Thursday, December 13, 2018

Golden Reindeer

Golden Reindeer
Golden Reindeer



Golden Reindeer
Henry: "He he he!"



Dog Blog Post #2511


You know it's Christmas time when the Reindeer Antlers come out!

Look at what a good boy Toby is. I let him sniff the Antlers, slipped them on his head while giving him a treat, and he was sold on the experience.

Photography Assignment



Daily Dog Challenge 2593. "Festive"

Our Daily Challenge - December 13, 2018 - "Squeezed"

That would be their heads... by the headbands.

No, of course it's not tight. When they tip their heads down the headband slides right off.

Which is why I'm standing so close - as evidenced by Henry staring at me out of the corner of his eye.

Scroll over a shot and you see my Plan B image, where Toby isn't wearing Antlers, and I'm standing back by the camera so the boys are looking (almost) forward.

100x in 2018 : #91

Happy Henry
Henry - down time


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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Santa Dog and his Elf

Good grief - has it really been a month (plus) since I posted last?

As always, my Flickr stream is updated MUCH more frequently (a couple times a week, hopefully working its way back nearly daily): https://www.flickr.com/photos/bztraining

Moving right along...

Today I uploaded pretty much every shot I took, as I worked my from "easy" to "hard"...

In the Beginning...
Off to a good start


You'll notice that for several of these shots the boys are looking straight ahead. This is because Toby's much improved stay allows me to move behind the camera.

FWIW: In the shot above, Henry is looking at me while Toby is looking at my hand, which is stretched out, waving over the camera while holding a cookie.

Jingle Collars
Henry: "Toby isn't sitting up"


Yes, dear, I see that.

Jingle Collars
Not bad


Santa Dog and Helper 49/52
This was my favorite!

Let's turn it up a notch!

Santa Dog and his Elf
Santa Dog and his (wrinkled) Elf



Santa Dog and his Elf
Santa Dog and his Elf



Dog Blog Post #2510


The Elf hat proved problematic, as when Toby's head was down you could see the hat but he looked worried, and when his head was up he looked fine but you couldn't see the hat.

We worked multiple times on Hat Wearing over the course of the day - a few seconds here and there for lots of cookies - so by the time it came to making the shoot he was fine with it.

Toby's hat is held on by a thin plastic headband, which is taped to the inside of the hat. It wouldn't hold if he was moving around, but is sufficient for shoots and goes pretty much unnoticed - at least until I put the hat on it.

Henry's hat is just stuck on his head. But then, Henry's a pro at Hat wearing.

Photography Assignment


Our Daily Challenge - December 6, 2018 - "Cube"

Yes, I should have turned the package so the corner was toward the camera (sigh).

But I was so focused about the REST of the shoot (hint: puppy) that it didn't occur to me at the time.

Daily Dog Challenge 2589. "Holiday Colors"

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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Draped Dog

Draped Dog 42/52
Perfect Pair


Dog Blog Post #2509


The final shot (above)

Although, to be honest, the "less than perfect" (cough) shots tend to be a lot more fun (below).

Toby is laying down this week because he's too tall to be seated and make a comfortable composition with Henry laying down.

And because his down is good enough that I can get the shot.

The real issue was the drape - which Toby found Very Interesting.

On the bright side, he found the drape SO interesting that he (mostly) left the camera alone.

I guess that's an improvement. :)

As before, String Cheese made a wonderful reward. It's not sticky, greasy, or crumbly - and a hit with all parties.


Photography Assignment


Daily Dog Challenge 2542. "A Whiter Shade of Pale"


Not Ready For Prime Time Shots


Working With Amateurs
Toby: "What's this?"
Henry: "A prop. Leave it alone."



Working With Amateurs
Toby: (chew chew chew)
Henry: "Mom!"



Pfththththth
Toby: "Pfththththth"
Henry: "Amateurs"



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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Ready for Halloween

Ready for Halloween
"Trick or Treat!"


Dog Blog Post #2508


Photoshoots with a 14 week old puppy (today!) can be very... entertaining.

Toby has two "poses" right now - this one (which you've seen several times before) and the one where he's charging toward the camera.

(sigh)

A work in progress... the pup is definitely a work in progress.

On the bright side, Henry dutifully stared into the pumpkin even though the only thing inside was a pile of rocks to make it harder for Toby to run off with it.

What a good boy!

What I really need is to draft Hubby into guarding the camera for me, although I'm not sure his presence next to the camera would be a deterrent or a lure.

