Frenchie Tink

For many of us, our dogs are part of our family, and as such, are often the subject of our photographs. It’s not as easy photographing dogs, and we’re often disappointed with the results.

No matter whether you use a digital SLR or a compact camera, there are steps you can take to make sure you get the best possible photos of your furry friend.

1. Spend some time training your dog. It’s much easier to get a good photo if your dog will sit, stand, drop and stay when he’s told. You can use a squeaky toy to get a lovely alert expression on his face, but it doesn’t work at all if he hasn’t been taught to stay. Also, if he’s had some training, you’ll feel much more confident if you want him photographed without a collar and leash.  But, remember to keep it fun.  They should see that camera come out and think it is a game!
2. Have your dog groomed to perfection. If you’re going to spend the time taking photos of him, make sure he’s clean, his hair is trimmed and he looks his very best. Bring along a washcloth or some wipes to wash his muzzle just in case he drools a little.
3. Choose a nice location for the photos. A park or a patch of forest are both good options. The beach or river is another favorite place, but make sure your dog doesn’t go for a swim before you’re finished photographing him. Check the background and make sure there’s no objects in the way; you don’t want the appearance of trees growing out of your dog’s head.
4. Make sure you know how to use your camera. If the background is very bright, your dog will appear very dark in the photos. In this case, you can force your flash to work, and light up your dog too. You’ll get a much better photograph. Read your camera manual, and practice. Most cameras these days have some sort of zoom capacity.  Using a zoom length of at least 80mm will allow you to stay a reasonable distance from your dog, and avoid curious nose prints on your lens.
5. Get some help. It’s very difficult to stand away from your dog and take a photo, as well as tell him to stay, encourage an alert expression, and change the direction of his gaze. You’ll have much more fun in your photography session if there’s someone taking care of him while you’re at the other end of the camera.
6. Take lots of photos and be patient.  The real advantage of digital photography is that there’s no film being used, and it doesn’t cost anything to take hundreds of photos. Having said that, it’s still a good idea to wait and think before taking a shot. Take a couple of seconds to make sure the wind isn’t blowing fur across your dog’s face, he’s looking in the right direction, and the background is attractive.  When everything is just right, snap LOTS of photos.  You will have lots of good photos, and with a bit of luck a couple of great ones!
7. If possible, photograph your dog in the shade. This avoids dark shadows and harsh highlights, which can be difficult for your camera’s automatic exposure system to work with. It will also avoid photos where your dog is squinting. You’ll find the best light for photography is early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
8. Squat or lie down so you’re at your dog’s level, rather than photograph him from above. Fill the frame with the part you want to photograph, whether it’s just his head or the whole body. Another good angle is to get down low and photograph upwards against the sky or some trees. It turns out great, but again, you may need to force your flash to fire to avoid your dog turning out dark in your photos.
9. Keep an eye on his head position. Although dogs don’t mind their noses appearing big in photos, you will get a more attractive portrait if he’s looking forty-five degrees to the side. Try it and you’ll agree, it’s much nicer than a photo that’s taken when he’s staring straight at the camera.
10. Don’t leave your photos in your camera: have your good ones printed, or even enlarged for your wall.  If you want to be more creative, try some of the great digital scrap booking software that’s available. Add backgrounds, text and decorations, and create a real work of art.

It does take practice to improve your photography, but if you follow these ten steps, you’ll have photos of your dog that will take pride of place on your wall.

Article by Dog Fence DIY - Experts in Electric Dog Fencing and Do-it-Yourself Fence Building.

If ever in Texas and need a place to board your dog, consider Bo’s Bunkhouse. Bo’s Bunkhouse is by far one of the most interesting dog boarding facilities in the United States.

