Dog Stuff & Things

It’s really easy to have a cool dog this summer – especially since we’ve landed in a hot hot humid hot week that reminds us that summer is for lazing about. 

• First step, AC. Air conditioning. 
  Hot & humid days are rough on us, but they are also rather rough on your pup. Imagine being wrapped in your Great Aunt Val’s floor length fur coat and jogging around the yard. That’s what your dog does on the daily. The thicker your dog’s coat, the more easily your dog can overheat. So crank the AC and lounge indoors with your dog.
• Early ass morning walks and late evening strolls. 
  The middle of the day from noonish to roughly four pm is going to the blazing hottest due to that lovely overhead sun. Asphalt & blacktop is going to be nearly hot enough to cook eggs (surface temp needs to be 158 degrees to cook an egg). In a 95 degree air temp day in full sun asphalt & blacktop can be a blistering 155 degrees. Concrete in full sun lands you at 140 degrees for the same air temp. Dirt & sand can be rather warm too, mid 90s air temps can push dirt & sand into the 100s for surface temp. Grass can get warm especially in full sun, but shouldn’t be as blazing hot as asphalt, blacktop and concrete.  If you need to walk in the middle of the day, see if you can find a grassy park to stroll in (bonus: loads of sniffs).  Otherwise with the ass crack of day for a morning stroll and/or head out for your steps into the darkening evening as the temp drops. 
  
  FYI: A surface temp of 125 degrees can burn your pup’s feet within 60 seconds. That’s an air temp in the 70s…
• Hark back to childhood with sprinklers, hoses and pools
  Hook up the sprinkler and encourage your pup to dash through it. Bonus: you’ll water your dry yard in the process too! If your dog isn’t a fan of the sprinkler, try the hose. Blue is a fan of chasing the water from the hose and biting it. Great for keeping him cool, pain in the ass when trying to water the garden haha! Not every dog is a fan of the hose either, make sure if you chase them with it it’s not a stressful scary event. If sprinkler & hose are out, break out the kiddie pool. Solid plastic pools are the best as they thwart dog nails, collapsible dog friendly pools are another good option, though sharp pup nails can damage them. Put in a little water and encourage your pup in to cool off. For those hesitant, use treats and toss toys they have to retrieve from the middle of the pool. Or step into the water yourself and your pup may follow too! For those who are water lovers, toss in toys that sink and float, ice cubes or treats to make the water even more fun. Otherwise sit back and giggle as your dog swims and splashes laps around the pool. 
• Bucket of ice block
  Literally a bucket of water frozen. Ice cream buckets (we know you have a few on hand, we’re not judging) work wonderfully for this cool toy for your dog. Fill the bucket with a smidge of water, freeze. Next layer add snacks such as peanut butter, carrots, blueberries, or watermelon and add more water to cover the snacks. Freeze and repeat until the level of ice meets the rim of the bucket. Thaw slightly for easy removal, plop it in the yard and let your dog lick and chomp his way to all of the tasty bits! You can add chicken stock to the water for even more enticement. 
  
  
• Look cool with Atomic Collars. 
  Make sure your dog not only stays cool but looks cool this summer. Atomic Collars (made by me – Cahlean!) are MEGA cool dog collars featuring funky and unique materials and patterns. Big collars, teenie collars and everything between. 

These are great ways to keep your dog cool (and looking cool) this summer! Blue & I really love spending our time in the AC with this gnarly heat this week. 

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And a quick midsummer update: 

• TONS of gardening, weeding, watering and encouraging growth –  mostly the entire month of June
• A trip to Michigan with mom at the end of June – huzzah for road trips and antiquing
• Blue turned ONE the end of June! EEEEEEK! He’s halfway to adult! His weight? 112 lbs as of this morning! (His dad is 130 lbs!)
• Starting next Tuesday I will be partnering & volunteering with Tri County Humane Society to do updated pictures of adoptable dogs! Stay tuned for blog posts about each dog & cat I photograph and let’s help them find new homes!

EEEEEEEEEK! He’s not a baby any more! Look how Blue has grown! (BTW, this is a good reason why you need professional puppy pictures! Your puppy will never be small and squishy again!)

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!

