Dog Photography Blog

Blue’s First Christmas aka Christmas with a puppy!

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Showing up on Sunday formally, celebrated on multiple days if not the month long, it’s Christmas! Wrapped presents with fun surprises inside, the tree decked with lights and ornaments and a 6 month old puppy, huzzah!

If this is your puppy’s first Christmas here are some things to remember for Christmas day:

  • Unwrapping presents is fun but… don’t let your puppy eat the paper! Overall it probably won’t hurt them, but if you don’t want other paper things to be nommed on, then keep wrapping paper away. 
  • Leash your puppy as guests are entering or leaving, especially if your pup’s door manners aren’t the greatest. No one wants their puppy to dart out the door and engage in an epic game of chase throughout the neighborhood in knee deep snow, nor do they want grandma to be bowled over by an over zealous puppy. Or crate your puppy until guests have all arrived and crate them when guests begin to leave. 
  • Remember the Christmas tree is… an ADVENTURE! Keep breakable ornaments up out of nose reach (it’s higher than you think!) and make sure to keep a watchful eye on your puppy. This is great time to work on “leave it” for not only the tree and ornaments but also the presents nestled under the tree. If your puppy is extra naughty, put up a barrier so they can’t get to the tree and the goodies. (And also write to Santa about how naughty your puppy has been!)
  • Don’t forget nap times! Your puppy still needs ample sleep throughout the day (a 6 month old puppy needs 16-18 hours of sleep). If your house is busy & bustling, place your pup’s crate in a quiet guest bedroom. Check in on them every couple of hours – if they are snoozing let them sleep, if they are bright eyed and awake, give them a potty break and invite them to hang out with the guests.

Reference the blog post “Puppy safety for the holiday season” for a ton more tips, plus a GIANT list of foods your puppy can or can’t feast on this holiday season!

Our tree has been up since around Thanksgiving, with presents accumulating as the time draws nearer to Christmas. Blue hasn’t paid the tree much mind (artificial so it doesn’t smell more than the plastic and the box its kept in) and has casually sniffed the nose level ornaments. A knitted mitten ornament was gingerly removed by him, though I then took it from him. Most other ornaments are left alone with “leave it”. 

The presents have not been accosted or assaulted, instead they have merely been sniffed. The most energetic sniffing came from the BarkBox tucked further under the tree, but he couldn’t reach the box to tear into it. We’ll see what he does for Christmas! 

With the weather being snowy & quite cold (no temps over 10 degrees for the last week) I’ve been thinking of breaking out one of the studio lights and seeing what Blue thinks of them. 

Why not for the Christmas blog theme? Cue the montage fueled by Christmas music!

The loveseat was rotated from its window view to face the TV and the end table pushed as close to his crate as possible. Blue was a bit confused and rather curious. 

Upstairs for the light. Easy peasy. The remote trigger… that was harder to find, though it ended up in a logical place. (The craft / office room needs a solid decluttering…). Octobox snagged. Multiple trips up and down the stairs, octobox set up, light up, presents arranged for a backdrop and treats in hand. 

Camera shutter click, light recycle beep and not even the slightest flinch from Blue. He paid little attention to the big white shape & pops of light. Not even the slightest peep as this was a new weird shape in the living room (Swissys are great at letting you know when things are out of place haha!). 

Well I’ll be. This boy is truly a natural model! (Early camera conditioning for the win!)

Blue is doing his best to be patient waiting for Christmas & along with waiting to open his stocking (this was a hard feat, thus the limited stocking images haha!). He’s also an excellent present checker – no presents for you in that stack Blue! 

Kris, Blue & I all wish you a very merry holiday season brimming with love, family and smiles galore!

We’re in a blog ring of dog and pet photographers around the world! Next up Jessica Wasik with Bark & Gold Photography offers five ways to honor your pet on your first Christmas without him.

For those techy type people: 
* Nikon D5 + Tamron 35-150mm f2.8-4 & Tamron 17-35mm f2.8-4 (17mm was switched to for the end of the session). 
* Settings were 1/125th shutter, aperture  f2.8 to f4 pending lens & focal range, ISO 200 to 160
* Light: Interfit S1 at 3-5 power? (I didn’t pay much attention to it) + 36″ Angler BoomBox with outer baffle
*** Both the Interfit S1 & Angler Boombox are discontinued – there is a version 2 of the BoomBox available fyi!

