Mr Dax is one of the funniest dogs I have ever photographed. As you can see from these portraits there is a huge personality in this guy. He loves Attention Cuddles “Stretchies” Being an active participant Changing the channel or turning off the TV Toys and trying to find out where his new toys are hidden Stealing Socks, going to the beach Being on a farm and herding cattle Walking through puddles on purpose and getting his white coat dirty with mud Hanging out with his friends at Doggie Day Care.

He will not go to the bathroom if someone is looking at him. Once Dax realizes it’s time to sleep, he immediately jumps on the bed to claim his spot. When he wakes up he lays on his back and asks for “stretchies” (have his legs stretched out and massaged). He likes to steal plastic knives and then peek out from behind a corner with the knife in his mouth. Whenever he figures out you are trying to take a picture of him, he looks away. He doesn’t like cleanliness – as soon as you put his toys away, he will take them back out and scatter them around the house where he originally had them. Loves to steal paper. Obsessed with paper. If it is paper, he must steal it. Even Money. He will crouch in the down position and then slowly move forward, inch by inch as if no one sees him until he reaches the paper, stretches out to grab it delicately from a corner using only his front teeth and then runs away with it and tears it up. In his mind, super secret mission – complete. While out on a walk, if there is the slightest wind he crouches down and walks as though he is facing a hurricane. Dax has to be involved in everything. He needs to know what is going on at all times and he has to be in the middle of the action. He needs to inspect anything and everything that comes into the apartment to give his seal of approval. If he notices something in the apartment is different (furniture moving or things changing place) he must also inspect and give his approval. If one is laying down on the couch, his favorite seat is not on the couch itself, but rather on your head. In his head, he believes he’s a fraction of his size. If he is sleeping on the couch and you wake him up, or accidentally touch him he will wake up and yap like a grumpy child.

There is never a dull moment with Dax especially with his super-expressive face and willingness to take on any adventure. Originally, he was supposed to be a Jack Russell Terrier mix and it was anticipated that he’d be half the size he grew to be. His bad-boy/ rebel without a cause personality paired with his never ending energy have proven to be a big challenge in raising Dax, but as his trainer pointed out “We often get the dog we need, not the dog we want.”. So true!

I thought I would share a few of my posing people with pets tips here with this shoot with Dodger and is humans. I get asked a lot… How did I get the animal to do that?. Most of the time, I am waiting for the dog to look a certain way or getting them still and relaxed. The have the owners to follow direction and pose with them. Though, I am able to get the pets to look a certain way, with either a treat, toy or ball. My top 3 poses are shown here in the shoot…

Mav the Cav, is sweet, loving and mischievous in all the right ways. I first met him at the Puppy Bowl I photographed in Chelsea and I knew he was special straight away. He also so has special, kind and big hearted humans Ally and Scott.

Ally said, ” We finally decided to get a dog because we wanted to be able to do Therapy Dog work with them. My dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and will eventually need more care and I read about how much Therapy Dog’s can help these patients. We searched everywhere for the right pup and that’s how we found Maverick!! Now that he just turned one we will be taking the therapy dog test in a few weeks. We will volunteer in hospitals in NYC until the time comes when my dad needs Maverick’s love all for himself. He babysits Mav now and they already have this special bond. That’s the greatest thing about Maverick is his ability to love people instantly and bring joy to their hearts, getting him was the best decision my husband and I ever made.” He also gives amazing cuddles! ❤

So this week I started a new part-time job as a Dog Nanny to this little Gremlin called Typo. She arrived from the south 2 weeks ago and has had a hard time adjusting to city life. She wont walk on a leash and when left alone, she will bark and cry till you return. So thats where my professional puppy patting and cuddling skills come in. She is very sweet and more than happy to hangout with my while I work. Though she can be a bit bossy and demanding always telling me when she needs something, like cuddles, pats, ear rubs, belly rubs and more. Of corse I am happy to oblige with all these demands. ❤

Happy Easter!

This big, beautiful, blue eyed baby is Samson.

Samson is a biblical name synonymous with Herculean strength and derives from “Sun” in Hebrew. It only seemed fitting as my Samson is going to grow up to be 150+ lbs and he lights up a room.

He has absolutely no idea how big he is! He constantly trips over his own paws and runs into things because he thinks he’s smaller. He’s also very clumsy and slips and slides all over the floor, it’s adorable.

Samson’s is the laziest bones imaginable, he loves to cuddle and nap constantly! He is also very sassy and not afraid to tell you off, if you are annoying him. During the shoot we had to move him around while napping and he was not impressed with being disturbed at all. He grumbles and grown’s at any interruptions.

I can’t wait to see him grow into and gangley teenager, with long limbs.

Another great year at ACK Meet the Breeds show in New York City.

Miss Kiki loves her twin brothers Hugo & Elvis. Even though she can tend to be the odd one out at times, she does her best to play cat with them both. ❤ ❤ ❤