Dog Behavior Blog

Dog Exposure: Tips for Better Photographs

All dogs ought to be in pictures, but it takes an understanding of dog behavior to get a photograph that does justice to a dog’s good looks.

Some training helps

It is easier to get good pictures of a dog who knows a few commands and can pay attention. I had my dog photographed at a charitable event, and the people in charge of the booth were very concerned that a dog would hold up the line and make all the kids wait even longer. I led my dog to the mark, said, “Bugsy, sit, stay” then stepped behind the photographer, and said, “watch.” Bugsy looked at me, the photographer took the picture, and we were done. Total time from set up to shot? About 15 seconds. They probably wished half the kids were that easy! The training of many dogs is best described as a work in progress, but there’s no need to despair. Many dogs are riveted by motion, so wiggling a finger, waving an arm, or shaking a toy will keep many dogs occupied and looking in the right direction. If a dog has a tendency to consider “stay” optional, a slight lean forward by the photographer is often enough to keep a dog in place.

Cameras are scary giant eyes

Many dogs are terrified of cameras, which look like giant eyes pointed directly at them. In the dog world, staring is both rude and threatening. Dogs are usually less frightened by a larger lens far away than by a smaller lens close up, so a portrait lens is a good investment. Concerning the eyes of the dog, they are the most important feature to have in focus. A photo can survive having blurry parts, especially the fur and tail when in motion, but eyes must be sharp!

Head cocking

Most dogs look especially adorable when cocking their head. The easiest way to get a dog to do so is to make an unfamiliar sound. Try a click, a smooch, a woop woop, sing a few bars, imitate a bird, or any other sound that’s new to the dog but unlikely to scare him. Be ready to trip the shutter the instant his head moves, because he’s unlikely to hold his head in the cocked position for long.

Perspective

Proper perspective can make or break a picture. Getting down to the dog’s level rather than shooting from above will help avoid unflattering photos which show off and enlarge his nose. One of the hardest photo assignments I ever had was the cover shot for Way to Go!, a booklet about housetraining. The request was for a puppy urinating (which they only do for a few seconds) while parallel to the camera and looking at it in an endearing way. It was so important to be at the right height, that I was lying on the ground and crawling around, as photographers often do, which was challenging as I was eight months pregnant at the time.

Capturing a dog’s individuality

To get a shot to convey the essence of a dog requires incorporating the dog’s personality into the photo. Does the dog love to fetch more than life itself? Put a tennis ball or two in the frame. Is there another toy that is a constant companion? Use it as part of the foreground. Does she often have one ear up and one ear down, her tongue hanging way out, or one paw raised? Make sure her body parts are organized for maximum cuteness before shooting. All photographic and behavioral techniques aside, it’s that sense of having captured what makes a dog unique, not just beautiful, that leads to a picture a photographer can be proud of taking and compelled to share.

Karen B. London

Dog Lice and Diets

Perhaps I should have known better. I had been feeding my Standard Poodle Zephyr an inexpensive diet of dried kibble. I started doing this because I thought that all dog food was the same – after all, the same ingredients seemed to be on all of the packages, and the only thing that seemed to differ was the price.

Occasionally, someone would mention to me that I should change to a different or more expensive brand, but I had heard that switching a dog’s food could lead to problems like diarrhea and digestive upsets, and I certainly did not want my dog to suffer. 

And besides, I thought, all dog food was the same mix of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. So day after day, Zephyr ate his servings of kibble, once in the morning and once in the evening.  He was a sweet and good-natured dog, and seemed grateful for whatever I gave him.  This did not stop him from trying to eat the cat’s food, or get into the garbage, but I thought nothing of it, other than to keep a heavy jug of water on top of the garbage lid and keep the cat food up on a high shelf where he could not get at it.

Then, one day, after I got him back from being boarded for a week, I noticed some pale flecks around the golden fur ringing his nose. I took out some tweezers and peeled off a few flecks. They moved! I got out a magnifying glass, and was shocked at what I found.