• Barkuterie Box 
• Dreamy Pups
• Class Act Cats (if you see Joey at an event he has cat toys!)
• Kobe & Company (website will be live mid November!)
• Artsy Animals by Sarah
• Sweetie Pie Collars
• Dog Gone It Dog Treats
• Pupacasso Paints – your pup can paint a picture!
• Riverrun Acreage
• Missy Pup & Co
• The Funky Pet Shop
• Raw Delivery – freeze dried & dehydrated treats!
• Treat Me Too Dog Treats
• ZoZo & Co
• Marnies Marketplace
• Floof & Woof Co
• Saffron Dog Co – snuffle mats
• Jack and the Pack – skijoring, harnesses for pulling
• Loon and Beau
• Juniper in May 
• Morey and Me
• Nylah in the Clouds
• Good Dog Apparel Co
• PawFect Products LLC
• Must Be Ruff
• Curtis Collars
• Custom Keepsake Drawings
• Squirrel! 
• Animals Fur Days
• Good Dog Design Co
• Shop Shantii
• Crench Paw
• Cow Dog Confections
• Barkley’s Bistro
• Diogie Brand
• Teef Health
• Ope Apparel
• Treatos & Co

For the dog lover:

• Dog Astrology 
  
• dog on lap socks
  
• Dog tarot
  
• towel or two towels!
  
• ugly portrait
  
• farty candle
  
• love like dog hair
  
• best twinning ever! Or pick a different pattern! (if you opt for twinning, I’d love to do portraits of you & your pup!)
  
• treat bags for amping up your dog’s skills
  
• custom portrait in by Lili Chin! (Or find something awesome in her shop!)
  
• Dog thinks I’m cool hoodie or long sleeve version
  
• Bake your pup something tasty!
  
• Hugo Coffee via Amazon or directly from them
  
• Inspire your matching game
  

For the dogs in your life:

• Dog Flirt Pole – tire them out – we have! Blue loves!
• Keep em hydrated – we have!
  
• crunchy carrot! – we have!
  
• Get your chew on! – we have! Blue LOVES!
  
• snuffle style! It works, sorta a t shirt like material – we have! Blue really likes
  
• Bark toys!
  
• for those who love to fetch
  
• nosework cups
  
• play with plush
  
• autoball
  
• ice cream!!!!
  
• cookies that are doughnuts! There are also holiday packs & advent calendars!
  
• Holiday dog tags
  
• pick your favorite bandana & support small businesses
  

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.

The summer temps are on the way (forecast for the upcoming week are high 60s, into 70s with a peak in the 80s on Wednesday & Thursday). Which means we need to be proactive about keeping those dog toes and the dogs who own them cool! 

3 tips for keeping your dog’s toes cool on these coming dog days of summer:

(Fyi “dog days of summer” comes from when the star Sirius – the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major – rises alongside the sun in late July. The Romans believed Sirius added to the heat of the sun and when the “dog star” was around the days would be hot. Hence the coining of “dog days of summer”!)

1. Avoid asphalt!

When air temps rise in the summer, the surface temps of asphalt and concrete also rise! Which means your pup will be prone to severely sore pads of their feet, if not blisters and burns! Ouchy!

Here’s an idea of what the asphalt temperature would be on a hot day:
– air temp at 77˚ F = asphalt temp at 125˚ F
– air temp at 86˚ F = asphalt temp at 132˚ F
– air temp at 95˚ F = asphalt temp at 149˚ F
(Skin destruction can occur in 60 seconds at 125 degrees!!!)

And it’s not only asphalt that can burn your dog’s toes – concrete can easily tip beyond  100˚ F on hotter days as can brick. Sand and dirt can be a bit cooler than asphalt but can also get super toasty under toes (we’ve all been at the beach with a “hot hot hot” mantra as we scurry to the water’s edge). Grass stays the coolest, though full baking in the sun grass will be warmer than in the shade grass. 

Not sure if the surface is too hot? Place the backside of your hand on the surface. If you can keep it there for 7 seconds without getting scorched it will be ok. If you only get to a few seconds before feeling the burn, then it’s WAY TOO hot for your pup to walk on. 

On days that are 70˚ F and hotter, its best to avoid asphalt, concrete and brick especially in the middle of the day and even into the evening. Dirt, sand and grass are the best bet, though if they’ve been baking in the hot sun they may be on the too toasty side too!