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Snow fun in Minnesota!

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The snow has arrived as of Wednesday morning, dumping a load of the total forecasted two day 7 inch amount. 

Minnesota may be known for cold more than snow, but we get our fair share of the white stuff. (Randomly: January, December & March are Minnesota’s top 3 snowiest months!). Add in our diverse landscapes and it makes for a wonderful winter wonderland. 

How diverse are our landscapes? Well there are 4 provinces – units of land defined using major climate zones and native vegetation – across the state of Minnesota! 

Arrive from the east you’ll be met with the Eastern Broadleaf Forest that spreads narrowly across the state wedged between two other zones. This province is a transition, or ecotone, between semi-arid prairie and semi-humid conifer forests to the northeast. Most of the landscape features broadleaf trees (the type that drop their leaves).  Farmland is also abundant, though many stands of trees & woods are still prominent.  You’ll find us in this province! 

North of the Eastern Broadleaf Forest and a big chunk of the state is the Laurentian Mixed Forest. It spans from east to more than halfway across the state and heavily into the north.  This area is characterized by broad areas of conifer forest, mixed forests of hardwood & conifer along with conifer bogs and swamps. 

Heading west and south from the Eastern Broadleaf Forest you’ll land in the Prairie Parkland. This area of the state is dominated by tallgrass prairie. Ample grasslands as far & wide as the eye can see. These grasslands are an extension of the Great Plains. 

Heading north from the Prairie Parkland lands you in a wee wedge called the Tallgrass Aspen Parklands. This province forms the ecotone between semi-arid landscapes covered by prairie and semi-humid mixed conifer deciduous forests. This area is cold and dry, giving rise to prairie grass and fire-dependent woodland communities. You’ll most likely find those notoriously cold extreme Minnesota temps here (-40°F to -45°F), though winter temps of -20°F to -30°F are not uncommon throughout the winter. 

And those temps are without windchill!!! BRRRRRRR!

Luckily, Wednesday and its blanket of snow arrived on temps of mid 30s. Perfect outdoors in the winter temperature! 

Blue has seen snow before and is… vaguely enthused. He likes to eat the snow / catch snowballs, sniff and sometimes dig in the snow but doesn’t like cold toes or sitting in the snow. The snow doesn’t prompt zoomies nor excitement to play in for Blue. The mountain part of his breed (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog) seems to be missing haha! Though this is his first winter and it may take an adjustment to get him to a proper snow loving dog!

Mostly his main goal… find sticks to eat. 

And he’s nearly 6 months (on December 27th!) and has heard ALL of the attention capturing noises I make and finds them less than curious than everything else in the yard haha! 

Or… he’s a tween. Not quite the bitey puppy, not quite the teenager testing the world. Posing for pictures, lame! There are more exciting things to see & smell mom! 

All the pretty snow on the fences and trees was gone by the evening due to the mid 30s temps. No worries, cue MORE snow on Thursday! Blue and I didn’t do any pictures Thursday, but he was “helpful” in shoveling the snow haha!

We’re in a blog ring of dog & pet photographers from around the world! Next up get your dog ready for a day of fun in the snow with these 3 tips from Nicole of Pawtraits by Nicole!

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The dog & human bond

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The bond we have with our dogs goes deep, etched back into the seams of ancestry. In fact the dog & human bond may have led to some epic evolutionary events in our shared history. 

Backwards we go into time, not as far as the dinosaurs, but around the time the hominoids descended from the trees. These early hominoids transitioned into upright positions freeing their hands for use of tools for hunting. Dogs didn’t exist, though their wolf ancestors did. 

Time transitioned, the wolf becoming part of human life & transitioning into dogs as we know them in modern age. Many theories exist about domestication, though one of my favorite theories is that dogs played a part in the evolution of humans.

The thought goes: upright humanoids are effective at gathering, growing skilled at crafting tools with their hands. They can capture small prey, perhaps fashion nets for fishing, though they rely greatly on foraging for berries (this is where our genetics for eating sweet things comes from – sweet = typically safe to eat).  Hunting large mammals didn’t occur. Perhaps at some point, from frustration at hunting or mere observations, humans began to study how wolves hunted. Tribes that coexisted with wolves (as in a shared territory, not as companions) began to employ the tactics they observed from the wolves. These tribes found success more frequently, then fueled by animal proteins, they grew their brains. Hunting became the method of survival. The influence of hunting across many different tribes across many different landmasses didn’t mean information was shared, but observation of the wolves was observed. 

