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Category Archives: news and rumblings

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dogs magazine ~ {stock pet photographer}

16 March 2012 – 8:44 am

i say it at the beginning of every blog post — if you want to see the latest images from here at scruffy dog headquarters, client sneak peeks and all the latest news — you need to be following the scruffy dog facebook page.  i’ve just not been able to keep up with the blog as much as i would hope, with countless scruffy dog clients from last year not even making it on the blog with proper entries.  oh but to have more hours in a day.

but here’s something a little different …

i don’t often have the opportunity or time to share the commercial and editorial work that SDP is involved with, but when the Picture Editor of dogs magazine, from Germany, emailed me the .pdfs of the latest SDP images used in their absolutely gorgeous, extra-sized publication, i figured i’d share.  seriously, dogs is like Vogue, only it’s dogs!  big, rich, glossy, top quality publication.  there’s nothing like dogs, and i love it … well, i’m sure i’d love it a whole lot more if i remembered even half of the german i studied in school!

so here you go … a few pages, starting with none other than the goober …

and my main girl, matea…

what i love about working with European editors and agencies, is that European style … they’re always choosing some of my favorite images from the SDP portfolio.

i’ll share more as i have time.

have a great weekend, everyone!  now walk your dogs!

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the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society 2012 calendar is now available! ~ {Waterloo, Ontario pet photographer}

18 November 2011 – 12:33 pm

do you have your KWHS 2012 calendar yet?

as part of our ‘giving back’ initiative here at scruffy dog, for the past several years, scruffy dog has photographed and designed the KWHS charity calendar which raises thousands for the Centre to help the orphaned animals.  and this year’s calendar is filled with dogs and cats who have been adopted from the KWHS Centre!  this is extra special for me since the ultimate ‘giving back’ is not only raising significant funds, but — of equal importance — raising awareness of the plight of abandoned cats and dogs, and the overpopulation of shelters just like the KWHS.

part of raising awareness is to show people the amazing dogs and cats available … contrary to popular belief, most shelter pets don’t come with a laundry list of problems or behavioral issues.  almost always it’s their former humans who had the issues — buying a puppy of a breed that is not suited to their lifestyle or abilities, or a change in living situation which forces people to give up their pet, or just plain laziness.  for almost as many pets as are in shelters, there are as many reasons as to why they have wound up in their desperate situation … but in most cases, the issue is not with the pet, it’s with their former human.

i hope that the extremely happy, well-loved dogs and cats in the pages of this year’s KWHS calendar this year — some of which are purebreds — will not only demonstrate the amazing companions that can be found in any shelter, but perhaps — even in a small way — alter at least a few people’s thinking and beliefs on adopting from a shelter instead of buying that cute, cuddly puppy from a store, a backyard breeder, a farm (which is almost always a front for a puppymill situation), or from listings on Kijiji or Craig’s List.

these are just a few of the amazing pets i met this year during the calendar’s shooting …

… big boy Figaro, one of several extremely loved cats in the home …

and awesome doodle Dixie …

then there’s fun-loving Static …

and ball-crazy Orville, whose guardians opted for a full scruffy dog session.  you might remember Orville from his graffiti shoot back in the summer … or from the sneak peek of his big session in the early fall.

and little, smiley Milo …

these are just a few of the happy faces of rescued pets you’ll find in the KWHS 2012 calendar.

and with scruffy dog’s clean design, it is our hope that this calendar will appeal to just about anyone, as all the profits go to the animals of the KWHS.

these 2012 calendars can be purchased directly through the KWHS website or picked up in person at the shelter for only $15.  get yours today!

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we have a PoochPalooza winner! ~ {Ontario pet photographer}

27 September 2011 – 10:16 am

as he did all weekend at PoochPalooza — drawing winners of the daily door prizes (valued at over $750 each!  see what you missed!?) as well as the 50/50 draws — i decided to let Merrick Goobernuts McScruffy make the final draw of our fabulous PoochPalooza weekend … this one is for a scruffy dog Starter session, valued at $150!

i gotta admit, the goober is getting pretty good at this ballot-drawing thing …

the winning ballot is backwards, with names of the additional household pets on the back — Gracie and Tyson — so he had to turn it around for me … and the winner is …

George, the french bulldog, owned by Suzanne McQueen!  hope to hear from you and George soon, Suzanne!

and thank you, everyone, for stopping by and visiting us at the scruffy dog corner of the big tent this past weekend.  it was awesome meeting all of you and your 4-leggers!  hope to see you next year!

