Downtown DeLand Dog Parade 2017

What a super event on a lovely Saturday morning in downtown DeLand! I will add more photos to this blog post as I edit them. You can also find them on my Instagram, Facebook and  online shop (access code: delanddogparade2017) Feel free to save or share them, but please do not alter them.

Photography: When To Shoot In Black & White

It's amazing to me that technology has advanced so quickly and drastically from the original film cameras to digital. I had the privilege of learning how to shoot film from the Southeast Center for Photographic Studies before they closed their film section. Shooting in black and white film was probably the best thing I could have done, because I'm someone who much prefers to highlight color.

If you're shooting with a digital camera, there's a likely chance that it has a setting to photograph solely in black and white. It's a great practice to just get out and shoot with this setting, so you don't have the option to see what the image would also look like in color. 

As a photographer who tends to highlight color, I had to learn how to recognize what tones each element would migrate towards and how to capture expression, detail and contrast without the booster of color. 

Breed Of The Week: Rhodesian Ridgeback

The Rhodesian Ridgeback has a strong and purposeful history. In the mid 17th century, African Khoi dogs were the common dogs for hunting and used for herding and protecting cattle from animals such as lions and leopards. Through selective breeding and years of refining a dog who could endure the African bush, thrive in spite of extreme temperatures and limited water, and yet would be a brave and cunning hunter and loyal family dog. 

Today, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is South Africa's national dog and is known as an intelligent and focused hound. With the vigor to ward off lions, this dog can tend to be domineering and may not be the best fit for a family looking for their first household pet. 

They must be guided from a young age with a firm sense of clarity and rules, and are therefore require a great deal of patience and understanding to raise into happy and healthy dogs with a job and purpose. I highly recommend consulting a breeder to discover whether or not this breed would be a good fit for you. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are incredibly affectionate, but also determined hunters and leaders and are therefore not the best fit for everyone. 

Dog Training 411: Spotlight on Bruno

Bruno is a Shepherd and Lab mix who is doing such a fabulous job with the bike and backpack! His owners contacted me for training as they saw a few concerning behaviors such as spatial unawareness and the beginning stages of separation anxiety. 

They have done a great job of applying my methods of 1) exercise, 2) discipline, 3) affection (in that order) and have seen great strides of improvement in Bruno's behavior. Every dog needs a job, and I helped them discover that Bruno's job could be carrying water bottles on their daily walks. 

While Bruno's in home manners are still a work in progress, his owners continue to work with him regularly to instill a sense of respect and purpose to his coming and going in the house, and I believe he is on an excellent track to be free of separation anxiety soon. 

Photography: Oliver

Bark Avenue is a beautiful dog grooming boutique and playcare business run by Amy Neiman! From the first moment I met Amy, I recognized that she was such a professional person who had so many great things to contribute to the world. Her boutique is stunning, her skills with both dogs and people are so impressive, and her little right hand man is a charmer! 

Amy had me take staff pictures for her and her business, and I had the pleasure of grabbing this shot of her and Oliver. With a sad heart, I've been informed that Oliver passed away recently, and he will be missed terribly by all who enter Amy's Bark Avenue. This shot was taken at Bark Avenue using window light only, and Oliver wasn't the easiest dog to photograph, but I'm so glad that they have this photo to cherish. 

Breed Of The Week: Puli

The Puli is a fascinating and beautiful sheep herding dog from Hungary, though its similarities in appearance to the Tibetan Terrier have made some believe it could originally be from China. They have a stunning coat, consisting of two layers that matte as they age, depending on how it is groomed and cared for.

A loyal family dog who is always looking for a job, the Puli can be skeptical of strangers and has a more naturally dominant disposition. While they fit into smaller homes and suburbia life due to their medium size, this dog is most ideal for the farm. 

They can become over protective and take a dominant role in the household if not given clear rules, boundaries and limitations. I would highly recommend consulting a breed specialist who can inform you more fully on whether or not the Puli would be a good fit for your household. 

They make fabulous pets, but the time and dedication it takes simply to maintain their coat is above and beyond what most family dog owners are looking for. The Puli is truly a unique and stunning breed, and they are fabulous at sheep herding!  

Dog Training: Taking Your Dog To The Dog Park Is Not Enough

The local dog park is such a great invention! Bringing your dog to a place where they can play with other dogs, sniff new trees, splash in water and get their jitters out is awesome. But it is simply not sufficient as their entire exercise regimen. Since the dog park is packed with very rewarding experiences, it is much more natural for dogs to have access to it as a reward at the end of a long walk rather than in place of their walk.

This is how I like to think of the dog park: it is a place that is full of a myriad of energy levels. Some dogs are more dominant than others, and some dogs have more stamina than others. The dog park will always be a hyper, tense, relaxing or healthy place for dogs depending on the dogs that are currently at the park and how healthy those dogs are physically and psychologically.

It's very common for people to bring their dogs to the dog park without walking them first, so the jitter bug is high, and many times people are unaware that their dog immediately dominates the environment of the dog park once they arrive, making it potentially tense ground when other dogs enter the scene.

I'm not saying that everyone walking their dog before going to the park would solve all of the problems that happen at dog parks, but it would certainly lower the energy level and make for less problems in the long run. The good news is that you don't have to worry about what other dog owners do or don't do with their dogs, all you have to do is focus on your dog and their health. 

I believe it is best for your dogs overall health to socialize them after you exercise them. That way they are less likely to overreact in a tense situation, and they have had an opportunity to get in sync with you and your rules on the walk. So take your dog to the dog park, but walk them first!

Photography: Fitch

I absolutely love puppies. They are so full of life and joy, and they always brighten up my day. One of my favorite part of photographing them is catching the adorable quirks about their appearance and personality. Fitch is an adorable mixed breed pup, and I loved her ears, smile, and facial markings. These are some of the things I tried to highlight when I took this picture of her.

I believe she may have Belgian Malinois and Border Collie in her breed, making her ears both stand and curve. Check out the detail of textured hair on her ears!  These little details give puppies so much speech to their language of cuteness. I loved catching Fitch's character and quirks, isn't she just precious?!

Breed Of The Week: Chinese Shar-Pei

The Chinese Shar-Pei has existed for many centuries in the souther provinces of China, at least since the Han Dynasty, around 200 B.C. While the origins of this peculiar breed are vastly unknown, the Shar-Pei got it's name from it's rough, sand like coat. The word Shar-Pei literally means "sand skin", though is loosely translated as "sandpaper-like coat". 

It is thought that the Chinese Shar-Pei were the dogs of peasants, often bred for hunting, guarding, and herding. This breed is highly intelligent and trainable. Though they are easy to exercise and socialize, many owners have discovered just how destructive these beautiful dogs can be when not properly exercised and socialized. 

Shar-Peis are adaptable and protective, known to pick up a myriad of jobs due to their versatile background. I would highly recommend walking your Shar-Pei daily, and taking them to as many social activities as possible. They are great family dogs, though they can be skeptical of strangers and unfamiliar dogs if not socialized regularly, so they are not ideal for the homebody family. 

Dog Trainer: How To Teach Your Dogs And Cats To Get Along

If your dogs and cats don't currently get along, you are probably keeping them separated and constantly frustrated trying to keep track of them. 

I lived with this same frustration for about six months as I worked through my cat hating my dog and my dog trying to eat my cat. Keep in mind: you can certainly work through these problems and have your cats and dogs live together in harmony, but it's a daily incremental process. 

Highly recommended is working with a professional trainer through this process, so you can have guidance along the way. Cats and dogs have some similarities in their body language, but many differences.

Dogs instincts inform them that small and non-dog animals are for playing with and chasing, whereas cats tend to put off a vibe and are accustomed to other cats understanding whether they want to be left alone or not. Cats don't always pick up on dog body language and dogs don't always pick up on cat body language. 

You can absolutely teach your dog that the cat has exclusive rights to be in locations and have special attention, and that they are to ignore the cats when they are near the dogs. And you can absolutely teach your cat that it is not acceptable to hiss and run away into a dark corner every time it sees the dog. 

These are things that I taught my cat and dog, and now they get along great, though they mostly respect each others space and ignore each other. Consult a professional trainer who can help you understand what to do if you are in a similar situation.