The main reason why your puppy shouldn’t eat in a moving vehicle is because it may upset his or her sensitive stomach. Puppies are notoriously nervous and they have delicate gastrointestinal systems. By choosing to forbid your puppy from ingesting puppy treats, kibble, or “people food” (which is never good for young dogs), you are doing what is best and most responsible as a pet owner.

When you permit your young dog to eat in a moving car, truck or SUV, you are opening your puppy up to a range of potential health problems, including vomiting, diarrhea, stomach aches, and gas pains. In general, it’s much easier to pull over to a rest stop and feed your canine pal if he or she is hankering for a meal or snack.

By following this simple rule, you’ll ensure that car trips with your pet run smoothly and that everyone in the vehicle (animal or human) will enjoy their time on the road a lot more.

While puppies have a tendency to beg for food almost constantly due to their voracious appetites, puppies need only be fed two to three times per day, depending on their ages. To find out exactly how much food your young canine buddy really needs, consult with a veterinarian, research your breed of puppy, and also use the tables found on Puppy Chow bags (or bags of any type of puppy food), as these tables are carefully designed to indicate proper amounts to feed your puppy, as well as how often he or she should be fed.

How to Stop Feeding Your Puppy in the Car
Once you’ve decided to stop feeding your dog in a moving vehicle, you must commit to changing any bad habits that you’ve allowed to develop up until now. If you’ve fed your puppy in your car in the past, it will be more difficult to train your young dog to give up the habit of begging for food when you’re in the car with him or her.

The best defense against begging and whining is simply to avoid giving your puppy food in the car in the first place. However, sometimes, pet owners don’t know any better when they are still adjusting to raising their puppies and to teaching them boundaries, and this bad habit often develops quickly and then escalates into a real problem. The best way to re-train your young dog is through the principles of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is all about rewarding good behaviour.

When your puppy begins to make it through trips in your vehicle without begging or making a fuss, show that you appreciate this new maturity and sense of obedience by doing something special for him or her. Playtime, puppy massage, new puppy toys or puppy treats that are administered right after a ride in your vehicle will all work well as forms of positive reinforcement for great behaviour.

Now that you know why it’s so important to avoid feeding your puppy in a moving vehicle, and the role that positive reinforcement plays in effective puppy training (or re-training), you are ready to move forward and do what is best for your young canine pal. Just the fact that you’ve taken the time to find out what is best for your young dog speaks volumes about your sense of responsibility to your puppy. In time, you will learn all of the ins and outs of puppy ownership and of how to train your new pet.

No related posts.

Puppies like to lay on their backs because they get instant “air conditioning” in this particular position. Young dogs even sleep on their backs sometimes, with their four legs sticking up in the air, which may look quite uncomfortable to observing human beings.

Since young canines have a tendency to overheat easily (especially when they’ve been very active), they often find that laying on their backs (with their legs splayed out) is a quick and easy way to cool down. In a nutshell, this type of behaviour is perfectly normal, and it’s nothing that you should worry about. Your canine pal is just doing standard puppy things and enjoying a little cool air on his or her belly.

Sometimes, it’s really cute to watch an adorable little puppy lay on his back with his four legs pointed up. However, you may wonder if this position is somehow harmful to your dog, especially when he or she is sleeping. You should know that no puppy yet has been injured by assuming this sort of position while relaxing or snoozing.

Sometimes, puppies that lay on their backs are simply looking for a belly rub from their loving owners. You may use this signal as a cue to give your loyal and loving puppy friend a little TLC that makes him or her feel wonderful.

Dogs Lay On Their Backs to Signal Submission

Since canines are pack creatures, they may use the “laying on their backs” position to signal a sense of submission. Pack animals look for leaders (alpha dogs), and they follow these leaders faithfully. When your puppy is laying on his or her back, he or she is saying, “I know my place. You are the leader now.”

