January in Minnesota – the land of subzero temps and that’s not even accounting for a breeze.

Today’s lovely high: negative something between -1 and -15 pending on where you are bunkered down in the state. And there’s a windchill, which has lovingly dropped the temp to the negative 30s.  Which means that frostbite is possible within 10 to 15 minutes of exposure to the outdoors! EGADS!

At least there’s snow on the ground…

Here are 5 tips to stay safe in subzero temps!

• 1. Bunker down in a warm toasty house with ample blankets. 
  This is Blue’s favorite option when the cold kicks up (mountain dog my ass!). 
  
  
• 2. Keep bathroom breaks brief. 
  Paw pads are sensitive to cold and can become frost bitten if your dog dawdles outside too long. Bundle yourself up, leave no skin bare, and leash them up even if you have a fenced yard. You will want to encourage your dog to quickly complete his or her business, then direct them swiftly into the house. (I feel most dogs will happily come inside during subzero temps, huskies probably not…)
  
  
• 3. Limit walks to short durations.
  Keep walks to 5 minutes round trip. You may end up doing 10x more walks than you normally would, but it will limit both your dog’s and your exposure to the extreme cold. Bundle yourself up, layers are going to be your saviors. Wool, cashmere and cotton under acrylic or polyester sweaters under a coat should keep your core heat up. Layer leggings under your pant and opt for winter insulated boots over the cute ones. Wear a hat (you lose a lot of heat from your head) and wrap a scarf around your face. The only thing that will be exposed will be your eyeballs. Be aware if they water, the tears will freeze on your lashes! 
  
  
• 4. Warm up your car and stop into a dog friendly place
  Bundle up, let your car run a few minutes, load up your dog, and head to Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Fleet Farm, Petsmart, Petco and stroll around in a warm environment. Bring poo bags and something to clean up after your pup in case of a potty break. Work on training, greeting people or merely passing them. Bonus: smells! 10 minutes of sniffing will tire your dog out for the rest of the day. 
  
  
• 5. Just stay indoors!
  Haha! Yes its the same as #1 but when the temps go subzero the best way to stay safe and warm is to bunker down at home. Your dog is too bananas indoors? Here’s some games to play:
  
  • Treat scatter
    This can work wonders for active pups! Use dark colored treats if you have dark rugs or carpet, use light colored treats if you have lighter fabric. Break them in tiny bits and toss them around the room. You dog will have to use his nose to find the treats (the matching colors means he can’t just see them and snatch them up).  10 minutes of searching should have him solidly tuckered out.
     
  • Training
    That’s right, its time to brush up on those skills your dog has! Work on sit, lay, stay. Do long sits (have them sit when farther away from you) or hold a sit while you create distance. Look up some party tricks your dog can learn – bow, put away toys, weave, dance, count, etc. 
    
    
  • Sniff & smell
    Head to the kitchen and break out the spices, tea and assorted things in the cabinet and fridge. Hover them near your dog’s nose and let them sniff. If your dog is overzealous about food, hold it above her head just out of snatching reach and just under jumping up reach. Tuck it in your hand if you need to, with your fingers just barely open. Encourage her to sniff. There will be smells that she wags her tail (smells tasty) to and some she’ll look away from (smells yucky). Avoid spicy smells as they can burn a nose like us humans. 10 minutes of sniff & smell ought to tire her brain out for a long nap. 

Hopefully those 5 tips will help you and your dog stay safe and cozy during the subzero winter temps!

(PS- if you want to do snow pictures with your pup, let me know! I’m hoping to do more after the temps level out – min 20 degrees!)

BAM! Just like that we’ve entered into the New Year, complete with subzero cold and lack of snow! (The whole realm of Minne-SNOW-da doesn’t seem to exist lately…)

And I haven’t touched base with you since the weather has been hot and balmy. Egads!

What’s been happening:

Restructuring. 

The restructuring applies to both About A Dog Photography & Atomic Collars. This is a wonderful update, and has lent to having me feel focused and productive. August 2024 was the beginnings of the refocusing and clarifying. My brain is in a much more alert, clear and positive. 

