom. Since we all have a bit of extra time on our hands these days, let’s go ahead and embrace this 1-on-1 time with our dogs!
New Puzzle Toys!
I’m not sure if I know any dog that doesn’t love a brand spankin’ new toy! Interactive treat toys like a puzzle toy can keep them entertained for quite a while. A treat toy like a Kong that can be filled with different yummy things is another great start – did you know you can fill it with peanut butter (or their favorite treat of choice) and freeze it? It’ll take them a lot longer to work on after it spends a few hours in the freezer. I’d say that’s a win-win for everyone!
Another suggestion I have is to rotate toys throughout the next few weeks. For example, this week use only let them play with a handful of their favorite toys, and then next week put those away and put out a totally different selection instead. Mixing it up keeps things fresh!
Muttropolis, a pet store in San Diego, has a ton of unique toys to choose from to keep your pet busy. HERE are all their interactive toys in one place, which is probably where you’ll want to start. Take a look and treat your dog while supporting a local business (which is so important to do right now)! Did you know they’re also offering free shipping or curbside pickup, whichever you prefer?
Also – do you have a backyard to play in? If so, have you ever introduced your dog to a bubble toy?!
Get Active!
How about going for a quick walk or jog? Getting fresh air isn’t only beneficial for your pet, but also for you!
As our beloved animals watch us spending more time at home, perhaps glued to our computers or iPhones trying to stay connected on social media. Perhaps our love for them can be our reminders for us to put down the phone for a few minutes and get some fresh air.
The benefits we receive would be much needed vitamin D & exercise “while keeping our social distancing” and our doggies would be delighted to get more exercise, smell the spring flowers and can collect the smells of the day. Some countries have reached the point where all movement outside is restricted, but even in those places walking the dog is allowed as an essential exemption.
Our pets are our greatest teachers in uncertain times, learn from them. It’s simple; love one another.
I love that perspective! How true! Zen Pet is one of the top pet sitting & dog walking companies in San Diego, so Denise knows what she’s talking about.
Alternatively: do you have stairs in your house? Put them to use and tire your dog out by jogging up and down the stairs together, or maybe tossing a ball up a flight to fetch. (Safely, of course! No tripping over each other or tumbling down the stairs!) It’s not only a workout for them, but for you too! I’m willing to bet that you’ll both get a good nap afterwards. :)
Training
Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks? (Or re-learn the old ones he/she should already know?) Training and working on obedience is a great way to bond and make use of the extra time you get to spend with each other. Click HERE to get a list of some fantastic ideas on different tricks to work on to get you started!
The incredible trainers over at Specialty Dog Training in North County are suggesting one specific skill to work on:
Name recognition and focus – it is so important for your dog to love their name, respond to it consistently, and focus on you instead of the millions of distractions around them. By having strong name recognition, you’ll be able to get your dog’s attention and they will respond better and follow commands better when they are tuned-in and focused on you.
Click HERE to see their tips on exactly how to work on name recognition at home right now. (They also list some pretty incredible deals they’re having right now!)
Or: have you ever tried to set up a makeshift agility course in the living room? If not, I highly recommend it! You can keep it simple by having them jump over the couch cushions or go through a blanket you set up as a barrier. Successfully completing an obstacle course will definitely help boost their confidence!
Games
One of my personal favorite games that I play with Bailey is “find the treat!” It’s super simple – I let her sniff a treat, have her sit & stay, I then go hide the treat somewhere in the next room in a place that’s mildly challenging to find. Then I call her, she searches for the treat, and eventually she finds it & we celebrate! This is a great way to work on some obedience while also giving her some positive reinforcement. Bailey is allllll about treats and would probably agree that it’s her favorite game too!
I hope these ideas spark some inspiration during this trying time. Not to mention provide a bit of distraction too; reading the news can be a scary way to spend time these days, but dogs have an amazing way of centering us in the moment and reminding us to simply be happy. And who couldn’t use more of that right now?
I’d love to hear how you are passing the time with your pet while you’re both in quarantine! Stay safe, everyone!
“Siblings (n.) A combination of a best friend and a pain in the neck. They might be the most annoying people around you but you still love them endlessly.” – Anonymous
Simon and Aoife have what I would call the typical brother-and-sister relationship. Aoife is the older sister who seems to roll her eyes and put up with her brother’s antics, whereas Simon couldn’t be more of a younger brother – he’s mischievous, playful, and downright impish. (If Aoife could talk I think she’d agree with me, haha!)
Aoife is a mixed-breed terrier and has a beautiful Irish name, which is pronounced “EE-fah”. She was actually rescued off the streets of Mexico and adopted soon after her dad moved to the United States. It’s so cool to see the bond that Aoife and her dad have developed, since they’ve been together for quite some time now! She is about 13 years old now and is just a sweetheart with a calm, easygoing personality. You can tell that she’s very content and doesn’t need a lot of fancy things… just her dad. (And it’s good thing she’s such a happy girl naturally, because she doesn’t get to play with a lot of toys – her younger brother steals them all!)
Simon is a golden retriever and is the baby of the family at two and a half years old. If he can get away with it, he’ll do it. So even if he already has a great toy, any toy Aoife has (or is eyeing) is better and he feels the need to take it. Of course, right? And since he’s bigger, stronger, and faster, he can! But what I noticed about their relationship is that it’s not like he’s the boss or a bully to her – that’s not the dynamic at all. They actually get along great and accept each other for who they are as siblings. (Which is a pretty great lesson for people too!)
For our photo session, we started in the studio because their parents wanted that classic aesthetic; the studio lets dogs shine and brings out their natural beauty, with no visual distractions. Aoife is one of the most unique-looking, beautiful dogs I’ve ever worked with, so I was thrilled to get her in the studio! She is so photogenic and was happy to pose for us. We had to laugh, though, because their parents were sure that Simon was going to be the “difficult one”. He’s still a puppy and loves to be on the move, which is a recipe for being tricky to photography, but thank goodness: he’s very food-motivated! This helped tremendously and he actually turned out to the easier dog for me to work with! It was a funny surprise and we were all surprised at how well Simon did – really, how well both of them did – for their very first photo session.
We ended up with our fair share of “smiling” photos, but I couldn’t resist sharing this cute dual-head-tilt moment. (I must’ve made the weirdest sound just then, haha!)
We then moved onto Del Mar Beach and made the most out of some slightly cloudy weather! I think Simon may have been the happiest out of all of us since he got to let loose and had plenty of room to run around; he was living his best life. We all had a great time!
Erika & David, thanks for such a fun afternoon! I’ll see you both again very soon!
