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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.

this old puppy ~ {Toronto, Ontario pet photographer}

some of you will recognize this little girl from her earlier sneak peek … this is Brianna.

she’s ten years young …

… and loaded with character.

this little girl lived with her first mom, Nancy, for almost nine years.  when health issues made caring for Brianna too much, Nancy had to give her little charge over to her nephew and his wife, Meghan.  it appeared to me that this little dollface has made the transition brilliantly, adoring both of the women in her life …

by Meghan’s own words, Nancy did some awesome training with this little girl: “sit, stay, come, dance, speak, shake, down, rollover and wave goodbye.”  Meghan’s contribution to Brianna’s training, apparently, is: “high five and the moonwalk.”  i so would have loved to see that moonwalk!

Meghan brought Brianna here for her shoot since Nancy lives locally, and since Meghan loves the tunnel of trees, we headed off to one of my favorite spots.

this little girl was a dream to work with …

she even came whenever i called her …

and when Meghan called her, of course.

Brianna had lots to say herself …

even at the beach …

… Brianna had things to say …

on the way back to the studio, i just knew we had to stop by a cut wheat field i’d used for an earlier shoot.

how cute is this girl?

and can you believe she’s 10?

something was scurrying around in the bristly wheat stalks and Brianna was definitely on alert.

thanks for a fun shoot, Brianna … and thanks for introducing me to your wonderful girl, Nancy and Meghan.  i hope you’re enjoying Bri’s gallery!

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  • MarlaLovely, Illona. She’s just a doll!ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonAnother great shoot! How come you never post the bad shots? LOL!
    I know!!!! Scruffy dog never has bad shots!! ;-PReplyCancel

  • Charlotte ReevesWow! SO many amazing images from this session!ReplyCancel

  • DLukerWhat a sweet, happy little lady! Must say that the light in the last image is superb!ReplyCancel

  • RachelI think you really liked photographing this girl! You’ve got a lot of pictures of her and they seem to be taken with extra love, you must have had a great afternoon together 🙂ReplyCancel

  • DebiWow….Brianna made me smile today. What blessed pet parents she has! Her personality just shines in each portrait. I would definitely call this a successful shoot!ReplyCancel

  • Alfie | Alfie's BlogJust came across your site and wanted to say how much I love the photos of Brianna. Bright eyes and boundless energy – I hope I’ll still be that bouncy at 10! 🙂

    My human keeps taking photos of me too, but as she only brings her iphone they never turn out this good.ReplyCancel

make your own yogurt treats ~ {Ontario pet photographer}

a couple of weeks ago the scruffies were given some free samples of a frozen yogurt made for dogs.  yeah, they liked ’em.  they’re not good teste subjects though, as they are quintessential food sluts.  they’ll eat just about anything.  but i gotta be honest: (a) we can’t afford those pre-made treats, and (b) as a raw-feeder for almost nine years, whether it’s their dinner or treats, i’ve never been one to dole out pre-made stuff since i’d rather be in control of what goes into my pets.

so i decided that we should make our own … and of course, utilizing the Kongs is the easiest method.  so here’s one recipe that was a total hit …

get some quality yogurt … good probiotics for the dogs, and my girl needs more probiotics.   if you don’t already have some Benny Bully’s freeze-dried liver kicking around the house, you should!   a half-dozen to a dozen pieces run through the coffee- … er … liver-grinder … yes, we have a coffee-grinder that is just for pet stuff, and one that is strictly for our coffee.

mix the powdered liver and yogurt in a bowl … mmm … now taste.  no!  just kidding.

i actually used a small “Tidbit” treat normally used in merrick’s puzzle ball to fill the bottom ‘nipple’ of the kong.  then stuff your Kongs…

seal up with plastic wrap and stick ’em in the freezer.

but before you do that, don’t forget to toss the scruffies a few tidbits or liver pieces.

and be sure to employ a good quality clean-up crew …

of course, frozen Kongs aren’t a new idea.  we dog-guardians have been doing it ever since Kongs hit the market in the late ’70s.  but sometimes we just need a reminder that it is simple.  yogurt is the best way to go — provided your dog doesn’t have any issues with it — as it’s got lots of benefits … and you can mix so many things in it!  mashed banana, peanut butter, mashed berries like blueberries or raspberries.  i went with the powdered liver first because it’s easy, and i know it’s something that my guys can’t resist and this was merrick’s first time working on a Kong.

and he sorta kinda loved it …

have fun with your Kong-sicles … and feel free to share your recipes in the comments below!

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  • JackieI usually just stuff with pb for Sonny, never thought about frozen yogurt! Good call, going to have to try this!ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonI guess I better buy Ralph a Kong and get with the program! Great ideas!
    Do you ever mix up the grinders?ReplyCancel

  • KarenNice post, Illona. With summer not too far away here, my two would probably be very happy with a frozen yoghurt Kong treat, for sure. Just a matter or keeping them both of them satisfied with their own treat, without them thinking that the yoghurt is always creamier in the other one’s Kong.
    Love the shot of your two both at the bowl.ReplyCancel

  • SolteraWhat a beautiful blog entry. Those pics of Merrick catching the Tid Bit and with his eyes closed in ecstasy….just gorgeous! I’m definitely going to try it this weekend with my JRT x Catahoula Leopard cross!!ReplyCancel

  • michelle bradshawI make pup-sicles for Macy, after buying her one a few years ago the Wiggle Walk I figured I could just make them myself and they would be a lot more reasonable in cost.
    I use plain yogurt then mash up fresh raspberries from our raspberry bush and mix. I put them into one of those popsicle makers and voila….pupsicles.ReplyCancel

  • Lori E.Will definitely be using this very soon when my parents (and their separation-anxiety prone chihuahua) come to visit later this month. Thank you! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • ShelbyMy pup, Asher really loves his kong. I seal the bottom with PB, add chopped apple and yogurt and seal the top with PB and freeze. He LOVES it! It’s easy and good for him!ReplyCancel

sneak peek Barkley ~ {Hamilton, Ontario pet photographer}

alas, i’m very behind on sneak peeks.  here’s a sneak of Barkley’s summer session from a couple of weeks ago.

for you devout scruffy dog blog followers, you’ll remember Barkley from his winter session.  now it was time for his summer session, and what a sweet boy he is to work with.

and he loves, loves, loves his teddy bear …

stay tuned for Barkley’s fuller blog entry soon.

happy September 1st, everyone!!

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  • DianeLewisPhotographAbsolutely LOVE that first shot in the creek! Hope you weren’t in the creek too, if you were be careful in the future as I broke my elbow in a creek that looked very similar ( low trickling water). I stepped on a rock to take a shot and it was like ice and I flew into the air and onto my elbow and shattered it( camera also flew into the creek as well, but fared much better than me even after landing in the water).ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonPretty boy!ReplyCancel

  • michelle bradshawCan’t wait to see more…he sure is handsome!ReplyCancel

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