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PoochPalooza! this weekend!

22 September 2011 – 7:40 am

are you the guardian of an ultimate dog?

would you like to learn a bit more about topics like canine nutrition and canine rescue?  watch and participate in demos like agility and scent work?  and take a leisurely walk along the trails across 25 acres of gorgeous grounds?  well, then, if you don’t already have PoochPalooza marked down on your calendar this weekend, you need to make some fast adjustments.

you can find more information about this new and fabulous event on the PoochPalooza website, directions, schedule of seminars and demos.  here are just a few highlights …

first, there’s the vendors … dog-related booths to visit and with dog-products and experienced vendors to connect and chat with.

then there are the stunning grounds of the Caledon Inn with its groomed trails on which to take Rover for walk …

then there are rescue groups to visit, and i’ve heard that there are going to be adoptables in attendance!  so if you’ve been toying with the idea of adding a new member to the family, you might just find them here!

of course, like any fine, upstanding dog festival, there are contests … the Ultimate Talking Dog and Ultimate Dog Trick.

there’s food and drink!   the entire grounds of the Caledon Inn is licensced, so while you’re enjoying the vendor areas or watching a demo, and while Rover is enjoying all the treats and handouts, you can indulge a little yourself with some beer or wine … and there will be lots of fresh food made daily.  Rover shouldn’t be the only one bringing his appetite when coming to PoochPalooza!

and if that isn’t enough … there are swag bags for you … AND two door prizes to be won — one for each day, with the draw being held at 5 p.m.   these are h-u-g-e door prizes, worth $750 each!  and you and your ultimate dog could win one of these just for attending!  these door prizes consist of:

scruffy dog photography gift certificate

a dog bed

brooming gift certificate to Bryson’s

Benny Bully’s super bulk pack

Northern Biscuit treat pack (we’re talking a LOT of biscuits!)

Creemore Springs beer pack

Cuz Dog toyz (who can resist a Cuz?),

and much more!!!

all of that, and attendance is FREE with a $2 donation to Newf Friends and Project Jessie.

so … is PoochPalooza on your calendar yet?

hope we’ll see you there.  scruffy dog will be in the big main tent.  we’d love to see you!

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nominations for the KW Record’s Readers Select Awards ~ {Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario pet photographer}

28 July 2011 – 9:58 am

to all of our most awesome clients and followers … The Kitchener-Waterloo Record has launched their annual Readers Select Awards as of yesterday.  these online nominations are taking place right now, and only until next Wednesday, August 3.  after the tally, the top five businesses in each category are then open to voting as of August 31, so each nomination counts!

as most of you know, i don’t generally ask for this kind of thing … but i also realize that a lot of you may not even be aware of these awards.  so i humbly encourage you to visit the nomination link at the bottom of this post (click on the Readers’ Select Awards image) and — only if you feel confident in doing so — cast your nomination for scruffy dog photography as favorite Kitchener-Waterloo “Photography Studio”.

of course, being pet-exclusive means we don’t see the kind of high volume of clients that bigger studios experience with multiple photographers working under the same brand, shooting kids, weddings, couples, portraits, etc., but hey, i figured the nomination process was worth mentioning.

the form is easy and fast to fill out … i’ve done it myself to nominate some of my favorite businesses including favorite pet shop, favorite animal vet clinic and a few more.  and no, i didn’t nominate scruffy dog … that’s up to you — our loyal scruffy clients and followers in K-W and beyond!

there appears to be nothing in the Rules and Regulations that prevents non-Kitchener-Waterloo residents from nominating their favorite businesses … so for all of our wonderful scruffy dog clients in surrounding areas, please feel free to visit the link and quickly fill in the easy nomination form.

NOTE: the “Photography Studio” category is on the first of several pages of categories … once you have filled in your favorite K-W Photography Studio, you still have to click the “Next” button to go through the few other pages in order to complete the form. And hey, if you have another favorite K-W Photography Studio, I totally understand!  It’s all about choosing your favorite.

also, please note: only one online ballot per email address will be accepted.

thank you to all who continue to show your support of scruffy dog photography!

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