Hunting regularly meant that there were scraps and “garbage” tossed outside the edges of encampments. This kept mice & vermin out of the shelters & areas where the people lived and slept. Vermin and “garbage” meant an easy food source for the ancestor wolves. Wolves that were human friendly would be rewarded with scraps of food, perhaps a safe place to rest, if not protection when they sounded the alarm for incoming predators and opposing tribes. Each generation of human friendly wolf became friendlier, transitioning out of wild into domestication. (This also is the best theory for multiple domestication occurrences of dogs.) 

As wolves continued to transition into working companions, they began to aide our ancient ancestors in hunting, then transitioned into roles of guardian of kept livestock and watchdogs of the villages. Ancient humans began shape the wolves into dogs for certain purposes – hunting, guarding and companionship. And the dogs continued to aid in the lives of humans. 

Co-evolution and domestication of dogs and humans. 

No wonder our bond with dogs is so deep and vast. 

Zoom forward to modern day dogs and our bond with them continues to deepen. Our dogs have moved into companionship over traditional jobs and have moved into our households as family members. They inspire us, make us giggle, keep our secrets and love us unconditionally. 

In the realm of dog photography, capturing the bond you have with your dog is a must have image.

You may think… “Egads! I’m not portrait material. I need to [insert something like: lose weight, haircut, yada yada}.” SHUSH! In this moment, at this time, you are perfectly perfect for being in images with your dog.  Your dog loves you for the person you are, not the size or shape you are. If you were to lose your dog today, would you have images of them together that aren’t selfie style? (I bet the answer is no.)

Take Bender. As much as he was a tolerant model and in many images throughout the years, we did not ever have a portraits done together. There are a few casual pictures, a few selfies, but none of us together. This March marks a year since he’s been gone. 

So be in those pictures with your dog and celebrate your bond! And if you are still super adverse to being in pictures because of reasons A, B or Z, then we will get creative using parts of you with your dog. 

How about your legs and your pup? This is a great way to give a sense of size to your pup as well! 

Baby Blue & I byTiffany of TEM Photography

Or do an over the shoulder look. This works best with dogs who can be picked up, though it can be done in a sitting position too. 

Baby Blue & I by Tiffany of TEM Photography

Or just say “to heck with it” and jump right in! You’ll love the images and the memories tied to them. 

We’re in a blog ring of pet and dog photographers around the world. Next up New Hampshire Dog Photographer Darlene Woodward of Pant the Town Photography shares how a holiday getaway helped her continue the bond with her dog that has passed on, and it can help you, too.

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Puppy safety for the holiday season

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Today, in the downtime between our food comas and frenzied Black Friday buying, let’s talk puppy safety this holiday season.  For all puppies born after Christmas 2021 until now this will be their very first holiday season! Huzzah! This also means there will be tons of new experiences and things to explore with their mouths & teeth. 

(OMG Blue is so handsome & a pro at posing. I mean, come on, does a 19 week puppy get any more awesome?)

First let’s talk food. (Cue the holiday baking and the meal hosting.)

We all know the perils of onions, grapes and raisins, but did you know that the spice nutmeg is poisonous to dogs? If you use nutmeg in your cookie recipe don’t share a cookie with your puppy. If you want to share a cookie, leave out the nutmeg. 

Here are helpful foods tips for your puppy (and dogs) this holiday season:

NUTS

  • Pecans, black walnuts, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts are all toxic to dogs
  • Avoid almonds as your pup’s digestive system can’t break them down well (but they aren’t toxic in case your pup snatches one)
  • Pistachios aren’t toxic, but they can carry juglone, aspergillus mold, or mycotoxins that can cause liver failure. If you want to share one or two with your pup, make sure they are fresh and out of their shells. 
  • English walnuts (the type we classically eat), roasted cashews (no raw cashews for people or dogs!), Brazil nuts, pine nuts, roasted American chestnuts and peanuts are all SAFE for your pup in small amounts. 
  • Serve in small amounts as nuts are fatty and can cause tummy upset