Moving forward there will be a strong focus on Atomic Collars throughout the. This will include events, pop up boutiques (in my garage, in yours? etc) and crazy ass sewing from August until events end in early December. Hopefully wholesale will kick up too!

No, About A Dog Photography isn’t going anywhere, just getting a refocused. Select weekends will be available for sessions during the spring, summer and fall months. I was bat shit sewing this year (it legit started in August for Christmas stock of bandanas) and it didn’t leave me any time to plan for the monthly color reports, promoting fall sessions and offering a collection of mini sessions. 

Going forward, I’m aiming to create a plan that gives the best to both Atomic Collars and About A Dog Photography which in turns gives you the best no matter which you interact with. 

What I want to achieve with About A Dog Photography in the coming year: 

• ONE BILLON DOGS PHOTOGRAPHED! Ok, I’m not sure there would be enough time in a year to photograph one billion dogs…. So as a better goal, I want to photograph 2 dogs a month, March – August, with more during the fall (Sept – Oct). 
  
  
• Dog’s Guide to the North Shore! We are going to kick this into full gear this coming year. There is a solid list of places to visit, many with waterfalls or mega cool landscapes. We can aim for sessions for the guide as well as family sessions. If you want to be part of this epic adventure up and down the North Shore, shoot me an email at . 
• Tying up some loose ends. I’ve been a putz. Due to a lack of structure and systems I’ve dropped the ball, found a bone, chased a squirrel, forgot about the ball, found it in the weeds, dropped it again and it seems I have buried it and recently dropped it. If you’ve been patiently waiting for galleries, prints or re-orders, I appreciate the patience. This month I’m aiming to have everything back into place. I owe you greatly. 
  
  
• Strobes in the outdoors. I have them, I balk at lugging them (they really aren’t that heavy or cumbersome, unless wind) but they are one extra piece of gear that I need to bring with. If you have a spare set of hands and a pup who loves to model (or are even a fellow photographer) I’d love the assistance! Shoot me an email at  
• Model sessions! I asked and then toodled around (note the above bit about the restructuring) and now we’ve lapsed into the New Year. Yes I’ll take more models! The images I want to create:
  • strobes + outdoors during the day / Golden Hour
  • night + strobe + city lights
  • dogs + waterfalls 
  • dogs + star trails / Milky Way (March – October)
  • strobes + sunset
  • Atomic Collar collar models
    
    
• Back to the blogging. At least monthly to stay in touch, possibly more frequently, pending how bat shit sewing is going for Atomic Collars. I think I’m going to aim for photography tips, sharing what I learn with the strobes + dogs + outside, as well as other dog related things. If you think of any topics let me know. 
  
  
• Possibly a podcast, though I may not  have the time to budget for it at the moment with volunteering at Tri County Humane Society on Tuesdays, busy Wednesday & Friday evenings, sewing for Atomic Collars, upcoming events and busy to low key weekends. I have audio gear so I ought to be able to figure out how to make a podcast. Topics would be dog photography, similar to blog posts. 
  
  
• The Manual Course. Sigh. This thing has been written for an eon but not put into availability. No videos done yet as I strongly DISLIKE editing videos.  And the videos in my head are much more beautifully polished vs the ones I create (due to lack of practice). I’m thinking it needs to be reworked into something different. An ebook? An audio workshop? Email series? Needs more thinking. 
  
  
• Location scouting & shooting videos. This one also has been burnered due to dislike of editing videos, but mostly because it requires at least one extra pair of hands that will man a camera to capture the video. Thus far I haven’t had spare hands that can join me on whim. Another thing that could possibly changed from video to audio or image based. 
  
  

I still LOVE LOVE LOVE dog photography and love love love capturing images of your dogs. With this new transition started this past August, I’m now going to spend January wrapping up untidy ends, creating better systems and shifting into a better, epic version that SERVES you even better. 

Which means I need to show up differently. 

Be prepared for LOADS of information on how to set up studio lighting, off camera flash lighting, getting epic images no matter your gear, tips for getting your dog to give you the best during a session, yammerings on photography gear and all things dog and dog photography. 

Here’s to making 2025 MEGA EPIC!