Out in the wild, puppies don’t exhibit this position. When your pet lays down in this manner, he or she is telling you that he or she is comfortable with you and with living in your home. In nature, wild puppies would never feel secure enough to lay like this, because it would put them in a prone position that made them a target for a range of dangerous predators.

You’ve created a nice, safe place for your puppy to live, and he or she feels safe enough with you to dispense with defensive body language. When you think about it, this is kind of sweet. It means that you are doing your job and making your new pet very happy.

The only exception to this rule is when you puppy has his or her hands crossed over the chest area. Just as people do, dogs show their emotions through their body language, and covering the chest is a protective gesture which indicates that Fido would really prefer to be alone for a while.

Puppies are nervous little animals, and they do get tense quite quickly. Little noises or (conversely) too much peace and quiet may unnerve your young canine and make him or her become a little bit defensive. If your pup crosses his or her arms over the chest area quite a bit, try to soothe him or her with your own voice, your touch, and maybe a nice rawhide chew stick.

As you can see, a puppy that lays on his or her back is telling a story about his or her own feelings and thoughts. Your pup is an intelligent animal with plenty of emotional range and complexity, and this is such a beautiful thing. When you learn how to read your young dog’s body language, you will be one step closer to creating a special bond that lasts for many, many years.

If your dog lays on his or her back a lot, possibly to cool down, you may want to consider setting up fans in your home or turning on the air conditioning. By monitoring your puppy and adjusting your strategy based on the temperature on any given day or night, you will be taking the best possible care of your little friend.

No related posts.

Basic animal instinct is the reason why dogs are so driven to chase after cars. A canine’s “prey instinct” prompts him or her to chase down moving objects in an attempt to “capture” them. Of course, Fido can’t capture a car and eat it. However, this prey drive is still present, and your dog is unable to differentiate between moving machines and living, breathing creatures. The same prey instinct that leads your dog to chase cars is at play when you toss a ball to your beloved pooch. In fact, many people train their canine pets by using “prey drive” to its best advantage.

Now that you understand what motivates your dog, it will be easier to empathize with your pet. It’s important to be kind and compassionate when reprimanding your animal friend. Dogs need firm guidance from their masters and mistresses. However, they don’t need corporal punishment. To deter your pet from chasing cars, you must find other ways to enforce boundaries. It is important to stop this type of behaviour, as dogs chasing cars are prone to being hit by vehicles and becoming injured or killed.

Here are some tips on protecting your puppy or adult dog from his or her “animal instinct”.

Fence Fido In – If you fence in your property, Fido can’t wreak havoc out on the roadways. While fencing a yard may be costly, it’s well worth doing. Installing a fence that is high enough and strong enough to keep your dog inside can be done in true DIY (do-it-yourself) fashion, or it can be done by outsourcing the task to a reputable contractor. Whether you opt for metal fencing or wooden fencing, you should ensure that the fence has no rough or splintered edges that might injure your dog as he or she tries to break free.

To ensure that your canine pal doesn’t feel trapped all of the time, make sure you take him or her for lots of walks. Offer fun play sessions in the local dog park.

Give your dog fresh air, exercise and quality time with you. Your dog will soon adjust to being fenced in, and you won’t need to worry about the dire consequences of Fido’s car chasing behaviour. If you have enough space, frequent games of “fetch” in the front yard will help your dog to blow off steam and live out his or her “prey drive” without risking his or her life.

Retrain Your Dog – Some canines are trained to give up dangerous car-chasing behaviour through the usage of shock collars. A shock collar should come with a “remote control” that a dog owner may use to give Fido a shock whenever he begins to chase a car. A firm verbal command (such as “no”) should accompany training of this type. These types of collars are controversial choices, so using them is definitely a personal choice on the part of pet owners.