2. Walk when it’s cool

From the time the sun rises to when it sets, it begins to warm the surfaces of the world. And being a constant heat source, surfaces gain and retain the heat until the sun wanes from the sky. Which means when temps pass the 70s during the summer it is best aim for walks and playtime when the day is at it’s coolest – morning and in the evening after the sun has set. 

Mornings will grant you the coolest surfaces and you may be able to enjoy the cooler surfaces for the first hour or two the sun is up. As the day heads into a later morning the temp will increase and continue increasing until the sun begins to head towards the horizon – roughly 2 hours before sunset. Air temps will drop, but surface temps will take a bit to chill from retaining heat from the day. 

Do the hand test to gauge when it’s best to walk in the evenings, it may be much later than you think! If you end up walking in evening after it’s dark out, make sure to have reflective or glowing gear for safety. 

Check out these LED collars for nighttime strolls. Or snag a reflective leash. (The links are affiliate links fyi). 

3. Break out the pool or head to the beach!

What better way to keep cool on hot days that with a dip in a body of water?

Snag a hard plastic kiddie pool (or opt for a dog friendly version that can be folded up for storage), fill it up and invite your dog in for tons of splashes and watery playtime. If your pup isn’t sure about the contained puddle of water, time to do some training! Break out the treats, reward for one foot, two foot, three foot, all four! Once your dog realizes the water isn’t all that bad, invite them to pounce on toys or balls or to splash around.  (Or opt for a sprinkler instead of a pool for a two for one benefit – your dog stays cool in the spray of the sprinkler and your grass gets a good watering too!)

Check the water in the pool frequently and replace once it starts to get muddy, gunky, full or leaves or scum. If it looks yucky, you won’t want your dog to drink or lounge in it. Dump and refresh for more watery summer fun!

Or pack up the beach towels, sunscreen and your dog and head to the beach! Tons of fun can be had running and rolling through the sand, bounding through and chasing the waves, retrieving toys from the water and so much more at the beach!  Remember the sand might be hot to your dog’s feet so you may need to carry or create a path from towels so they don’t burn their tootsies before hitting the water. 

Things to consider for a beach trip:

• Check with your vet if your dog needs the Leptospirosis vaccine (or if they already have it). Leptospirosis is a gnarly bacteria that can make dogs super sick. It can be found in slow moving & stagnant water and comes from infected urine, which gets in the water. Dogs classically become infected when they drink infected water. Caught early on it can be treated with antibiotics, though there is risk that your dog can have kidney or liver disease. 
  
  
• Follow the rules of the beach – stay in the areas designated for dogs and keep your dog from causing a ruckus (zoomies through sandcastles!) so everyone can enjoy the beach. Make sure you have poo bags and snag that shit asap!
  
  
• Consider a lifejacket or long line for your pup. A lifejacket is great for all types of swimmers and will help them stay floating if they tire out or overcome by waves. A long line attaches to your dog with the end in your hands or within close reach. It allows you to reel in your dog if they start to swim out too far or you think they need a break. 
• Bring ample towels! Depending on the size of your dog your may need a couple to get excess water off for the ride home, along with a set to line your car seats for the ride home. Roll down the windows for an air dried pup on the way home. You will want to do a rinse via the hose or in the bath when you get home to remove any sand, lake water or lake things from your dog’s fur. 

Huzzah! 3 awesome ways to keep your dog’s toes cool as the spring heads into the dog days of summer! 

Hello dogs! Are you excited for your session? EEEEEEEEK! Me as well!

Let’s talk about what to wear for your session! (We’ll give you some recommendations to tell your hoomans too!)

• Collars

  – Wear a flat collar that is clean and not ratty or worn out
  – Solid collars or patterns are totally OK! Match to your parents or be bold & stand out!
  – No prong collars or E collars – if you do wear them they WON’T be edited out of your images
  – Need a new collar? Check out: Atomic Collars, Penny’s Collars, Wolfgang, Wild Moon Dog Co, The Foggy Dog Co, Ninja Bling, Squeaky Egg Collars, Fuzzy Logic Collar Company, Cloud Nine Collars, Sidekick Collars, Lonesome Ranch Leather, Adam’s Leather Collars, Hypnotic Dog, CuddleMutt or head over to Etsy to find the perfect fabric. 

