… and then we check your teeth.

just had to add the next two … i’m still sorting through Oxford’s shoot from Sunday … these may not even be the best shots from this group.  they just happen to be the first three …

have a great tuesday, everyone.  i’m off to meet another four wagging clients this afternoon … hoping that the weather gods don’t conspire against us.

as a pet photographer, it’s often easy to get so wrapped up in pointing your cameras at other people’s dogs and cats that you forget to capture those special moments shared with your own … or, as is the case lately, to even take the time to enjoy those special moments with my own scruffies.  i’ve been so swamped with shoots, administration, and post work, that i haven’t spent enough time with the scruffies who share my life and studio with me.  so this afternoon i took a little time away from the desk and played ball with merrick.

first the tease … i let the dog’s out, but forgot the ball.  it’s like the little monkeynuts reads my mind; he knows i’m coming with the ball vs. just letting them out to do their business …

and then the madness ensues …

if this next one doesn’t crack you up, well, you should  probably check yourself for a pulse … 

of course, there are always some misses when it comes to merrick … but he’s learning to focus.

these shots were actually taken as part of a project i’m doing for a group on flickr (probably the #1 online photo management and sharing site).  52 Weeks for Dogs is a group i started almost two years ago at the request of a number of flickr friends after i started my own 52 weeks project for my girl matea.  basically it’s about taking a photo of one dog every week.  the group is populated with a variety of photographers of varying talents and is a fabulous and busy pool of doggie information.  who knew it would take off and become the beast it has?  unfortunately, its popularity has forced us to close its doors temporarily in order to maintain that intimate feel, and new members are admitted as there is room, and at the beginning of each new year for the new project.

anyway, i have to thank the 52 Week group for so many of my favorite photos of merrick — without the challenge of our weekly photos, i know i wouldn’t have dragged out the camera except for client shoots.

so, 52 Weekers, these are for you!  merrick loves ya!

and for those of you who haven’t ‘met’ merrick yet, this boy has been with us less than four months.  we rescued him off of a puppy mill/farm where he was used for stud and clearly had been beaten and kicked around for the first five or six years of his life.  you can read more on his story here.  hopefully it’ll make you rethink pet stores, kijiji, classified ads and backyard breeders.

you’ve come a long way, baby!  (this taken on day 3 after we snagged him … terrified of the camera … using sweet morley as his security blanket) …

hope you’re all enjoying your weekend with your own scruffies, and taking time to enjoy the balls life throws ya, whether they’re curved or not.