If you’re open to using a shock collar for retraining purposes, you may benefit from this method. However, shock collars may cause your pet pain. PETA, the outspoken animal rights organization, is categorically opposed to the usage of shock collars on dogs and other pets. On the other side of the coin, dog owners who are in favor of shock collars argue that any discomfort caused by shock collar training is preferable to finding out that their pets have been struck by moving vehicles. A “choke” chain may be used in a similar fashion to a shock collar.

Call in a Professional – If the methods mentioned above aren’t working out for you, or you have ethical issues with the use of certain “training” collars, it may be time to call in a dog trainer. You should be able to find professional dog trainers who will work for reasonable rates. A good trainer will help Fido to break his “car-chasing” habit without hurting or traumatizing your dog. Before trusting your pet to a trainer, check references and online reviews for the trainer.

Some owners are able to do the training themselves, but it does take time to get results. After all, dogs must be monitored closely and reprimanded whenever they begin to lunge into oncoming traffic. Sometimes, pet owners can’t be there all of the time, and they can’t train properly because they miss so many incidences of car chasing. For this reason, a fenced-in yard is the number one defense against this dangerous activity.

Always remember that your beloved pet is only doing what comes naturally. Be sure to give your pet plenty of praise when he or she breaks the habit, and be as patient as possible when things don’t go well. Every dog needs plenty of love and affection from its owner.

Related posts:

1. Why Do Dogs Chase Cats?
2. Why do Dogs Chase Their Tail’s?

When most of us think of dogs, we tend to think of them as pets that run, fetch and love us unconditionally.

Few of us think about the working canines that play a role in war and the defense of our country, whether it is on distant shores or at home in the United States.

Like it or not, dogs have been used in warfare for centuries. In the United States, their early service in the Civil War and other skirmishes was informal. In 1942, the first dogs were officially inducted into the U.S. Army. As of 2010, our army has deployed almost 3,000 dogs to help with military maneuvers.

Their jobs include scouting, tracking and guarding. Some work side by side with their handlers. Others slink over hill and dale to gather information in areas where man would be noticed.

In the early 1900’s, tank dogs were trained to carry explosives to tanks, armored vehicles or other military targets. Unfortunately, these stories did not always have a happy ending. In many cases, the dogs were killed in the line of duty.

Attack dogs are fairly common in military and civilian roles. The military and police both use dogs to catch and hold the bad guys.

In World War II, dogs were used for medical experimentation. It was thought that it was preferable to test a new medicine on a dog rather than risk a human life. Once the war ended, this practice came under scrutiny. Finally in 1966, the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act was passed, ending the era of canine experimentation.

Many lives were saved by dogs that worked to locate booby traps, weapon caches, enemy soldiers and snipers. Dogs excel at such maneuvers because of their heightened senses of smell and hearing. These scouting dogs, many of which received training at a specialized school in Fort Benning, Georgia, saved many lives.

Dogs play a viable role in drug detection. Their incredible sense of smell allows them to excel at sniffing out undesirable substances. Drug detecting dogs are found in local police forces and across our nation at airports, border checkpoints and other places where there is a need for drug-fighting measures.

Dogs are also used to intimidate prisoners in both military and civilian life. The threat of a snarling dog can be quite helpful when it comes to getting a prisoner to answer questions or put down a deadly weapon.

Unfortunately, many of the jobs that dogs perform for us are very dangerous. The sad news is that some will die in the line of duty. Take time to thank those who have died to protect us and our way of life. They are heroes.

One way that we can honor our working canines is to make them a mascot. More than one dog has become the star of his or her military unit. In tough times of warfare, the company dog can bring a smile to our soldiers’ faces. A warm, wet nose and a wagging tail are sights to behold when a soldier returns unscathed from a dangerous mission in the field.

No related posts.

Many dog owners do believe that that their adorable little puppies can laugh, although the experts tend to argue about whether or not canines actually have the physical capacity to display happiness in this particular manner. Dogs may “laugh” by breathing a certain way and making certain noises, and they may also appear to smile while they’re “laughing”.

