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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.

sweet sedate stella ~ {Guelph, Ontario pet photographer}

this is Stella, Riley’s sister …

like Riley, you met Stella first at her sneak peek and in their bedroom series earlier on the blog.  but these two really let loose down at the quarry.

and of course, what’s a lab without water?

and this girl kinda sorta loves her water …

and she’s one of those crazy labs who likes to launch themselves into the water like some superhero …

Stella’s got a wee, crooked stump of a tail.  it looks docked, but she was born that way.  it’s quite cute.

and just look at this girl on the old red weigh scale … look at that face!

and this girl’s coat is so dense, i swear, it was still wet an hour and a half after the water.

thanks, Stella, for being such a fabulous model.  and thanks for introducing me to your wonderful pups, Allison.  i hope you enjoy your gallery.  looking forward to seeing you soon at your consult.

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  • pet memorial jewelryYou are the best pet photographer for me.. You are very awesome..ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonWhat’s left to say??? Holy awesome, illona!!!!
    Love the wavy back shot and of course the flying shot!!!!
    yup! Best pet photographer I know!!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Jackiewhat a great pair of pups! I absolutely LOVE the shot of Stella flying across the water like a super hero! You are amazing Illona!ReplyCancel

  • Poochie FreakFantastic photos. I do wonder sometimes if I’m the only person in the world to have Labs who aren’t keen on water!

    Angela
    UKReplyCancel

  • KamalaThe one where she’s diving into the water… Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!ReplyCancel

  • IdilWow, if Stella was my dog, I’d be tempted to buy every single photo. That flying over the water shot is so phenomenal!ReplyCancel

  • tee4tiawhat can I say, so wonderful. Stella flying into the water, is beyond.ReplyCancel

  • Jean (allegrolhw)Stunning! Both sets are incredible!!!ReplyCancel

  • Vicky (tv writer)I’m having trouble putting into word how much I ADORE this series! So I’ll simply say — Just the BEST …
    You rock, Illona.ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer#271!!! Now you can see why I love shooting Blue. 🙂 I gotta love her just for that, but beautiful photos all around.ReplyCancel

  • bublynskiThese are phenomenal, every single one!! The mid-air shot makes my heart sing. Stella has the most beautiful, soulful eyes and these photos bring her personality right out on the page!ReplyCancel

  • MargaretShe’s a beauty!!! Looks like she and her brother were plenty tired after the pre-session walks, then their photo session, including swimming and hiking! *whew!* but photogenic all the way!ReplyCancel

big lug riley ~ {Guelph, Ontario pet photographer}

you met this big boy Riley in his sneak attack … er … peek with his sister Stella, and saw him again in their bedroom series.  i decided to give Riley and Stella each their own blog entry because we had such a fun shoot, with such great settings, and too many photos to share.  so first up is 3-year-old Riley …

we actually started indoors for our shoot … get some home shots in before getting all wet and dirty at the quarry.  and owner Allison did a super job of tiring these two out before our shoot, taking them out for a good hike and then a vigorous visit with 4-legger friends after.  so these two were calm and willing models from the get-go, as you’ll see from their bedroom series.

at the quarry, i was so happy to see an entire hill of this knee-high grass, already dead and dried … the perfect backdrop, especially for a black dog.

also at the quarry is an old abandoned weigh scale … the rusted platform made an awesome backdrop.

but, of course,  the main reason you go to the quarry is for the water …

i’m told Riley’s not as into the water as his lab sister Stella, but he was still willing to get in there and fetch a stick or two.

of course, every high-energy dog needs to cool his engines at some point … flaps up …

back at home we snagged the last few rays of daylight and the brick of the garage wall for Riley’s Scooby-doo impression …

thanks for being such an awesome model, Riley.  you were fab!

and stay tuned for Stella’s fabulous blog entry next …

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  • Rebecca NashWow…some fantastic shots! I love the way you have captured the dogs and just enough of the details of the background to add depth without overpowering the presence and character of the dogs. Fantastic!ReplyCancel

  • MargaretGreat pictures; handsome dog! and I’m looking forward to Stella’s pics, too! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • jennifer metzgerOh how I love love love #250. Awesome (and lucky you, it was cloudy for the black dog)!ReplyCancel

  • marjoGazing lovingly at the ‘scruffy dog’ watermark … extraordinary!!!ReplyCancel

  • DominiqueFlaps up is too adorable! He is the king of that “pleeeezzzzee” look isn’t he. What great shots, and I love the black and white one!ReplyCancel

  • hello gorgeousloving this post….this is the dog I think looks like ours {commented on Facebook}….but not sure of the “mix” breeding of ours….

