He's just as adorable, but isn't he big now?
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If you plan to enter photography with puppies as your subjects, you must learn about these eleven beginner's tips first. The guidelines will help take your photography skills to the next level.
#1 – Don't Purchase Expensive Equipment Right Away
Because you are still a novice in the field, you should settle with what you have first. If you have a digital camera that has lesser mega pixels and has minor features, you may use this to practice your skills in puppy photography. You will find that the complex things in photography should be learned and dealt with later on.
#2 – Have A Tripod
Because your subjects are puppies, it is important to have the camera ready in a certain position. You can coach your dogs while the tripod works its way towards taking the pictures.
#3 – Bring The Camera With You All The Time
Since puppies are unpredictable, you might waste some perfect shots because of missing cameras. To avoid this, you can bring the camera all the time with you and use it when the perfect moment comes.
#4 – Make A List Of Plans
Like all other things, taking pictures of your puppies need frequent planning. You need to base the level of your skills in this plan. You can write down the shots you'd like to capture and the goals you wish to achieve in the end.
#5 – Use The Right Background
Backgrounds are very easy to spot. If you have the eye of a photographer, it would be easy finding backgrounds which would go perfectly well with your puppies. You can use the backseat of your cars, the green grass in your lawn, or even the wall in your room for the background.
#6 – Enjoy Photography
Whenever you make imperfect shots, always think positive about your actions. You can always start anew with your picture taking activity considering that you are using a digital camera.
#7 – Search For Free Sources To Learn
There are a heap of sources to learn about puppy photography. You can read them in libraries, in magazines, or even in the internet!
#8 – Use The Available Settings In Your Camera
Since your camera is not the high-end type, you can use the available features on it. There are the black and white photos, sepia shots, and even anti-blur settings in your simple cameras. You may use all these to make the puppy pictures look more attractive.
#9 – Learn The Basics First
Nothing can be as important as learning the basics in photography. You'd learn all the other things later on and concentrate on the fundamentals first.
# 10 – Take Shots As Much As You Can
Whenever you have free time, take as much photos as you can. You can learn a lot in photography by practicing your skills.
# 11 – Make Experiments
Never be afraid to invent your own style in the puppy picture taking activity. You can come up with new ways to make the photographs even better. Who knows, a lot of novice photographers may learn from you in the future.
Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://anamigo.com
Sugarland concert was cancelled. No Leigh coming from Sioux City....no Megan and Erin coming from Omaha.....no wine and cheese before the concert, no drinking at the concert, no dinner afterwords with Dan....just an all-around bummer.
BUT.
I whacked off about seven inches of my hair! And it's super cute! I love it, and it's so easy to do. It's Friday, so I told myself I could eat like shit today. So far, I've had McDonald's for breakfast. Oops. I'll hit the gym later....maybe :)
I'm reading Marley & Me by John Grogan. So far it's really good, but I know the end is sad.
Listening to Corcovado by Stan Getz and Astrud Gilberto. Can't beat it.
Marley gets groomed today!! I can't believe he'll be five months old on Sunday. My baby is growing so fast!! He weighs about 8 lbs. now.
The weekend may consist of some excessive drinking with Lani and Bonnie. And maybe Cheryl. It's always interesting. Maybe I'll wear the new boots!?
And watch this. For the next ten seconds. Right now!
A couple of weeks ago I found a great deal on a small case of bottles to use to package my handmade vegan laundry soap on eBay. They came in, and are great. I just have 2 problems: one is that I haven't gotten my butt up to make any more laundry soap (or anything else, really); and that I have no clue how to go about making a label. The label issues get worse. I do not know what to use to make them (is there actually printer paper out there with blank labels?) and... sigh.. I cannot draw anything worthy of being on my label.
I'm even lost on what kind of design to use. If it was dog shampoo I would be set. And yes I can design and print business cards with my computer, but... but...
Sigh.
Speaking of dogs... Kalifornia is back with us! My ex dropped her off Saturday night, and she is staying with us through the month of October. The plan was to just keep her two weeks, but... well, by birthday is on the 18th of October. Isn't it just a lovely jesture on his part (that he doesn't really know about yet)? Ok, ok... I know that might sound mean... but... well, he is being mean. And, for the serious reason, she has a rash on her underside and even sores on one of her arm pits. She does not have fleas this time at least. He swears he has time to care for her, but I remember what it was like when he was working and going to school. All of his spare time went to studying or video games. He won't even talk to me about the rash, let alone how he always makes us wait around for him to drop her off.
I did make a bracelet the other day. It's another memory wire creation. Came out a lot better than I thought. I'm just waiting to get several things made before I setup a makeshift light box and do some pics. I will also retake some pics of things I already have posted in my Etsy shop (www.roguedecadence.etsy.com).