Sometimes, we “personify” our beloved pets by giving them human traits that don’t really exist. At this stage, it’s safe to say that many dog experts do dispute the issue. Basically, dogs don’t laugh the way we do, and their “laughs” may not be quite what we think they are. However, there is always the possibility that Fido is having a chuckle or chortle!

Whether or not your puppy is making noises that you interpret as “laughing”, there are some other signals that you can look for to determine exactly how happy your new pet is.

How to Know that Your Puppy is Happy

The eyes are the windows of the soul, and they tend to tell fascinating stories about how your loyal little canine buddy is really feeling. If you need to know whether or not your puppy is happy, look at his or her eyes. Happy puppies will have eyes that are virtually glowing with light, joy and trust.

These “puppy dog eyes” will be beautiful, innocent, and bright. Usually, puppies are at their happiest when they are being petted by their owners or playing rambunctiously out of doors. Other times when puppies may have “bright eyes” include feeding times (or treat times) or moments when they are socializing with other canines.

Once you’ve started to pay attention to your puppy’s eyes and the story that they tell, you won’t be as dependent on “laughing” breathing noises to judge your pet’s level of happiness.

A wagging tail is also a dead giveaway that Fido is totally content. Occasionally, wagging tail may signal aggression, but this is quite rare. Typically, a wagging tail is a sign that your puppy is enjoying life and taking pleasure in the world that is all around him or her. Slow wagging is a sure sign that your puppy is happy, so look to see how quickly his or her tail is wagging.

A lot of people think that a slowly wagging tail functions a lot like a human being’s smile. In other words, it’s a simple signal that lets other animals and people know that the canine is content. Overall, a slowly wagging tail is probably a better gauge of happiness than breathing noises which may seem like “laughing”.

One of the sweetest signs of happiness in little puppies is when they put their heads in your lap; obviously, this type of gesture is positively brimming with love, trust and affection. When your pup does this, be sure to reciprocate by stroking your pet or murmuring some kind and positive words.

This sort of bonding ritual is so important for your puppy, as it reinforces his or her trust. As well, this kind of affection is deeply soothing for human beings, and it’s one of the main reasons why people seek out the companionships of loyal, loving dogs. Over time, if your nurture your dog properly, this trust level and “love” level will grow incredibly strong. In fact, many people find that their dogs are the most loyal and loving “friends” imaginable.

Your puppy may also follow you around a lot if he or she is happy; this desire to be with you (or as close as possible to you) is quite touching. Typically, this type of behavior is also a plea for attention. If following gets out of hand, you may need to spend a bit of time training Fido to restrain his following urges.

Lastly, a puppy that licks you a lot is showing his or her happiness and affectionate spirit. Some pet owners enjoy being licked, while others are less crazy about the process. Licking as a show of warmth, love and contentment is modeled on the behavior of your puppy’s mother, who licked her new “baby” as soon as he or she was born. By licking you, your puppy is telling your how special you are, and that is awfully adorable.

As you can see, puppy “laughing” is controversial, but there are so many other reliable ways to know whether or not your little pet is happy and content. By observing the appearance and behaviour or your beloved pup, you can learn so much about his or her deeper emotions.

Related posts:

1. Why Do Dogs Wag Their Tails?

You’re driving down the road and you see a large dog’s head sticking out of the passenger window. He looks to be in ecstasy as his jowls flap in the wind and his nose twitches a mile a minute. You can help but smile at the cute sight.

Have you ever wondered why a dog likes to hang his head out of the window?
One obvious reason is that the cool breeze created by the moving vehicle is refreshing. Just as we humans enjoy a little wind in our faces, so do our furry canine friends.

Perhaps the most compelling reason for a dog to hang his head out of the window is the fact that a dog’s sense of smell, which has proven to be more far superior to that of humans, is a means of learning about its environment. After all, dogs are intelligent animals that use their eyes and noses to explore the world around them.