SPICES

  • Garlic (dried & powdered form especially), marjoram, allspice, nutmeg, Bay leaves, cocoa powder, onion powder, curry powder are all TOXIC to dogs. AVOID these!
  • Cloves can be toxic in large amounts, but in a “whoops I dropped one on the floor” amount it won’t cause a problem
  • Vanilla isn’t toxic, but the amount of alcohol used in extracts & flavorings can cause alcohol poisoning in dogs!
  • Chili powder / spicy powders can cause upset & irritated gastrointestinal systems in dogs, though overall they are not toxic

HOLIDAY FOODS

  • Turkey is ok for your pup to eat, avoid giving them bones & skin. Stick to white meat as it is less oily than dark meat.
  • If you’re opting for traditional with a roast goose, or smaller with duck or chicken don’t fret, your dog can eat goose, duck & chicken!
  • Ham is high in sugars and salts, but overall isn’t toxic for dogs. A very small amount of ham is ok, the whole slice is not. 
  • Avoid stuffing – most frequently they contain onion powder, garlic & other spices dogs can’t have!
  • Limit fatty & oily foods (bacon, gravy, turkey skin)  as they can cause pancreatitis (when the pancreas becomes inflamed causing vomiting & abdominal pain) 
  • Avoid large amounts of dairy as it can cause upset tummies – plus some dogs can’t process lactase well!
  • If you’re making yeast breads, keep the dough away from your pup as the yeast can rise in their stomach! Once the bread or roll has been baked bread & rolls are safe for your pup to eat. 
  • Cookies & sweets should be avoided due to their sugar content (also their potential for nutmeg, cocoa or chocolate added in).

Good for your pup:

  • Sweet potatoes & yams (plain, peeled & cooked), white potatoes with skin peeled off (mashed, chunked or whole ok!), pumpkin, squash, cucumbers, carrots, green beans, peas, celery, corn, leafy greens, cranberries, bananas and apples. Make sure there isn’t any added ingredients such as salt, pepper, butter, sugar or other spices. 
  • MODERATION is key!

If you are hosting guests, make sure they are aware of your table scrap rules and what your pup can or can’t have. Let them know the things your puppy CAN eat. That way when Grandma “sneaks” a snack to your pup there won’t be any tummy troubles or worse. 

(Snow puppy Blue at 20 weeks! Not eating the lights on the fence…)

Once you’ve retired from the holiday table, consider the rest of the elements of the holiday season – decorations, lights & gifts! A first time experience for puppies! All the shiny, fluffy, dangly things, what fun!

Here are some safety points geared towards puppies (though will work for older dogs too!)

  • Christmas tree. If your pup is a persistent pesterer of the tree and it’s decorations, create a barrier to limit how much your puppy can interact with the tree. Work on “leave it” training too! You may want to negate a tree skirt if your puppy thinks its a toy for him. 

  • Ornaments. Make sure all ornaments from nose reach to the floor are non breakable and in materials that are less enticing (ribbon & yarn elements). This may mean the bottom half of your tree is bare, but its a better option than your puppy eating the ornaments or yanking them and the tree down!

  • Candy canes. The same rule as ornaments, hang them above where your puppy can reach with his nose. Sugar free candy canes contain Xylitol which is HIGHLY TOXIC to dogs. Avoid having sugar free candy canes (or any sugar free things like chewing gum) within your dog’s reach. Classic red and white peppermint candy canes won’t hurt your pup if he snatches one, but don’t let him eat the entire thing. Peppermint oil can cause tummy issues and can become toxic in large doses. Plus there’s a ton of sugar and the plastic wrapping the candy cane to be aware of. Or just skip candy canes on the tree so your pup doesn’t have any temptation. 

  • Strands of lights just beg to be chewed! Don’t let your pup chew them as they can get zapped if they chew through the wires! Plus there is a risk of them chewing off the bulbs – bulbs in your pup’s tummy can cause HUGE issues! Don’t wrap your puppy in a strand of lights for pictures (you’re merely asking them to chew the lights) and make sure to practice ample “leave its” when they encounter lights on the tree. Most lights for decoration will be high enough and out of reach, but if you have them lower as a backdrop pay attention to what your pup is munching on and work solidly on “leave its”. 