Photography Assignment


Daily Dog Challenge 2537. "Pumpkin"

2018 Weekly Alphabet Challenge - P is for Plastic


Toby vs. Drip Line
Toby: "Henry made me do it!"



Instigator
Instigator: "He he he"



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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Busy Busy Busy

As I've said before - when you actually something to blog about you probably don't have time to do it.

Here's a few highlights since the last post, or just hop over to:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bztraining/

... to see them all.


Handsome Boys
Toby at 13 weeks old



Portrait of a Dog
An old pro



Little Retriever
Retriever In Training



Bitey-Face 40/52
Bitey-Face



The Apprentice 39/52
The Apprentice



Play Time
Down Time



Golden Retriever
Under a Watchful Eye



Water Play
It's a Dog Thing



Bitey-Face
More Bitey-Face



Dog Blog Post #2507



Photography Assignment


Click on any image to see if I have anything else to say about it. :)

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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Modeling for Momma

Puppy vs. Box
New Toy!



Toby is leaving the camera alone (enough) to try for a solo shoot.

Yes, the box entertained him.

Yes, he was about to go down for a nap and so he was a bit slower.

But I still think it counts, don't you?

Don't worry - Henry had a few easy shots to get things rolling (and the camera focused) and got just as many Cookies in the end!

Daily Dog Challenge 2515. "Play Time"

Our Daily Challenge - September 25, 2018 - "Recycling"

Every Amazon delivery comes with a free Dog Toy on the outside!


Glamour Shot
Glamorous Toby


Dog Blog Post #2506



Photography Assignment



Yesterday...



Bath Time
Good Puppy


Bath Time
Very Good Puppy


Bath Time
Still a Good Puppy



Daily Dog Challenge 2516 "Soft"

Our Daily Challenge - September 27, 2018 - "Just in Case"

A towel, of course!

Photo Shoots with an 11 week old puppy (10 weeks 6 days) is... interesting.

There is no doubt who is in charge, and it sure the heck isn't me.

The lesson for today is that Henry looks at my face and Toby looks at the food. Hmmmm.

I’d love to say that Toby has a wonderful sit-stay. But seriously, he’s an 11 week old puppy. Rather, Toby knows sitting is heavily rewarded and patience gets you the Cookie (string cheese) faster.

The net result (for my purposes) is pretty much the same. Five to six seconds where I’m not in the picture. Best of all, once I get him where I want him, I can treat him between shots and he’ll stay put.

I’ve also found a good time for him - just before his late afternoon nap - and a good treat (tasty but not TOO tasty).


Bath Time
Done being Good Puppy



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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Thursday, September 20, 2018

What Did You Do?

What Did You Do?
Uncle Henry: "What did you do?"


OR

... just a random shot that made me smile. :)

Dog Blog Post #2505



Toby
Puppies are so darned cute





Puppy vs. Hose


Puppy vs. Hose



Puppy vs. Hose



Puppy vs. Hose



Puppy vs. Hose



Puppy vs. Hose



Photography Assignment


Drinking from a hose is harder than it appears!

Not that Toby cares, as he happily stands there and slurps, snaps, and paws at the water on a warm late-summer's day.

His "wading pool" is a plastic storage box, possibly intended for large/long rolls of wrapping paper.

When full, the water comes to just bellow Toby's belly - just right for splashing around in!

After playing in the water, he trots over to a sunny spot of grass and rolls around with obviously puppy delight.

Henry keeps watch but abstains from the frivolity, which suits me fine. While I can dry off Toby in a few minutes with an old dishcloth-sized rag, the same can't be said for the Big Dog!

Daily Dog Challenge 2512. "Not Perfect"

Our Daily Challenge - September 20, 2018 - "Surprise"


Wet Puppy
Super Puppy!



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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Busy Week

The irony of blogging is that when you finally have something to say you often don't have time to say it!

So here's a few "highlights"...

A Good Puppy
We have a winner!


A Good Puppy
Practicing Hats



My Boys 37/52
Getting better



Puppies are Adorable


Toby



Toby



You Called?



Chew Chew Chew



Toby and Henry



"Firsts"


Field Trip
Field Trip!



Shhhh
First Daytime Crating



First Day of School
First Day of School



Puppy vs. ...


Toby
Chair Spindle



Water Play
Hose




Bitey-Face



Bitey-Face
"Roaaarrrrr!"



Bitey-Face



Bitey-Face



Bitey-Face



Bitey-Face



Big Dog / Little Dog


Toby and Henry


Dog Blog Post #2504


Photography Assignment



Toby
Somewhere, Zachary is smiling


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© 2018 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved