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Internationally-renowned, award-winning animal photographer Illona Haus created scruffy dog photography inc. as the province's premier pet photography business in 2007 ... the first of its kind in Canada ... and, still today, continues to serve clients across Ontario, the US and the world. Based in Kitchener, Ontario and photographing exclusively animals for almost 20 years - both commercially and for private clients - Illona is considered one of the world's leading and most influential pet photographers.

 

To learn more about scruffy dog photography, its creator, history, and the scruffy dog experience, feel free to browse through the menu above, and scroll over a decade's worth of blog entries below!

 

Please drop me a line! I'd love the opportunity to capture stunning, creative, one-of-a-kind photographic memories of your 4-legged loved ones to treasure in artwork for a lifetime, and show you just what makes the scruffy dog experience second to none.

blame me ~ {Ontario pet photographer}

so, yeah … we all thought — perhaps a little naively or optimistically — that spring was here.  we could see the lawn … little glimpses of green and the promise of a new, and much-needed season.  we’d started to address the landmines in the back yard and fantasized about walks every single morning, undaunted by icy sidewalks and snowdrifts.  hell, i swear i even spotted happy little buds on the branches of some of the shrubs at the very back of the yard yesterday while staring out the back window during a business call.   again, though, it could have been my eyes — colluding with my overly-optimistic brain — playing very nasty tricks on me.

and then last night happened.  they said it would snow, but …

needless to say, the dogs were probably more surprised, as they were too busy napping to catch the weather report on the evening news.

merrick was not fond of the sudden reversal of seasons.  in fact, he hurried his pooping, but returned to the door without peeing.  poor bugger had to be sent off a second time …

i’d hazard to say we have over a foot on the back deck which was dry as a bone yesterday …

of course, i should have known already a week ago that this was going to happen … after all, that’s when i’d booked my appointment for today with Toyota to have my winter tires switched for my summers.  bad dog.

so, if anyone is to blame for this renewal of the winter season, it’s me.  sorry folks.  perhaps, to counteract this, i should drag out the lawn mower and start it up?  or wait, maybe that would only make things worse?  no, i think i should go buy a snowblower … this mess’ll melt before i even get that beast gassed up!

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  • JennyPicture of Merrick by the door… great expression 🙂ReplyCancel

  • scoobieDid he pee? How did he know that’s what you wanted him to do?ReplyCancel

    • illonayes, scoobie, he peed. he’s a good boy. merrick went from puppymill dog who didn’t know how to live in a house and would literally hold his pee for 16 hours, wouldn’t pee in the yard, to today — peeing on command. he was the toughest dog i’ve ever trained in that regard, but he’s got it. i watch from the back window … i’m sure he wonders how it is i know whether he’s whizzed or not … and if he comes to the back door without having done his business, i simply tell him: “did you pee? you need to go pee. go do your business.” and off he goes to get the job done.ReplyCancel

  • Susan HumphreysMakes a great backdrop for a photoshoot of your pack though!

    Susan Northampton EnglandReplyCancel

  • Jean (allegro ::)Silly, silly! We always get a snowfall in April 😉ReplyCancel

  • Patlol…………I’m sorry for all the snow, but couldn’t help laughing about having to send Merrick back out to pee……………………..ReplyCancel

  • DarleneYour writeup is hilarious…please do go buy a snowblower and next time get your tires changed in July! lol Wonderful shots of the dogs enjoying our renewed winter!ReplyCancel

  • JenniferSlightly (severely) jealous here. We only got 3 inches. Barely enough to make Blue happy or the skiing decent again.ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonYup, too optimistic! Too early to remove snow tires girl! You live in Canada, remember? Great shots of you wild things romping into the storm!ReplyCancel

lolli! ~ {Toronto pet photographer}

wouldn’t every Monday be so much better if they could all start with puppies!?  well, i certainly can’t help you out with every Monday, but this Monday i can certainly help you out with a smile or two.

you met Lolli first in her sneak peek, but i thought i’d share a few more images from the Winter segment of her Winter/Summer session …

i started off the session with a little fetching with one of the Cuz balls that i brought along.

this little girl is going to turn into a consummate fetcher … and even at 12 weeks of age, she’s got a good recall.

we had a fun time out in the fresh snow, just a couple blocks up from scruffy dog studio …

i can’t wait to see this girl in a few months, running through the grasses and fields …

of course, being a puppy, Lolli loves to chew …

she tries to be all innocent … like: “oh, i won’t destroy this lovely little shrub” …

… but that never lasts long.  rawr!!  Lolli the destroyer!

Lolli is Maria’s first dog, and they’ve already got her in training.  i think she’s going to grow up to be a wonderful girl.

it will be fun to watch her grow up through her photo sessions …

thanks for a fun afternoon, guys.  i hope you enjoy your preliminary gallery, Maria.  looking forward to seeing you guys again in the summer!