We have entered July with the 4th landing tomorrow! Happy birthday USA!

Now there are definitely loads of things that surround the 4th – barbecues, pools, guests, and those booming fireworks from small to big. And we want your dog to stay safe throughout it all. 

Dogs & 4th of July tips:

•  Guests
  OMG how exciting that the friend of the friend of the friend is coming over! You may have not seen a plethora of your friends and haven’t had them all over to your house at once in ages, but don’t forget your dog may not have met all of them or may become overwhelmed by all the new people and smells entering your house. Keep excitable pups on leash, allowing them to greet guests when they present a calmness that will keep their paws on the floor. Provide a quiet place for your dog to retire to if they need a break be it a crate or a separate room. Treats will help reward good behaviors (your guests can hand them out too!) and a bone, Kong, or special chew toy is a great way to keep your dog busy as guests mingle. 
  
  
• Barbecues
  Tasty meats in a delightful row upon the grill… mmmm! Make sure your dog stays out from under foot and doesn’t interact with the grill (we don’t want burned noses or paws). Those tasty foods smell good to us and they smell a bazillion times more tasty to our dogs. Sharing them is ok in moderation but avoid giving your pup any bones. Avoid passing them anything with a spicy sauce or rub, anything too fatty, and definitely no onions! If there are ample handouts, you may want to consider cutting some of your dog’s food down so they don’t overeat. Also be aware that some of these treats may cause upset in your dog’s tummy and cause soft to runny poops. (If these persist longer than a day afterwards, consult your vet.)
  
  
• Pools
  Although we haven’t entertained “classic” hot summer temps yet (and it may rain tomorrow) pools are still a lovely place to dip your toes, swim or float to pass the lazy days. Include your dog as you see fit – ALWAYS with supervision! Make sure there is a way for your pup to exit the pool (wet dogs are infinitely heavier than when they are dry – keep that in mind if you are planning on lifting them out of the pool). Moderate the amount of time they spend swimming giving them breaks to get drinks and have a break from the water workout. After pool time has wrapped up, give your dog a solid washing to remove any pool chemicals from their fur and to avoid any irritations. 
  
  
• Fireworks
  Delightful explosions in the sky in various colors and sizes. We as humans are enthralled by them, dogs not as much. If it is the first time for fireworks with your dog (new puppy, newly adopted dog), stay home. If you live in town and are in range of the big fireworks, you can see how your puppy or dog does with the booms. No fussing, no stress? Enjoy the fireworks from your yard (or at least the sounds). Next year consider a less congested park or a friend’s house where you can see the fireworks but aren’t surrounded by crowds of people without an out in case things get scary. 
  
  If your dog is stressed out by the fireworks – shaking, panting, cowering, anxious – you may want to consider making your home environment as quiet and stress free as possible. A movie, popcorn to share, blankets to wrap your pup and help muffle sounds. If that doesn’t work, consider loading your pup for an evening drive out of town. Bring a flashlight, some bug spray and hang out watching the stars. If you head to a park, make sure you’re allowed to be there as many parks close at dusk or 10pm.  Most firework shows are 20-30 minutes and once wrapped the evening should calm. 
  
  Or head to your parents’ house in the boonies, the cabin up by the lake, or a mini vacation away from civilization for a day or two with ample exploring for the day to give your dog a break from the fireworks. You’ll know what is best for your dog. 

These tips will help you and your dog have a safe and fun time while celebrating the USA! Happy 4th of July from Blue, Kris, Kellen & myself! 

Every Tuesday I volunteer at Tri County Humane Society in St. Cloud MN. We are on week 39 for photographing adoptable dogs & cats! There has only been a couple days missed – once for Shutterhound in Las Vegas, once for mega cold weather, once for a snowstorm and twice due to rain! 

Yesterday’s weather was balmy, pushing into hot by 11 am. I photograph the dogs first, then move into the lovely cat room to capture kitties in their cage. 

First up was Reggie, an exuberant but sweet lab mix. He arrived to TCHS as a stray, which means he doesn’t have a history. But he’d be a lovely companion to write a story with! He was gentle taking treats and knew how to sit. Head to TCHS to meet him today!