Zephyr had lice!  In fact, his entire body was covered with these insects. He probably got these at the boarding kennel, but I realized that he would not have been susceptible if his immune system were not compromised in some way.

I thought long and hard about how to solve the lice problem. I knew that lice were difficult to get rid of. They lay their eggs on body hairs, and the eggs hatch at periodic intervals, so you have to keep washing the dog and applying an insecticide.

Constant application of insecticides did not seem to be the answer. Then I stumbled on some books on dog nutrition, and realized that the problem might be that I was feeding him food that lacked the nutrients he needed to build up his immune system. I looked further into the nutrition question. Some books suggested raw food diets might be a possible way to build up his resistance to these insects.

I thought about the potential pitfalls of such a diet. I had always heard that bone chips could be fatal to dogs. And besides, there was the problem of disease organisms, bacteria that might be contaminating the meat and could get him sick. I was not thrilled.

But my dog was suffering, so I decided to try giving him prime cuts of raw meat attached to juicy raw bones. He loved it! He spent hours chewing on the bones, and did not have diarrhea or stomach upsets. His coat became glossy, and the insects disappeared.

He also lost interest in eating cat food or getting into the garbage. The raw food diet seemed to have solved both the lice problem and the behavioral problem as well.

---Con Slobodchikoff

Living With the Four, Two and One-Legged

This is a guest posting by Katherine S. O'Donnell, who until recently worked at Pets Unlimited, an animal hospital and shelter in San Francisco.

I live with six four-legged beasts, a two-legged crumb snatcher and a one-legged husband.

Not too long ago, I delivered an almost 10-pound baby boy, and we brought home our son to meet the rest of our babies: two large dogs and four cats. My husband and I knew that we’d have children and just thought that we would make things work by having one of us tend to the animals while the other tended to the baby’s needs.

What we didn’t take into account is that five weeks after bringing home our son, my husband would completely shatter his leg in a motorcycle accident. All of a sudden I was taking care of a baby, a husband in a hospital bed and six animals on my own. It has been the most overwhelming experience of my life, and somehow my animals ended up being my saviors.

The animals seemed to understand the complexity of the situation and have been very forgiving. Even though I was determined to tend to everyone’s needs before my own, I found myself stretched thin with time and patience. My animals helped me to understand that everything was still okay. They turned out to be stronger than I was and allowed me to lean on them during the darkest days. Even though their days and routines had changed they still seemed happy. My dogs had to go on only one walk a day instead of our usual two. They did not get as much personal attention as I would have liked, but I never once forgot to pat them on the head or speak to them when they entered the room.

As difficult as my situation was, I never considered finding them a new home. Once we had made the decision to adopt our animals they instantly became family. They are now called my favorite “four-legged babies” so there can be a distinction between them and the two-legged or one-legged baby.

I have been to many shelters where animals have been surrendered because people feel their so-called loved ones would be better off with another family. The truth is that animals can be just as happy if you take care of their basic needs and simply acknowledge their existence on a daily basis. I’ve noticed that my animals are really pleased when I just pat them on the head, rub their bellies or say “hello” when our paths cross.

I sometimes feel guilty because it is not the life they had before the baby or my husband’s accident. Luckily they have all accepted our son wholeheartedly and we have taken small steps in introducing them. We offer both the animals and the baby a lot of praise and make sure to read the animals’ body language. We had them for three years before the baby came, so we have grown accustomed to their language and know when they need a break.

We have two absolutely wonderful mutts. Clyde is a crotchety 10-year-old Malamute/Retriever who thinks he’s king to all the household pets. We got him after he was hit by a car and left in the overnight drop box of an overcrowded shelter. He has such an amazing heart that I can’t even imagine how he ended up in there. Thankfully, a rescue organization saved him in the nick of time before he was scheduled to be euthanized. He keeps the rest of the animals in check and can be a tad moody. He probably wonders why he has four legs because he truly acts like a human being (as most Malamutes) and decides when he wants to be social.