With more than a million scent receptor cells located in a dog’s nose and roof of the mouth, smell reveals a host of information to dogs that may go unnoticed by human beings. If your dog could talk, he or she could probably tell you who is cooking a steak, how far away the grill is and how soon the meat will be done.

If you have ever studied the face of a dog that has his or her head hanging out the window, you will see what appears to be an expression of sheer joy. Some experts say the dog’s expression is actually one of fierce concentration on the smells that provide information about his or her surroundings.

The fact that dogs have two systems that work to detect smells is a big reason that dogs like to be free to sniff the air. The nose system, which is loaded with scent receptors, consists of tissue known as olfactory epithelium. While this area accounts for about one-half square inch in humans, it can cover up to 20 square inches in some dog breeds. The system works in a way that the more air that moves over the tissue, the more scents your dog can detect.

Dogs also have a second smelling system that is located in their mouths. They have a specialized gland called Jacobson’s organ, which works to capture and interpret smells necessary to hunt small prey or choose a mating partner.

It is important to monitor your dog while he or she is riding in your car. You should be the one to choose when Fido is allowed to ride with his head out the window. Beware of tree branches that could scratch an eye or the dog’s face. Flying debris could take out an eye or cause serious head injury.

Also, make sure that dog cannot jump out of the window should he or she see something that excites them.

Several manufacturers make specialized goggles that protect dogs’ eyes from potential injury while riding with their heads out of the car. If your dog loves feeling the wind and smelling the scents, consider buying him or her a pair to insure the safety of their eyes.

Related posts:

1. Sunglasses for Dogs
2. Car Safety

Does your dog have a tendency to eat his or her meals so fast that you wonder if they inhaled the kibble?

Don’t feel bad if your answer is yes. You are not alone. Many other dog owners deal with the same problem.

Many dogs – young and old – are in the habit of eating their food too fast.

Surprisingly, the reason is not always the fact they the canine may have once been faced with starvation. It is fact that some breeds simply tend to eat as much as they can as fast as they can. Beagles, cocker spaniels, Labrador retrievers, basset hounds, pugs, corgis and dachshunds are among the breeds that are most prone to wolfing their food down in seconds.

Dogs that tend to wolf their food are often overweight and badly in need of a little dieting.

While obesity can be a problem, it is not the only serious one that can result from eating too fast. Dogs that consume their food too quickly can become inflicted with bloat, which is actually a turn or flip of the stomach. Bloat is very serious and can quickly become life-threatening. Extensive surgery is required to fix the problem and not all dogs make it through the surgical procedure required to fix the stomach twist. In addition, the recovery process is lengthy.

Bloat can affect all canines, but some breeds are more susceptible to this health risk. Dogs that have chests that are deeper than they are wide are at the greatest risk. Great Danes, Labrador retrievers, Irish setters, Gordon setters, Saint Bernards, standard Poodles and Rottweilers are among the breeds that are most frequently stricken with bloat.

You can do your part in forcing your dog to eat at a slower pace. There are several companies that manufacture specialized food dishes for dogs that wolf their food. Some of them feature small compartments that make the dog work for his or her food.

There are several things you can do to slow down Rover’s eating rate that won’t cost
you an arm and a leg. One option is to take two or three old spoons and lay them on top of the food in the dish. Place the spoons in a crisscross pattern so that the spoons actually section off the food dish. Your dog will have no choice but to slow his or her eating habits.

You can accomplish the same thing by using large, smooth stones in place of the spoons.

Try using a large pan or baking dish for a food dish. This spreads the food out, making it harder for Rover to dig in and grab large mouthfuls of food.
Another option is to scatter the food on the floor, forcing the dog to retrieve one piece at a time.

There are also toys available for dogs that allow you to stuff food pieces inside an item such as a ball. The dog will be forced to spend time working each piece of kibble out of the ball.

Slowing your dog’s eating speed is relatively easy and the action you take does not have to be expensive. It can go a long way in keeping your dog healthy.