  • Gifts. Ah what other enticement is as an advertisement to “chew me” than the sharp corners of a crisply wrapped present? Perhaps the open topped fluffy tissue paper filled bag begging to be rooted through then torn apart. You don’t want your puppy tearing into other people presents (and having to rewrap everything) nor do you want your puppy eating all of the wrapping paper, boxes and things inside the gifts. “Leave it” training will come in handy, otherwise the barrier around the tree is going to be the safest place for gifts.

  • Decorative figurines, candles, knick knacks. When decorating your surfaces remember to take into account how tall your puppy is and what surfaces they newly discover as they look up and around. Recently a pretty towel that had been hanging on a pipe shelf in the dining room for an eon was noticed by Blue. He grabbed the towel, gave a big yank and the shelf, sign, vase and knick knacks all went tumbling to the floor (nothing broken). He had walked past this towel since arriving home at 9 weeks… Just be aware that your puppy will be nosey especially when it comes to new things in places they didn’t notice before. Keep breakable things, candles, and essential oils up and out of the way. This rule goes for anything you don’t want your puppy to assume is a wonderful plaything. 

  • Tablecloths & table runners. If your table doesn’t usually have a table cloth, your pup might delight in the drapey, flowy material and find it to be a rather entertaining tug toy. Pending the size of your puppy, your tablecloth may end up completely removed and everything upon it upended. A table runner that hangs over the edges of the table makes for an equally exciting tug toy for your puppy. Work on “leave it”. If you find yourself getting after your pup frequently, either tuck up all the draping edges or remove the tablecloth. 

  • Flowers & plants.  Nearly forgot to mention flowers & plants you may use for decorations or get as gifts. The classic poinsettia plant isn’t as deadly as we all have been told, though it tastes yucky to dogs and can cause nausea & vomiting. It would take a rather large amount of a poinsettia plant to be eaten before it becomes poisonous. Holly, mistletoe, lilies, daffodils and Amaryllis are all quite toxic to dogs (and cats too). Keep them well out of the reach of nosey puppies or skip them as decorations. If family & friends are going to gift you plants, request that they provide dog friendly plants (Christmas cactus anyone?). 
    ** Reference Pet Poison Helpline for all sorts of poisonous plants!

Remember, this is the first holiday season for your puppy and there might be a lot of overwhelm from the hustle and bustle of friends, family, gift opening, food cooking and consuming. Make sure you have a safe, quiet place your puppy can go to chill and nap away from the hustle and bustle. Don’t forget frequent potty breaks. Take some time to go on a walk – not only will it get you out of the busyness of the house but a tired puppy is a chill puppy!

In summation: foods that are toxic for puppies, along with foods that are healthy. Tips for keeping your pup from eating the Christmas tree, the gifts beneath and the decorations & lights about the house. 

These tips will help you have a safe holiday season with your puppy! 

We are in a blog ring with other pet & dog photographers from around the world! Next up visit: Elaine Tweedy of I Got the Shot Photography in the Endless Mountains of Northeastern PA talks about pet safety tips for the holidays.

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Gift guide for dogs & people who love them!

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The snow has fallen, the Christmas tunes are playing (egads!) and the tinsel coated holiday season is upon us! This means the gifting and holiday season (Thanksgiving to Christmas, occasionally on to New Years) has arrived! Time for gifts for all the dogs & the people who love them!

This is Blue’s first holiday season and Christmas!

Of course when asked what he would want for Christmas and what he’d recommend for other puppies & dogs, he merely gave me a head tilt and a look of… food, duh! Bwhahaha! Of course that’s what he’d reccommend!

His favorite treats: Bocce’s Bakery and Pure Bites Beef Liver. (Btw Blue says he will take 20 of each in the case that you’re getting him a gift haha!)

His favorite toys: a dollar store plastic bone, a half deflated volleyball, and Racool by Bulltug (Racool is a remnant from Bender, Blue also likes Trash & Seek also by Bulltug!) and Bark toys with squeakers and crunches. 

The following are some EPIC gifts for dogs and dog lovers! No affiliate links, these are just things we love!

Local Minnesota vendors we’ve met at the Minneapolis Pet Market!

For the dog lover:

For the dogs in your life:

Of course you can’t forget a portrait session with us – About A Dog Photography – or some AWESOME swag from Atomic Collars!

Happy early holiday season! Deck your pup and gift yourself or give gifts to the dogs & dog lovers in your life.

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