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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.

yes, we shoot cats too ~ {Ontario pet-exclusive photographer}

alas, the busy season has hit us prematurely and is in full swing, and — as a result — blog entries are difficult to keep up with.  if you follow scruffy dog on facebook (and why wouldn’t you?), you’ll catch sneak-peek photos throughout the week, so it’s a great place to be.

in the meantime, i will do my best to keep up with blog posts … but because of the tight schedule, it might mean grouping some of these awesome scruffy dog models together into one entry.  and with this entry, i’ll share with you a few of the cats i’ve had the pleasure of meeting with the cameras in the past couple of weeks during short shoots … because yes, we shoot cats too!

first up, handsome Comet …

and contrary to the above shot, Comet was a bit of a ham …

we had the most fun on top of the family’s piano …

… and while i would have liked to have backed up and taken in the entirety of this lovely old piano, Comet needed me to stay close in order for him to be convinced to stay up there.

but can you believe that this household harbors a source of even greater cuteness than sweet Comet here?  yup, meet his new baby sister, Lexi!

how darling is this little furball?

d’oh!

these two were fun to work with … very social … and absolute sweethearts.  and they are totally loved and adored by their two human children who clearly spend a lot of time playing with their furry charges.

thanks, kids, for sharing your two 4-leggers with me.  it’s good to know they’re in such good hands.

next up, painfully shy Layla … but what a dollface.

do you like her pretty fern tail?

this little girl is deeply loved by mom Debbie, who adopted Layla after the loss of her last girl.  Layla was in bad shape at the humane society.  skinny and refusing eat for anyone, Debbie had gone in to donate some of her last girl’s beds and belongings, believing that she would/could never possibly open her heart to another cat again.  … and then she met this lovely girl …

she refused to eat for anyone … except Debbie.  and after a couple of visits to the shelter to help Layla eat, well, their relationship was sealed.  thanks for introducing me to your wonderful girl, Debbie.

and finally, big boy Static …

he comes by his name, apparently, by having a pretty wild-looking hairdo when he was younger.  well, “static” … you can well-imagine.

and Static loves to play …

thanks, Static, and Comet, Lexi and Layla, for your cooperation during your sessions!

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  • Holly Garner-JacksonFur is your thing! Purring or barking you are the best!!!ReplyCancel

  • Susan HumphreysWow Illona, these are just stunning. Gorgeous cats. Layla is wonderful.
    When I win the lottery I’m flying over to see you with my bunny rabbit, so you can take photos of him.!!!

    Susan Humphreys
    Northampton
    England.ReplyCancel

  • Elizabeth UribeBeautiful photos!!!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Charlotte ReevesAwesome Illona! What gorgeous kitties and you’ve captured them perfectly, they look so playful!ReplyCancel

  • The Green DogsReally amazing shots!ReplyCancel

  • jenniferkitty torture….there is nothing worse. Orange tabby cats are my favorites and I am glad Layla found the perfect home. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • MarlaThese are stunning, Illona. Each and every one of them!ReplyCancel

  • DLukerIllona, I truly love all your scruffy dogs, but I ADORE your cats!! When you turn your excellent eye & camera to the purry ones, I just get goose bumps. Every single one of these is special!ReplyCancel

  • kateI am in LOVE with cat whiskers now.ReplyCancel

goodbye Spike ~ {Waterloo, Ontario pet photographer}

a lot of you will, no doubt, remember Spike …

i had a session with him and his brother late last summer just before the wheat fields came down …

if you want to see a selection of images from their shoot you can check out their initial blog entry from last year.  at fourteen, like any respectable GSP, Spike had some wear and tear … aching and arthritic joints from years of running and hunting, but this old man still had a lot of giddy-up …

and he still had a most excellent smile …

recently, mom Deb had to make the difficult decision to let her sweet man go … and i know, given the time spent together all of these years and during all their daily hikes, that she misses her old boy a ton.

i think of Spike now every time i see my own girl’s toes which are starting to splay a little with early arthritis, as Spike’s feet were somewhat gnarled and splayed by arthritis from the millions of miles he no doubt covered with those tireless pointer legs of his.

and i will never forget Spike’s voice … the deep, coonhound-like bellow which he seemed to draw from the very bottom of his huge chest whenever there was something he really wanted — whether it was a treat or just his mom’s attention.

and try to convince this old man to pose?  forget about it!  senior dogs seem to have a mind of their own … it’s as though they figure: “hey, i’ve paid my dues, i’m not listening unless there’s something really, truly, totally awesome in it for me,” or perhaps it’s that they realize time is precious and there’s simply no time to stand still.  every senior athlete i’ve met with the cameras has been go go go!  it’ll be a long time before i forget  how much Deb and i went through to get just this one simple shot.

i’m quite sure Drake is missing his brother who taught him everything he knows.  i know Deb certainly is.

thank you, Deb, for the pleasure of meeting your wonderful old man, and for trusting me to capture his spirit.  i will always remember him.

