You have scheduled portraits with your horses and dogs, planned out your wardrobe, now it is time to prepare them for portrait day! Whether your dogs spend all of their time at the barn with you or they only visit from time to time, preparing both your horse and dog for portraits will set you up for success. I have compiled a few quick suggestions on how you can best prepare your pets for their portraits!
Take Them for Walks
Starting out with a simple task like going for a walk will keep your horse and dog stress free and open to future exercises. Taking your horse for a walk with your dog around the barn, in the fields or on the trails leading up to your portraits will not only familiarize them with new locations, but also understand one another’s presence. If you plan to ride your horse for a few portraits with your dog, be sure you work towards a few quick rides with your dog tagging along!
Practice Basic Ground Skills
After you have introduced a few quick walks with your horse and dog, you can start practicing simple tasks such as sitting and standing in place. Having treats on hand as a reward will work as positive reinforcement for your pets. If your dog is uncomfortable getting close to your horse, let them have their space and do not force it. Working on these skills leading up to your portraits will help your pets get a better understanding of what is being asked of them as well as help you decide whether or not your horse and dog are comfortable with what is being asked of them.
Understand Their Boundaries
It is very important for you to recognize your horse and dogs’ boundaries when planning out your portraits. My number one priority will always be the safety of the animals as well as yourself. When you are spending time familiarizing them with different locations and poses, make sure you are listening to your horse and/or dog if they grow impatient or uncomfortable with what you are asking of them. Not every horse and dog will be willing to pose together, each and every animal is different, take time out of your day to better understand your horse/dog’s boundaries.
Safety First
As a certified dog trainer and being well versed in K9 handling, it would be pretty safe to say ‘I speak dog’. When I arrive for your portraits the day of, I will pay close attention to your pet’s body language once we begin the group portraits. If at any point I feel as though the group portrait is no longer safe for your horse, pet or yourself, we will take a new approach. In certain situations, we can create composited portraits of your horse and dog together without ever having posed them in the same frame. Don’t get discouraged if we take this approach, sometimes our pets just aren’t feeling it that day and that is totally fine!
Planning equine and pet portraits together can be very exciting, make sure you set your horse and dog up for success by following these quick suggestions above! I am excited to create the perfect group portrait filled with the creatures you love most! If you have been on the edge of scheduling a portrait session, head on over to https://bit.ly/2TONzwB to start your journey today!
