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.
just had to share a couple of shots from Tuesday’s shoot with a couple of fabulous models …
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Reese and Ruga are doing a Winter/Summer shoot and i’m so looking forward to our reunion for our summer shoot.
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they’re definitely a couple of characters.
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see you in the summer, guys! and stay tuned for more of the winter segment on the blog coming soon.
meet Lily …
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you met her first here in her sneak peek and again in a quick fall preview. and the thing about Lily is that she’s happy. like, always happy.
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Lily’s shoot was late summer, but owner Calli – a young vet just starting out her career – was in the throes of returning to Canada, relocating, moving, unpacking, and starting up in a new clinic. so she asked me to wait to work on Lily’s images until she was more settled and ready to choose photos for her package.
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so, at long last, i can share these images of the gorgeous Lily.
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did i mention that Lily is a super happy dog?
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and she’s super extra happy when there’s catching involved …
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and it doesn’t matter where Lily is, she loves catching!
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when we finished our little urban segment and headed to the quarry for another couple of hours of shooting, i found this wheat field along the way and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to shoot this gorgeous girl in the golden stalks. well, to be honest, with the utmost respect for any farmer and his/her crops, i’m always careful to stay on the very edge of the field, never actually entering it myself, and allowing the dog to go in only a foot or so.
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but try to get this golden girl to sit still!
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there was just no slowing Lily down, whether it was running through the meadows of flowers …
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… or cooling off in the quarry.
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but with this girl, you had to be quick on the shutter …
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i hope Calli won’t be too upset with me sharing this photo … she swore she didn’t want to be in any of the shots, but come on … how could i resist this?
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thank you, Lily, for being such a fabulous model. and thank you, Calli, for introducing me to your lovely girl. i hope i get to meet Calum some day! in the meantime, enjoy Lily’s gallery!
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today was our final class for Agility Foundations with Allison Berry of Everyday Dog … and i’m pretty darn proud of my little boy. although i’ve done agility with my girl matea, that was years ago, and — not having come from an abusive past of neglect and a spirit-crushing life of churning out puppies like merrick — matea was a different beast when it came to working her on the equipment. with matea it was all about getting her to slow down. there was no fear in that brazen young pointer.
but merrick crept into his first agility class … had to be bolstered up by play with his ball … and he was the only dog for whom the tunnel had to be compressed, since the full 20′ was far too daunting, even with me at the other end cheering him on. each obstacle was met with a certain amount of trepidation, but with a few passes, and sometimes a little ingenuity on my part to encourage him past his fears, his confidence grew. and today he flew through the short seven-piece course in the shortest time in class! in fact, his drive to move forward to each piece, now that the concept of running a course is clicking with him, was more than i ever expected. it felt like i actually have an agility dog in the making!
and for having secured the fasted time in class, merrick came home with a bag of goodies …
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and he wasn’t much into sharing them with matea …
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of course, i would rather be showing you photos of my boy in class, but my hands are pretty full when i’m there.
and no worries, Allison, i’ve made him share his goody-bag with matea. see you in two weeks for the start of the next level!
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That is SO rewarding and awesome! No kiding your proud!! he’s come such a LONG way!!!
We do agility with our little guy – and I too love seeing how he has no fear … things big dogs are worried about he just walks on in … he still doesn’t get the “race” aspect – but he completes it in his own sweet tiny time. We are now startign something called rally-O … part agility part obedience!ReplyCancel
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Ryker/SandyThey remind me of deer out there in the woods!
Holly Garner-JacksonCan’t wait to see more of these beauties!
dominiqueaww, they are like little gargoyles. What fun critters to shoot! I can’t wait to see the summer version either.
JulieThey are such noble looking dogs. Beautiful pictures!
MarlaLove the colours in those top 2 shots – just gorgeous.
Vicky (tv writer)Beautiful series here… I feel like I can reach in and touch their sweet soft faces. Lovely work, Illona.