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  • Canvas PrintThis just goes to show you that pictures truly do leave a lasting impression with any loved one.ReplyCancel

  • RachelSo sorry for Deb’s loss, Spike looked like a very special guy. I’m giving my lab an extra hug and kiss tonight because of this post.

    Your photos are stunning, so happy I happened upon your blog.ReplyCancel

  • Neil LeeWhat a wonderful tribute. Thanks for sharing this. I have never met Spike but thanks to your blog I have an inkling of the sort of character he was. Condolences to Deb and to Drake. You never really forget your best mates.ReplyCancel

  • Meghan GraceOh, on another favorite bog, I read today of Nigel’s passing. (Nigel was a Dachshund). Between the two, I’ve shed tears and will say thank you for their lives and their blessings to their humans. Bless you Spike!!!ReplyCancel

  • LynneWhat a beautiful tribute….I have never met Spike, but I will indeed meet Drake….I have a pup from the litter behind Drake….they are almost identical.

    Great photo shoot!ReplyCancel

  • Mike Hayesgreat tribute to a gorgeous boy.ReplyCancel

  • Tara MitchellR.I.P. Spike. A beatiful boy. xReplyCancel

  • Fennethat’s so sad, but really beautiful photographs of a very beautiful dog!ReplyCancel

old man Bailey ~ {Guelph, Ontario pet exclusive photographer}

meet Bailey … one of the sweetest old men i’ve had the pleasure of shooting in a very long time …

yeah, he looks like a ham, but our shoot started out like this …

“what is that big clacky thing?” this boy wasn’t immediately trusting the whole situation with the cameras and me in his face, so i had to warm him up.  normally, with even the slightest shyness, i take to the outdoors, but mom Lisa wanted some photos of Bailey indoors, and i wanted to grab them while we still had the best light coming inside.  so, with Mr. B relaxing on the bed, i worked my charms … well, and the treats, which in Bailey’s case were bits of carrot and cucumbers greedily snapped from your fingers.

as i do with every shoot, on my way to Bailey’s house i kept my eyes open for any possible locations … and a couple of blocks before arriving i spotted this field of Queen Annes Lace.  we simply had to make a quick stop!

we’d postponed Bailey’s shoot already once due to the weather … his original shoot having been slated for that hottest day in July on record.  and this back-up date, was quite gray and dreary, so i’ve done my best to work some wonders in the post-production …

at Bailey’s favorite park, the foot- and dog-traffic was pretty constant, so we had to work around it …

…not always easy with an old man who has places to go, things to sniff, and pee-mail to post!  patience is not this senior’s middle name…

… but we did get a few still, albeit brief, moments …

Bailey was adopted from the Guelph shelter at only 4 months.  he is suspected to be a pointer-greyhound cross, and today, at the age of 14, i can only imagine the tailwind this boy used to leave in his wake during his younger years …

in his fourteen years, this boy has definitely been loved … i’m betting one white hair for ever kiss he’s ever received on his gorgeous head.

and his reciprocated devotion is clear to see …

from his favorite park, i suggested to Lisa that we head out to a couple of the wheat fields outside of town … one had just been cut and made for a lovely backdrop …

but i really wanted to capture Bailey with some standing wheat … so off we headed again … until we found the right field …

the ears might not work so well anymore, but yup, that sniffer still works!

and those charming eyes …

on the way back to the house, i spotted some tall yellow flowers as well as these black-eyed susans, so yup, another quick stop …

and finally home …

thank you, Lisa, for trusting me to capture these precious memories of your amazing boy.  and thank you, Bailey, for being such an amazing spirit and companion to your family.  you are one in a million.

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  • Waggly TailsThese are lovely shots! what a cute dog.ReplyCancel

  • Joanna Rutzwhat a beautiful boy! I have a soft spot for seniors in whole honesty I have a soft spot for dogs and your images and post are filling a big hole in my heart, because I can not have a dog right now…ReplyCancel

  • Jill TaylorWhat a gorgeous old boy! Love this post!ReplyCancel

  • Holly Garner-JacksonA little of this and a little of that makes this a wonderfully well rounded shoot! You’ve captured everything except his snores! 😉 Well done!ReplyCancel

  • Meghan GraceI can’t believe he is 14 years old! He looks as though he still has a ton of energy. Great shots of a wonderful boy!ReplyCancel

  • sherry bolesHe’s so handsome! I enjoyed all of these images!ReplyCancel

  • JoI love your work so much but the last two posts – Merrick and Bailey – are simply breath-taking. Thank you for sharing them. (And yes I have a JRT and an elderly sighthound cross so I was a little biased.)ReplyCancel

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