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  • jessOh i love these!! It reminds me of my pup when she was little and romping through the snow 🙂 CUTE CUTE CUTE! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • LainerShe is adorable, and looks os innocent! LOL!ReplyCancel

  • TrixWow, I love all your photos but these are just too beautiful! I really look forward to your posts and admire your work. Lolli is just beautiful and you have captured her so well. Her feet remind me of big polar bear feet. Take care and keep spreading the pet love.ReplyCancel

  • Jean (allegro ::)Makes me make a happy face :))ReplyCancel

  • Lori E.She’s precious! And what HUGE feet! The first photo is my favorite. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonSuch amazing work! I know it would be hard for me to choose. You are just toooooooo good!ReplyCancel

  • illonathanks so much, everyone. so glad people are enjoying this little dollface.

    of course, now i’m wondering if i should have spaced out the cuteness … maybe spread Lolli out over the week so we could smile every single day. 🙂 … she’s pretty darn infections, ain’t she?

    Serena, honestly, i didn’t even think about the challenge until i got home and started post work. then i was like: “d’oh, this one’s new!” lots of white balance issues … i don’t mind a little bit of blue cast on the snow but not too much. lots of playing around with colors and tones … but i had a blast. as for the light … when i saw it coming through the trees, i knew i had at least a little magic on my side. 🙂

    thanks again, all.ReplyCancel

  • ChristineBeautiful! Simply Beautiful!! Thank You for bringing a smile and warmth to my heart after a long day at work!! Nothing like a puppy to melt all the days stress away!! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • SerenaWhite dog on white snow, you like a challenge:D Totally nailed it. Gorgeous light.ReplyCancel

  • Jackieyou just made my week, let alone monday! what a beautiful puppy! really loving the blue tones in the shot where shes looking up from the bush.ReplyCancel

  • MarlaI can’t pick a favourite from these – they are all equal parts gorgeous and adorable. Lovely lighting, Illona. Just gorgeous work!ReplyCancel

  • Katie Hyou’re a brilliant photographer, illona – you really are.ReplyCancel

  • Jenniferok all your shoots are great but i can’t even pick a few favorites from this one. puppy cuteness overload and amazing light! how will the owners ever decide? impossible not to get a massive book with all the photos.ReplyCancel

  • SarahSo freakin’ cute!!!! So glad they are documenting their first doggy with you!ReplyCancel

  • hollyWOW WOW WOW! I keep meaning to email you! Seriously amazing work. I look so so forward every day to seeing new stuff from you! This post definitely made me smile on this Monday morning!ReplyCancel

barkley’s snowy session ~ {Ontario pet photographer}

you met Barkley in his sneak peek a while ago, and then in an entry on post-production work.  now i can share a few highlights from his snowy shoot …

this was the Winter segment of Barkely’s Winter/Summer session.  as is often the case with our Winter/Summer sessions, the Winter segment is a shorter segment so that our Summer shoot is the big three-hour shoot on home-turf, incorporating multiple locations including the home.  so for his Winter, Barkley came here …

… and i think he rather enjoyed himself.  a little hunting …

… a lot of running …

… and, of course, a little, er …

with a former cruciate injury and repair, we made sure that the footing wasn’t slippery and that Barkley didn’t overdo it, but mom Deborah really wanted some shots of her exuberant, joyous boy running …

in the summer, well past his recovery period, we’ll be able to let Barkley let loose a lot more.

still, he let enough wind through those ears to clear ’em out.

of course, Deborah didn’t drive all the way here and not get a trip into the magical forest …

Barkley seemed to know exactly what i wanted from him once we got there … “oh, okay. right here? you want a little o’ this? how ’bout this?”

and as the snow came down faster and thicker, i was able to grab a few quick shots of Barkley with his mom.

thanks for a fun shoot, Barkley and Deborah.  i’m looking forward to our Summer session.  i hope you enjoy your gallery.

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  • Jackiebeautiful as always! i love winter shoots, there’s just something wonderful about a dog playing in the snow!ReplyCancel

  • JulieGorgeous shots! I love the blueness of the image with Barkley and Deborah in it. Those woods truly are magical.ReplyCancel

  • JenniferHow nice that it was actually snowing. I have only had one session where there was snow coming down, but it was so fun. I love the second one where he is looking back.ReplyCancel

  • SlavicaPoodles are so cool ! Is he a mini ?
    He is gorgeous 🙂ReplyCancel

  • michelle bradshawBeautiful…..ReplyCancel

  • GraceAbsolutely stunning! The 3rd last image (Barkley looking up at the snow) is my favourite. What a handsome boy…ReplyCancel

  • MargaretAmazing picturess! Especially considering black dog and white snow. He makes me realize that standard poodles are cool dogs after all! (At least I think he’s a standard poodle.) What a delightful boy he is!!!ReplyCancel

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