T R A I N I N G
The Making of a Dog Model WRIT TEN BY JEANNE TAYLOR, Staff Writer
When we first brought Roux home in 2015, he was a five-month-old terrorist of a dog and it was a good ten days before I attempted to take any studio photos of him. Confident he would be as challenging for photos as he was in our day-today real life, I braced myself for a long session. I imagined my lights being knocked over and backdrops being ripped from the stand while this puppy version of the Tasmanian Devil ran dizzying circles around me. But when that little menace sat where I asked, when I asked, and turned his head just so perfectly, I was stunned. Surely, that was a fluke! But when he then proceeded to make eye contact and complied with more requests than not, I just about fell over. It was then that I knew I had a model on my hands. He was born for this. Conversely, when we adopted Gracie in 2017, she was TERRIBLE for photos! She avoided looking at the camera or had her ears glued so far back on her head they looked like they went missing! But with time and practice, she now runs into my studio, jumps on the bench and waits for her photo opportunities. Where Roux was a natural, Gracie’s skills came with time and practice. Here’s the thing: THIS DOES NOT COME NATURALLY TO MOST DOGS! Trust me – I meet and work with a LOT of dogs through my business and my volunteering! Think about it – it’s confusing – a giant black eye (which we humans know is the camera) coming toward you! How terrifying! No wonder so many dogs shy away from it. There are some very easy ways to help your dog become a top model for projects like the annual Lowcountry Dog Model Contest or other photo contests you may want to pursue.
Rule No. 1: Know Your Dog Your dog likely has many facets to their personality and you will know best what they look like when they are comfortable and confident, happy or worried. Some will pin their ears back when concerned or stressed, but throw them straight up or forward when they are excited or curious. Ears make a big difference in the story a photo will tell. Some dogs overheat very quickly and as a result, their tongue will hold a starring role in their photos. Other generally fearful dogs often will not willingly look at the camera, so you’ll have to work a little harder for their attention. The Basics You can never discount the importance of basic obedience training. Solid sit and stay commands will do wonders to improve their modeling abilities; the more commands they know, the better! A down stay or a place command will open up a whole other world of potential photo opportunities too. Ideally, make sure they will
