Photographing dogs: calm, attention and body language

This page is about the dog side of a portrait photo: choosing a place where your dog feels safe, reading its face and body so you know when it is relaxed, getting its attention, keeping it in place, and knowing when to stop. The camera side, from light to focus, is in the main pet photo guide. Here the subject is your dog's comfort, because a relaxed dog gives the face a portrait needs.

Start where your dog feels safe

An American Kennel Club (AKC) article on dog photos passes on the advice of a professional photographer: bring out your dog's character, choose a location where it feels safe and comfortable, and make the session fun. She suggests bringing treasured toys and rewards to put the dog at ease, and using familiar games or favourite tricks, such as a high five or a spin, to show its personality.

For a portrait photo, the safe place also needs soft daylight and a plain background. A spot near a window in a room your dog already uses often meets both needs. The page on lighting a pet photo explains where to put the window.

The same photographer says to read your dog's body language and watch for happy expressions, because those give the best images, and not to push a dog to perform. The next two sections show what to look for.

What a relaxed dog looks like

The ASPCA, the American animal welfare society, publishes a guide to canine body language for shelter staff and volunteers. It describes each part of the dog and says you should always read the dog as a whole and in its situation. The table below sets out its main points for the parts that show in a portrait photo.

The ASPCA says the corners of a relaxed dog's mouth may turn upward, and that slow blinking shows trust and affection. A dog in this state gives a soft, friendly expression, which suits a royal portrait.

Ears and tails differ by breed

The ASPCA points out two breed differences that matter for photos. Floppy-eared dogs, such as basset hounds, can still move the base of their ears forward and back, so look at the base of the ear to read the mood. Tails differ too. Some dogs, such as Chow Chows and Shih Tzus, naturally carry their tails curled over the back, while sighthounds carry theirs low and tucked. Judge your own dog against its usual position.

Signs of stress: when to stop

The AKC article lists pinned back ears, a droopy tail, lip licking and shaking as signs of stress or tiredness, and says that when you see them, it is time to stop. It gives two reasons: you will not be getting your dog's best self, and the dog will not want to pose for you again.

The ASPCA adds signs that can appear earlier:

• Yawning and lip licking, especially with a tight mouth and eyes that look away, can be early signs of stress.
• Whale eye, the white of the eye showing around the outside, means the dog is tense.
• Looking away from a person can show discomfort, fear or a wish to avoid the situation.
• Drooling when no food is present can show strong fear or stress.

The Ontario SPCA describes a sign many owners miss: the wet dog shake out of context, when a dry dog shakes itself off. It says this is a release of tension and may mean the dog is experiencing a stressful event.

Too excited to sit still

Excitement is the opposite problem. The ASPCA says an aroused dog may have a stiff body, a tail wagging fast and tense, dilated pupils, panting and high-pitched barking, and that a dog in this state will have trouble listening and may jump, spin, grab or run in circles. A playful dog, it says, is loose, wiggly and bouncy, and often starts play with a play bow, front end down and back end up.

Both states make a still face unlikely. If your dog arrives at the photo spot bouncing, play or walk first, then wait for the calm that follows. The AKC photographer's idea of using favourite tricks helps here: ask for a trick your dog knows well, such as sit, and reward it, so the session feels like a familiar game.

When the phone comes close

Bringing a phone near a dog's face can itself cause stress. The Ontario SPCA describes a "kiss to dismiss": a dog licking the face of a person or another dog that comes into its space near its face. It also lists stiff or slow movements, a lowered body and head, and leaning away as signs of a dog that is uncomfortable. If your dog licks at the phone or leans back from it, step back and use the 2x lens from farther away.

A stressed dog also gives a poor portrait photo. The ears are back, the eyes are wide and the mouth is tight. Take a break, play or walk for a while, and try again later or on another day.

Getting your dog's attention

A dog looks toward whatever interests it, so give it something interesting beside the lens. An AKC article on dog photos describes a photographer who wears a duck call lanyard with several different noise-making calls to get a dog's attention and different expressions. At home, a squeaky toy, a crinkly packet or a new word can do the same. Changing from one sound to the next is how that photographer gets a range of expressions.

Treats and toys help too. Hold them just above or beside the phone, so your dog's eyes point toward the camera. Keep the treats small, since you may need many.

A dog looking just past the lens can also give a good photo. In the same AKC article, a breeder advises taking some photos with the dog looking off past you or looking down, and says photos of an alert dog looking at something can be some of the best. For a portrait photo, keep both eyes visible. The page on camera height and angle explains which head positions show the face best.

Keeping your dog in place

A dog that knows sit and stay makes the session easier. For a dog without a reliable stay, the AKC article quotes a photographer who puts a thin show lead on the dog and has an assistant hold it snugly with no slack. She says that is usually enough to keep a dog in place long enough for a few photos.

With no helper, the same photographer uses a heavy block with a bolt in it and a thin line attached, clipped to the dog's collar. Only use a method like this with a calm dog and stay beside it the whole time.

She also says that a slip collar and lead in a colour that matches the dog make it easier to edit the lead out afterwards, and names Lightroom, Photoshop and the Retouch app for iPhone as tools for removing leashes. A thin lead that blends into the coat leaves less to remove.

Ask for help

The breeders in the AKC article say assistants make photographing dogs and puppies much easier. A helper can hold the lead, squeak the toy, or hand out treats while you stay down at your dog's eye level with the phone ready.

A helper is also useful after the session. One breeder suggests showing a friend or two your photos without saying which ones you like best, and asking them to choose. Their answers can make you see a photo differently.

Choosing the photo

After the session, pick the photo that shows your dog relaxed and alert, with both eyes sharp and the ears and mouth in their usual, calm position. The table above works as a checklist. Then check the photo for sharpness and brightness: the pages on sharp pet photos and on black, white and two-tone coats explain how. The gallery shows finished portraits of different breeds, so you can see what a clear, relaxed photo turns into.