Related posts:

1. Puppy Dog Food Versus Adult Dog Food
2. Wet Puppy Food Versus Dry Puppy Food
3. Introducing a New Food to a Puppy

Give a dog a bone and off he goes to bury it. Have you ever wondered just why your dog does this?

Basically, the behavior pattern of burying objects is canine nature that stems from dog’s early days on this planet. Life was not always as easy as nudging the master’s arm to get fed. Before dogs were domesticated, they spent their days hunting and surviving. A loving look at their master was not something that was going to earn them a bone. They had to fight for their food and fend off other animals that were determined to take it from them once they made the kill. Your dog’s tendency to bury items is a part of its instinct for self-preservation.

To further understand your dog’s urge to bury things, let us step back in time to a period when life was hard for dogs. They had to compete with other dogs and larger wild predators for food. Once they did find a source of food, they had to work hard to protect it from other animals that were all too willing to take it for themselves.

Burying food items became natural instinct. Dogs had to bury food so that their predators didn’t smell it. Thus, once the kill was made, it was natural for a dog to have a fast meal and hurriedly bury the rest for a later time when they could retrieve it without worry of others stealing their prey.

Dogs are far from stupid beings. They learned to bury any excess of food so that it was available later when times got tough. Tough times might have been a result of a severe blizzard, a raging flood or a drought that killed off many wild animals.

Another advantage of burying food items that attract flies, insects or mold is the fact that buried food stays cooler than food that is subject to baking in the hot sun. In essence, burying the excess was a dog’s way of stocking his or her shelves for leaner times.

In many cases, dogs bury more than food. It is not at all unusual to have a dog that buries toys. Some canines will go as far as stealing things from family members and burying them safely in the ground. Remember, your dog is just following urges that stem from its ancestry. These same urges once kept canines from starving to death.

If your dog embarks on what seems like an excess amount of burying, keep in mind that dogs tend to bury extras, not essentials. You may very well reduce the amount of unnecessary burying by picking up extra bones, treats or toys that you find lying around the house or yard. Limiting the number of toys your dog has at any one given time can lessen his or her urge to protect an excess bounty.

No one likes deep holes in their yard. If your dog gets carried away with burying things, you may want to consider giving him or her a less destructive option than the backyard. Try giving your canine friend an old blanket that he or she can use to bury bones or toys.

Cover those unwanted holes with chicken wire or a cement block to deter Rover from digging and burying his treasure places where you don’t want holes.

While it may be difficult to break your dog of the habit of burying things, you very well may be able to modify its behavior so that the canine doesn’t damage areas you are trying to protect.

Related posts:

1. Why Dogs Bury Bones
2. Why do Dogs Carry Things Around?
3. Top Five Weird Things Pups Do

There has long been a great debate as to whether or not dogs have emotions.

Some behavioral experts say absolutely not. One reason for this is the fact that no one has devised a way to measure or quantify our pets’ emotions. Others believe that our canine friends are capable of feeling complex emotions such as jealousy, pride, love and fear.

I don’t know about you, but I do believe that dogs of all ages have emotions. I think the proof is in watching your puppy. Every dog I have ever owned has been able to express themselves clearly in many situations. It is not hard to tell when my puppy is happy, excited, anxious or sad. Therefore, I am a firm believer in the fact that canines do experience emotions. Are you?

Let’s start by defining emotions. For the purpose of this article, we will think of emotions as the force that gives dogs an impulse to act in response to a situation and how they feel once they have reacted.

Consider what happens when your dog is afraid. The emotion of fear can cause different reactions among different animals. One reaction may be to become defensive. Another may have the dog cowering.

According to experts at the Purina site, emotions may be divided into positive or negative feelings and have rising or decreasing scales. You have probably witnessed varying degrees of happiness or fear in your dog.