Here are several reasons why Bo’s Bunkhouse is #1 for Frisco Dog Boarding:

• It was started by a owner that love dogs more than most hotels love people.
• Bo is a rescued dog this boarding facility is dedicated to.
• They provide luxury lodging and accommodations for all dogs.
• They have a great reputation for providing premier pet care.
• They offer more than just lodging… They really take care of your dog.
• They provide healthy dog food choices.
• Twice-daily room service so your dog has a sanitized living corridor
• Unlimited water so dog never goes thirsty
• Plenty of potty breaks and outdoor exercising

These are just to name a few…
But so we don’t appear bias, here are several reasons why you may not want to send your dog to Bo’s Bunkhouse :)

• Your dog will be spoiled rotten
• Your dog may not want to leave the resort
• Your dog may fall in love with his or her temporary home and forget about you
• The hotel workers may provide your dog with more hugs and kisses than you

We love Bo’s Bunkhouse and it’s owner. There’s no question in our minds that whenever in Frisco, we have to give Tink and Chubs an opportunity of a lifetime.

If you are Frisco residents looking for dog lodging, there’s no need to look any further. These guys will take good care of your dog(s). Bo’s Bunkhouse is the premier Pet Resort in North Texas.

Happy Mother’s Day Moms

Our friend Jerry has an English Bulldog named Bruno. Bruno is 2 years old and weights about 70/75 pounds. He’s by far one of the nicest bulldogs I’ve met. He likes Tink and doesn’t care too much about Chubs. Jerry lives in Los Angeles. But every other weekend or so, he comes down and sometimes brings the big guy. If it were up to me, he’d bring Bruno every time he visited San Diego.

Here are some pictures of Bruno at a soccer game in O.B.

Is he not the coolest looking English Bulldog?

Yesterday we met up with some friends and their new Miniature Schnauzer named Kaiser. Tink and Chubs (our French Bulldogs) both wanted to bombard the new puppy with all their love and playfulness and were quite scary to Kaiser the new little puppy who was only 10 weeks old and brand new to other dogs besides his litter mates. Chubs would stand in front of Kaiser and just bark at him continuously like he barks at us when he wants to play, poor little Kaiser was so scared that he would back into corners or run up to the nearest person to pick him up. Tink was just as playful as Chubs and darted towards Kaiser and started wrestle with him, Kaiser was so cute and had this high pitched scream that just pronounced “get away from me you crazy dogs” We decided to take the dogs to a field so they could run around and get to know each other in a bigger setting where Kaiser could run away from the two crazy dogs if need be.

We had such a great time and by the end of the day Kaiser was warming up quite well to Tink and Chubs and they all became such great friends. They were chasing us around and running in perfect lines, each dog trying so hard to beat the other one. Pretty soon Kaiser was comfortable he just sat back and starred at Chubs barking at him instead of trying to run away. Here are some pictures from our day at the park as you can see everyone seems to be getting along just fine.

Pictures of Puppies - Kaiser, Tink and Chubs

I came across this forward today in my inbox and I felt compelled to share it. Sometimes all the stresses of the world stop us from realizing just how great life really is and far too often we take the simple pleasures in life for granted.  Take a minute and read this post I hope it brightens your day as much as it has brightened mine.

A Dog’s Purpose (from a 6-year-old) 

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.  I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.  As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.  

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.  

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ‘I know why.’  Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.  

He said, ‘People are born so that they can learn how to live a good Life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?’ The Six-year-old continued, ‘Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.’  

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.  

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:  

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

 Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.   

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently. 

 ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

At times nature can be cruel, but there is also a raw beauty, and even a certain justice manifested within that cruelty.

The alligator, one of the oldest and ultimate predators, normally considered the ‘apex predator‘, can still fall victim to implemented ‘team work‘ strategy, made possible due to the tight knit social structure and ’survival of the pack mentality’ bred into the canines.

See the remarkable photograph below courtesy of Nature Magazine.
Note that the Alpha dog has a muzzle hold on the gator preventing it from breathing, while another dog has a hold on the tail to keep it from thrashing. The third dog attacks the soft underbelly of the gator.

Click Here to See Image
*WARNING - Not for the squeamish