    Love all the shots….my FAV is the first “eye” shot with your reflection ~ that’s just STUNNING!

    Love the “flaps up” too ~ but quite frankly he is a little cutie ;o)

    hugs

    hello gorgeous xxxReplyCancel

  • JillBeautiful photos. As always, they brought a big smile to my face….almost as big as Stella & Riley’s smiles. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Debgorgeous pups. love the flaps up, adorable white chin and teeth. 🙂ReplyCancel

poodles gone wild ~ {Hamilton, Ontario dog photographer}

you’ve seen these two wild and zany characters in their sneak peek, and some of you will remember little Scout’s smile … well, it’s about time i got a proper blog entry up for them to show that although these two toy poodles are high energy and pretty much never stopped during our entire shoot, they were able to sit … briefly.  so here’s Tush and his younger brother Scout …

but like i said, “stillness” with these these two, especially younger brother Scout – dressed dashingly in apricot – is a fleeting concept.  there was dancing …

… and flying …

… and full-out running.

of course, Tush was no slouch himself …

he’s got more moves than you can shake a stick at.

… even when his younger brother interferes with his best moves.

and as talented as these boys are physically, they’ve got the pipes to match …

all within a short distance of Scout and Tush’s home we found a good variety of backdrops, including the neighbor’s barn and a small field.

but no matter where we were, these two were almost constantly a blur.

even at home, these two were still full of giddy-up.  it only looks like they settled down on the bed in the spare room.

but i be willing to bet the contents of my camera bag that these two little dollfaces were fast asleep two minutes after the scruffy dog mobile pulled out of their drive, and no doubt slept soundly all night!  thanks, Tush and Scout, for a wild time, for the little dance across my back, and for the ear-piercing music … and thanks, Cathy, for sharing your beautiful boys.  i hope you enjoy your boys’ gallery.

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  • SonjaI am a HUGE small toy dog lover – these two just made me laugh and smile …. maybe when I am next in the Kleinburg area (about twice a year) I should get a shoot done of my Montecristo – a logn hair Chihuahua you will melt for … I promise! (I am in Ottawa)ReplyCancel

  • JackieThe action shots where they are jumping are hilarious. Sweet pups!ReplyCancel

  • leesiathese two guys are hilarious!! those vertical leaps are crazy.ReplyCancel

  • jdThese 2 look like an adorable hand full! Super, super shots! Gave me a smile this morning!ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonWow! If we could only harness all that energy!!! That must have been a very fast paced shoot.
    Great job, illona!ReplyCancel

  • Lori E.oh my GOD how cute is that little smile? I couldn’t stop laughing at the the mid-air pileup as well. Wonderful photos!ReplyCancel

  • hello gorgeousoooo, I LOVE these two! How CUTE are they? Love the dancing….and the singing……and the posing! ;o)

    hugs

    hello gorgeous xxxReplyCancel

  • Loriwhat a coupla’ characters!
    🙂
    great shots of them!ReplyCancel

  • Annie Kinmondwonderful, precious shots of 2 wee charachters! I just love every capture. Both look like so much fun to be around. Thanks for sharing:)ReplyCancel

  • [MogI]Wow, Ilona what a great series. I keep being amazed at how you do it. Every photo is a jewel on its own. But I especially love the outdoor photos where these two guys go insane. Where were you positioned when doing the shoot… somewhere on the ground? Wonderfull!ReplyCancel

  • MarlaJust an awesome shoot, Illona. They really make me smile!ReplyCancel

  • MargaretThese two can surely fly! Tush looks like he’s 3 feet off the ground in one shot! Amazing LittleDogs! Also… beautiful spare bed and linens. I’m sure the boys would never get it dirty. 😉ReplyCancel

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