Recent research has shown that all mammals – that includes dogs – have seven basic emotional systems that attribute to their ability to react to information. These include a seeking system, which defines the drive to find food, a play system and care system that they display when rearing their offspring and making social attachments and a fear system that allows the dog to respond to events that are unfamiliar.

While the degree of emotion may be different among humans and canines, the fact is that dog behavior has shown that puppies do have basic emotions that allow them to feel sad, angry, happy or fearful.

Consider a situation in which your dog may become jealous. Perhaps you are paying more attention to one dog than another or you have just brought a new dog into your home. The odds are favorable that your dog is going to display some sort of emotion at having to take the back seat to a newcomer.

Dr. Friederike Range from the University of Vienna’s neurobiology department has proven that dogs are capable of feeling intense jealously when they see that they are treated unfairly compared with other dogs. “Dogs show a strong aversion to inequity,” she said.

Peter Neville, a consultant with the Centre for Applied Pet Ethology, advocates that emotions are essential to a dog’s ability to learn.

Dr. Paul Morris, a psychologist at the University of Portsmouth who studies animal emotions, said, “We are learning that dogs…are far more emotionally complex than we ever realized. They can suffer simple forms of many emotions we once thought only primates could experience.”

Open your heart to a puppy and I’m betting you will soon be convinced that your dog is quite capable of experiencing emotions. After all, why do you think he or she insists on licking your face or hand? Could it be that they are telling you they love you?

No related posts.

Getting a good photographic shot of your puppy can be a lot harder than it sounds. You snap the shutter just as the puppy turns his head. You catch the perfect expression, but there are unwanted items in the background. You have a black dog that has brown eyes and all you can see is a ball of black fur.

If you have ever dealt with any of these situations, you have probably wanted to pull your hair out. Don’t worry. A few simple tips can help you capture good photos of the family pet. It just takes a little practice.

Timing is one of the most important things. Before you embark on a pet photo session, think about what you want your picture to say. Do you want to catch the dog in action? Would you rather take a serene pose while the puppy sleeps? Decide what you want and pursue it.

One of the first orders of business is to get your puppy used to the camera. Don’t wait until you want to capture that award-winning photo to start pointing it at your dog. If the puppy is used to seeing you with a camera around your neck, he or she will be much more likely to relax when you point it at them.

Make sure the treat jar is full. You will need to offer your dog some tasty forms of bribery to get him or her to do what you want. Start by offering a few treats. Next, keep them in your hand close to the camera. In fact, you may want to try taping a treat to your camera. This works well to keep the puppy’s eyes tuned to you.

Take advantage of situations you know your dog likes. For example, if Fido loves chasing leaves across the yard, set your photo shoot up in an area where there are leaves so you stand a better chance of catching the puppy in action. If your dog loves the water, take him or her to a lake and throw sticks. You are bound to get a good action shot or two.

Choose your background carefully. Clutter will not bring out the best in your pet. The idea is for the focus of the photo to be on the dog, not unwanted junk. You can always use a blanket or large towel for a colorful backdrop.

Consider turning off your camera’s flash. A flash can be quite disturbing to some dogs. The idea is to get your pet to relax and be his or herself.

It is important to get down to your dog’s level when taking photos. Try it. You will be surprised at how the view changes.

If your camera has a zoom feature, use it when you take pet photos. The zoom will allow you to get closer shots where the dog is the main focus. You don’t want the dog to be a speck among many other subjects.

If you want an action shot, plan on shooting pictures when your dog is on the move. If you want a serene pose, plan your photo session after an active play or exercise session.

You don’t necessarily have to get the whole puppy in the photo. One option is to focus on a special feature of your dog. Perhaps it is his cute eyes; it could be the fact that he looks like she’s smiling.

Don’t get frustrated if at first you don’t get the shot you want. Professional photographers take LOTS of photos and are quite happy to edit the mess down to one or two good ones. Today’s digital cameras have taken a lot of the expense out of pet photography, so shoot, shoot, shoot.

No related posts.