Next on the list was Dominic. He is a leggy mix (my guess is shepherd mix – he’s listed as a hound mix) who is energetic, a bit bossy with treats, and noisy as he searches out the perfect place to pee. And watch your fingers! He is quite food motivated and will snatch treats and if in the way, fingers too! Requests for a sit didn’t yield any results, but I was able to lure him into various spots with food so he should easily hone in the basics as long as there are tasty treats involved. He’s been at TCHS a decent amount of time, let us help him find a new home!

Heading down the list, and tucked in the first kennel of Kennel Room 1 is Cinnamon. She is a sensitive, shy and slightly anxious dog so move slowly with her. She sports stunning black & tan markings, a thick double coat, a brushy tail and medium height. A lovely compact companion! She did sit when asked, though she likes to be VERY close to her person. Some whining & pacing too, a lot going on and stressing her out (I’d be stressed out loosing my home & being transferred to another facility!). Confidence building, loads of reassurance and love will bring this lovely lady out of her shell. 

EEEEEEEK! Puppy time! Up next was Boss, a pup of the lovely Cinnamon! He’s got her black & tan markings, though he inherited a different coat texture and ears! He is sweet, a little shy and liked to carry his leash about. At this time he does have a deposit on him which means you can’t snag him today (shucks!) but there is always a chance that deposits expire. Plus there are plenty of other pups to pick from (there’s a giant pack of pups with G names available too!)

Next up, the trio of Great Pyrenees puppies – Scapula, Mandible & Malleus. You’ll find them in the last kennel of Kennel Room 3. These wee fluffers are 4 months old and will have a fair amount of growing to do (they most likely will double in height & weight!). First up was Scapula, the only female of the trio. She refused to walk on the leash & floor so I hoisted her into my arms and brought her out to play yard. Outside she was bouncy, interactive and playful, though she spent most of the time walking the perimeter of the play yard taking in the smells. I had to carry that little booger back inside too!

Next was her brother in the green collar, Mandible. Out of the 3 pups, he was the purest white with no shading or brindling on his face. He was sweet and shy, less energetic than his sister and the smallest of the three. Yes I had to carry him outside and back inside too!

Whew! Now I’m rather warm, the temp is warm and I’ve collectively carried 72 pounds out of the kennel, through the hall, out the door, down to the play yard and back. Who needs a gym day? Hahaha!

Last, and not least, the other brother in the blue collar Malleus. Same as his brother & sister he required a carrying out of the kennel room to the play yard & back. Out of the trio he felt like he weighed the most and was biggest in my arms. He was bouncy, a little less energetic than his sister and a bit less shy than his brother, though every time I approached he laid down. He also has an adorable whip tail that was less full than his siblings. 

His weight topped me out to 110 lbs collectively carried in & out of TCHS. Man my legs will be ripped hahaha!!

Last for the dogs was Bear the brown pittie type dog. I borrowed an extra set of hands as Bear has a knack for being a little weird in his kennel. The weird goes like this: bark & growl (as in back off) to whines & softer barks with ample lip licking. It could be from being in the kennel (and next to Dominic the barker) because out of the kennel he was calmer, tail wagging and quite interested in the other dogs, less in treats. He does pull to get where he wants to go and is quite strong. It seems per his bio on TCHS that he enjoys fetch, tug of war and lounging by the TV. He probably has the energy level to even be a running partner. 

All of these dogs are available at Tri County Humane Society in St. Cloud MN as of this posting (Wednesday June 5, 2024). Stop in to meet these dogs, adopt one, or consider volunteering or fostering! 

Honorable mention: Pokey

This big dude rocking a lovely tri color pattern would be a great addition into your family if you enjoy leisurely strolls, sniffing all the things and taking your time to get there. Pokey def fit his name when I photographed him on May 14th. He didn’t sit when I requested it (an easy skill to learn) but I could get his focus with tasty treats. And he had some impressive drool too! Not sure his mix, but he gives me Swissy vibes mixed with something else, perhaps pittie. If you adopt him, DNA test him to see what kind of magical mix he is. This big, sweet dude needs a lovely new home where he can smell the smells and lounge for the day.