Star is a happy-go-lucky five-year-old Rottweiler-mix mutt who was found stranded near a Bay Area freeway. She is my shadow and we have a very strong bond. When she started following me everywhere while I was holding the baby, I knew that she had accepted him. Now that our son is older and starting to sit upright, she loves to lick his hands and feet. I can’t say I’m a big fan of this behavior, as I know that her mouth has probably been investigating a litter box. But, I guess babies will find the litter box on their own someday in their daily adventures.

With all the different personalities in the household it has been entertaining to watch them thrive as a family. They have their good days and not so good days and seem to be willing to understand I also might not have a good day. 

My husband is now a little more mobile and starting to get around on crutches. He is in charge of watching the baby when I take the dogs on their mile-walk around the neighborhood. It is the one thing in their day that I have to keep consistent. Even if I’m tired and feel as though I have had a hard day, the walk is what they’ve been looking forward to most. I know that if I take that away from them they won’t be happy.

Throughout this ordeal, my animals have watched me cry, be sad, tired, frustrated, and yet they still love me unconditionally. They have never once judged me in how I’ve handled this crisis in our lives and have done an incredible job in accepting the new addition to our family. I will always be grateful to my animals because they have taught me to be more patient, understanding, loving and nurturing to all seven of them. Every day, I make an effort with them even though I’m strapped for time with having to commute, work, cook, feed, clean, and change diapers. In response, my animals show me that they are thankful to be a part of my family.  I will forever be grateful that they helped me through such a difficult time.

I share my story with all of you because when things get tough you can always find ways, even if they’re simple, to make it work. I have  met many new parents who feel that their animals would be better off with a new family. What they might not know is that 6 – 8 million dogs and cats end up in shelters across the United States and only half of them are adopted (Humane Society of the United States). Chances are if you make small adjustments to your everyday lives, your animals will benefit greatly and you can continue to live as a happy family.

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Preventing Cabin Fever In Winter

Bored dogs with energy to burn bark more, chew more, and have more trash parties. Though we love them madly, it's hard on the relationship when our dogs act up. Keeping dogs happy is easier in summertime with warm days, extra hours of light, and outdoor activities of every kind readily available. Winter is a different story with rain and cold, little daylight, and a tendency to stay inside. How can we keep our dogs busy enough that they won't go nuts during the cold, grey months of winter?

Plan to get outdoors

Rather than having vague intentions, create an actual plan for getting out. Decide ahead of time to walk or go to the park to play as soon as the rain stops. Head out during the warmest, lightest time of day whenever possible, and make excursions longer on the weekends. Find a buddy with a dog to share the commitment. When I lived in Wisconsin, a neighbor and I took our dogs out in weather so hideous that if it had been forty-five degrees warmer, it still would have been freezing. Neither of us would have been as likely to brave that kind of cold alone as often as we did together. Take to heart the motto that there is no bad weather, only improper clothing, and buy gear that provides warmth and dryness. Wardrobe issues are not just a human concern. For dogs who are not winter naturals, booties, sweaters and jackets may help.

Plan outdoor trips with the dog's capabilities in mind

Whether the outing will involve hiking, running or even cross-country skiing, it's important to accommodate any limitations by choosing carefully where to go. How good are the dog's leash manners? How does the dog react when there are dogs, deer, or people about? Will the dog be willing to cross over ice?  If not, will someone be strong enough and coordinated enough to "portage" the dog across safely?

Education is never a waste

The coldest, rainiest part of the year is a great time to take classes. General training either for the first time (yes, an old dog can learn new tricks) or as a refresher is only one possibility. Agility, tracking, freestyle, and Canine Good Citizen classes are all widely available. Canine massage, which provides benefits in behavior, health and relationship enhancement, is worth learning in classes or even from videos. Skills acquired in classes can have practical benefits. I had a client whose dog was able to track a child who had wandered almost a mile from a big picnic and scared everybody half to death, even though this dog had previously only tracked recreationally. Learning new tricks is a winter favorite of mine. I once spent a particularly nasty stretch during one winter working on teaching my dog to be a fire safety dog, so that when given the cue, he could stop, drop, roll, and crawl to safety.