^{Old beat up collar – great for daily walks & jaunts through the mud & woods. Not great for your session!}

• Harnesses

  – Make sure it is clean, not ratty and well fitting
  – Harnesses WILL NOT be edited out of your images
  – Solid colors or patterns are ok! (If you opt for a pattern, make sure it works with your parents’ outfits!)
  – Need a new harness? Check out: Lupine Pet, Wolfgang, Sniff & Bark, Leeds Dog Supply, Wagwear, Bentley and Bowie, 2 Hounds Design, Bonefly, The French Dog (the waffle collar & harness!!!), or scour Etsy for the perfect print or color!
  
  

• Leash
  

  – leashes will be removed in ALL of your final images!
  – neutral colors are best, avoid patterns
  – no retractable leashes
  
  

• Bandana / Neckerchief 

  – make sure it is clean and not ratty
  – great to add pizzazz and personality to your images!
  – bold colors are great, neutrals are pretty, opt for colors that don’t blend in with your fur (black on black, tan on tan etc)
  – yes you can wear patterns! 
  – if you’re including your human parents in your pictures, this is a great way to coordinate with them!
  – Who doesn’t need more bandanas or neckerchiefs in their collection?
  For neckerchiefs check out: Atomic Collars, Olive & Tate, Tailored Tails & Co, An Olive Branch Grove, Boe & Ruth, E&V Collective, Helen Penny Shop, Paw Paw Design UK, Barkable Boutique (house collars), Oakroo, Koo Koo Pooch, Doxie Threads,  Bark and Bow Shop, Hey Roux (neckties), My Woof Wears, Hound and Tailor, Mama’s Love Design, The Original Potato, Pumpkin Corner, Vinnie & Paws or do some searching (neckerchiefs aren’t as easily found as bandanas)
  For bandanas check out: The Foggy Dog, Lucy & Co, Crew Lala, Ripley & Rue, Three Spoiled Dogs, Kirk & Willie, The Rover Boutique, Val & Co, Northstar Hounds, Nomadic Tails, Clive & Bacon, Happy Breath, Life for Paws, Fox Named Todd (they have cute t-shirts for dogs too!), Dogdana Co., ZoZo & Co or head to Etsy for a BAZILLION more options!

What’s the difference between a neckerchief and a bandana?

Bandanas are a TRIANGLE shape. They can be tie on or have a snap closure system. Classically the knot will rotate as its being worn so the design will end up on your shoulders. (Don’t worry, we’ll tweak it into place for your pictures!). Neckerchiefs are a RECTANGLE shape, no point! They tie on and the knot becomes an adorable bow under your chin. 

You can also opt for a bow tie, flower, or scarf (if you’re doing a winter session these are TOTALLY adorable!)  to show off your personality!

What should my hooman parents wear if they are in pictures with me? 

First and foremost, make sure your hoomans wear clean, non beatup shoes. They WILL end up in pictures with you no matter what size you are. Also make sure they wear (or at least bring) comfortable shoes for when we walk from point to point during your session. It’s no fun for your mum or dad to be sore halfway through a trek in the woods. 

There’s two ways you can coordinate their outfits – you pick your collar & accessories & they find matching items or they pick their outfits and find matching items for you. So if you fall in love with a shark bandana then your hooman parents would pick blues and greys to compliment.  Say your hoomans love mustard & navy like below:

Then you would match to their choice in colors with navy or mustard (or mustard & navy) bandana or neckerchiefs – see below for ideas! Heck you could even match your collar or harness to their outfits! 

If your parents aren’t sure about mixing patterns, tell them it’s totally ok! Best bet is a pattern & solid together, or a floral pattern with a plaid. The ideal is to have their outfits in similar tones (all blues, greys, mustards etc) or in tones that compliment each other – navy goes well with coral, mustard, rust and turquoise. Pair soft pinks with sand, mint, lavender and pale blues. Blues and greens work wonderfully together, mustard pairs with cranberry, turquoise and purple work well together. If they stay in a tonality range (rich colors, pale colors, bright colors) the colors they pick ought to coordinate quite well. T-shirts are dandy too but make sure they don’t wear any t-shirts with graphics on them!