Play

Whether it's an organized play group with several compatible dogs or play sessions with a human, dogs benefit in so many ways through play. Tug, fetch, hide and seek, and follow can all be done inside and are wonderful ways to pass the time and keep dogs from going stir crazy. Combining physical exercise, social interaction, and mental exercise, play is the perfect antidote to the winter doldrums. Even short sessions during commercial breaks for the TiVo®-lacking people among us can make a big difference in a dog's quality of life.

In winter, it takes a little extra effort to engage in exciting activities with our dogs, but there are few things better for our relationship with them than sharing experiences. It makes our dogs happier and easier to live with, and is a great gift we can give to them and to ourselves.

--Karen London

Dogs Have Mental Categories

Scientists know surprisingly little about the mental abilities of the dogs we live with and love. Partly, this is because it is so difficult to devise ways of testing mental abilities without provides cues about what is going on. The horse Clever Hans is a case in point. Clever Hans was thought to be able to add and subtract numbers, stomping out with his hoof the correct answer when given a problem to solve. Careful observation showed that Hans’ owner was providing subtle cues to the horse, by leaning slightly forward as Hans was stomping his hoof, and then relaxing slightly and leaning back when Hans came to the right number of stomps. Hans’ owner was totally unaware that he was doing this, and was extremely disappointed when he found out that Hans was not really a genius at doing arithmetic.  Similarly, when dogs are asked to pick up objects they have never seen before as a test of their language comprehension, they can use very subtle cues such as the direction of the gaze of the person asking the dog to perform, and follow that gaze toward the object that they are asked to retrieve.

A recent article in the journal Animal Cognition has come up with a clever way of testing the mental capacities of dogs.  The Austrian researchers (F. Range, U. Aust, M. Steurer, and L. Huber. 2007. Visual categorization of natural stimuli by domestic dogs. Animal Cognition DOI 10.1007/s10071-007-0123-2) trained four dogs to use a touch screen monitor, and touch with their noses a picture of a dog when they were given a choice of a dog picture or a picture of a landscape, getting a food reward when they made the right choice. The monitor was positioned so that none of the human observers could see the choice that the dog was making, and so could not cue the dog.

The pictures that the dogs had to choose were in color. For those who think that dogs do not have color vision, this is not the case. Dogs have dichromatic color vision, with peak sensitivity in the indigo-violet (429 nm) and yellow (555 nm) range. This compares with the trichromatic color vision of humans, who have peak sensitivities in the violet (420 nm), green (534 nm) and yellow (564 nm) range.  Exactly what colors dogs see with their vision is still not entirely clear.

The dogs were shown a variety of dog pictures, including just dog faces, dogs lying down, and dogs standing, and they had little difficulty in distinguishing the dog pictures from the landscape ones. Also, when the dogs were shown pictures of a dog standing in a landscape picture that previously had no dog in it, the dogs had little difficulty in deciding that this was really a picture of a dog, rather than a picture of the landscape. This suggests that they had a mental concept of a dog.

One the one hand, we can look at these results and ask, what is the big deal here? My dog gets excited when he is in my car and sees another dog. This could be a St. Bernard or a Pomeranian.  He does not get excited when we go past kids on tricycles, or past fenceposts, cows, horses, squirrels, or landscapes of stunning scenery. From this I conclude that he has a concept of a dog.

However, the big deal is that my conclusion is something that I can’t prove. Maybe he gets excited because I expect him to bark at a dog, and I make some kind of subtle movement that he picks up.  Maybe I slow down just a tiny bit so that I can see the dog better, and he picks up on that. There are a whole host of maybes that could be true.

With this study, the maybes seem to have been eliminated, and we are left with the inescapable conclusion that dogs have mental concepts of other dogs.

--Con Slobodchikoff