Tell your parents to anticipate the season we’re going to have your session in. Spring & fall can be warm, can be chilly, layering is going to be their friends. Summer speaks to lighter weight materials. If your mum or dad tends to sweat, tell them to avoid greys & lighter colors (minus white) if the humidity and temperature are on the upward trend. Darker colors (navy & black are best) will help hide any sweaty regions. In the winter the temp can be cold to really cold (we won’t do a session if the temp is under 20 degrees) and layering is a MUST! If they don’t have any classic coats that look sharp, then they will discard them for any images they are part of. Additionally tell them that proper footwear is a MUST! 

What if my sister or brother (who are also dogs like me) want to be in the pictures? 

Make sure they have a clean, non ratty collars or harnesses. If one of you wears a harness and the other doesn’t, it would be best that you BOTH wear a harness or BOTH wear a collar for images when you’re together. With bandanas & neckerchiefs, use the same rules as above – pull from your hoomans’ outfits, or inspire theirs. If you want to wear the same bandana or neckerchief for total matchy matchy, go for it! Otherwise pick a pair that coordinates – perhaps the same color but a different tone for each of you (it’s called monochrome!). A light blue & dark blue, hunter green & kelly green, etc. The same advice from above – pair a floral with a solid, a plaid & floral, different patterns but the same tone and so on. Consult Pinterest for ideas (don’t worry that most are people themed, you can follow the same coordination inspiration!). Avoid contrasting patterns or colors, we want to show a unity to your sibling, not a contest!

Oh you’re not really the matchy matchy type? Tell your hoomans to head to Pinterest for ideas for their outfits and save the bandanas & neckerchiefs for pictures featuring only you! Feel free to bring a couple of options if you like and we can mix and match in according to backdrop. 

When should I go to the groomer? 

If you’re a dog who regularly goes to the groomer, we should coordinate your session a few days after your groom so you look sharp & clean. If you’re a pup with longer eyebrows but aren’t due for a full groom, pop into the groomer for a trim. If you happen to need a full shave due to matting (it happens, we understand) we should opt for a session a few weeks afterwards so your coat can build up a bit. 

If you’re a dog that’s a wash & wear type, opt for a bath the day before your session. Skipping the bath? A good brushing the day of your session before we meet up will be perfect. 

Make sure your hoomans are groomed too! Have your dads trim their beards, goatees and mustaches. Both mom & dad should have their hair trimmed the week before we meet up if needed. 

What should I make sure my mum or dad packs for the day? 

POO BAGS!!! Make sure to have a roll ready and in available because sh*t happens.
Aside from poo bags, you will want to bring:

• a bottle of water & bowl – especially if your session is during the late spring, summer and early fall seasons
• your favorite HIGH value treats (make sure to let me know if you have any dietary restrictions!)
• your favorite toy – we can include it in your images as a memento or just use it to get your attention
• a change of bandanas / neckerchiefs or collars – we can do outfit swaps throughout your session 

Perfect! You’re perfectly prepped on what to wear for your session!

A new study launched recently and it confirms that your dog’s personality has little to do with their breed! (We all knew this already!)

“There is a huge amount of behavioral variation in every breed, and at the end of the day, every dog really is an individual,” said University of Massachusetts geneticist Elinor Karlsson, co author of the study. She mentions that dog owners love to talk about their dog’s personality (noted when she visited a New York dog park).  The enthusiasm sparked the inquiry into the extent of behavioral patterns are inherited. Are distinctive and predictable behaviors linked to breed? 

They found 11 regions in the genome that are significantly associated with behavior – howling & human sociability were inherited (makes sense as dogs were the first domesticated animal and have lived with humans for 20,000+ years…). But regions associated with behavior are not linked to breed! The study found that behavioral characteristics found in modern breeds are environmentally influenced (aka polygenic) and found with variable prevalence… in ALL breeds! 

The thought is these behaviors marked as characteristic of modern breeds come from thousands years of environmentally influenced adaptation that predates modern breeds. There are some behavioral variances that are defined by dog breed (ie biddability) though overall breed is NOT a reliable predictor of individual behavior (such as agnostic threshold – which measure how easily a dog is provoked by frightening, uncomfortable, or annoying stimuli). 

Thusly, most components of behavior & personality are not defined by breed! 

Do you think your dog’s breed defines his or her personality? Or not?