Next weekend we are having a yardsale, finally! This house is so crowded, we have had yardsale stuff spread throughout the hall, dining room, kitchen, and living room since I moved in. My mom started pricing things Saturday, and I worked on hanging up the clothes (ugghh... all of the clothes) and putting them in the spare room closet (filling it up). I can't wait to get it over with. I just hope it all sells (though I know that is pretty much unlikely). If there is enough left over, I will convince my mom to have another one at the end of the month. It is always best to plan these things around payday, and not when there is some kind of local artsy gathering/fair or such going on. I learned that the hard way... lol.
I have seen some dog collars where someone got a basic collar and somehow weaved string and beads onto it. Seems pretty basic, but kinda fun. I wonder how they keep the beading durable (or is every dog not as active as ours)...
I got a cheap kit to digitally make a photo album and have been working on making it Kalifornia's album. All of the pics of her I have seem to look the same, though. She's lying down, about to sleep or getting pissy at me for taking pics. Or with my ex. I need to get some pics of her playing with Precious, and the other dogs, and even me. I will also be getting her out more, so that will get us some good pics.
I got my hair cut again. The girl re did my blond too, but she cut it different in the back. Really, I didn't like it. But it will grow out. I've got some pics somewhere....lol.
I miss the pink. I am looking to get a job where I might be able to have it pink again, but I don't think I will do it like I did last time. I almost have a job, just waiting for the background check to go through. I haven't been arrested, so I should be fine.
Since I am just rambling, I will stop now.
I am home from Vegas. What a great time we had!
I'll do an entire post about it when I get the house clean. (in other words, don't hold yer breath) HA! Kidding. I'll do one later. It was so much fun! Must post!!!
But, for now, my oldest son, Adam and his wife, Sarah are on their way here from Ohio! And they are bringing their new puppy, Teddy, with them! Teddy is a 9 month old cockapoo whose owner couldn't continue to care for him, so Adam and Sarah are adopting him and he is my first grand-dog!!!
I am sure Teddy will have a ball with our dogs and cats! He lived with dogs and cats at his old home!
SO....off to clean the house (sorta) and get dinner going. Turkey is already in the oven. I should go grab a couple of acorn squashes from the garden.
Here's Teddy! They just got him yesterday! Looks like he needs his bangs trimmed!
I hope you are all well and are having a good Friday!
The love from a pet is unconditional. Nose to nose, he will devote himself to you and be a lifelong companion and confidante. Treat him right, and he will always trust and stand by your side.
]]>Five to be exact, collected over a two month period. She doesn't really play with them. She doesn't chew on them (thankfully). Once every couple of weeks, she will just sniff around the rocky part of of yard, select the Chosen One, and carry it over to our patch of grass. Once the Chosen One has been delivered, she sets to work in hiding it---while we're watching her---from us. I assume she's hiding it from us because there is no one else in our yard. With only one fully functional front leg, hiding items in a yard is more difficult for her than the average hole-digging type of dog. Fear not. She has developed a flawless strategy for safeguarding the Chosen One. Using her jaws of steel, she grabs ahold of large clumps of grass and rips them from the ground. She'll toss three or more mouthfuls of grass into a pile. Next, she uses her nose to push the Chosen One under the pile of freshly plucked grass. She will ram the Chosen One into the ground as far as it will go, until it's nestled safely beneath a blanket of quickly dehydrating grass.
There are five Chosen One's hiding, nestled in their specially selected homes in my 4 foot by 7 foot grass patch. If you should happen to become bored in the yard or if Aislinn, my dog, should decided that barking obsessively is a great idea at midnight--simple snag a Chosen One, place it the concrete patio and wait. My dog will take back the chosen one, place it in a new hiding spot, and beging the grass ripping process.
This is delighfully entertaining for all. Well, for my dog, myself, and John...no one else has seen it yet. I'm guessing though that you'd be entertained too.
Many families combine having a dog with going out to work and school, often having to leave their pet alone for several hours at a time. This is not really an ideal situation when getting a young dog, and a question often asked by new dog owners is about how to house train a puppy when you are working full time.
As I mentioned, it is not ideal to bring a puppy into your home if there is no one around to give it companionship (and boundaries) during such a formative time. My first recommendation would be to THINK HARD about whether the time is right to get a dog in the first place and that you take time to choose the right type of dog. Set aside your own emotions (and perhaps, also, pressure from the kids) and work out if you have the time necessary to give a dog the training needed. Ask yourself these questions:
- Will I really have the patience to not get annoyed if I come home from a hard day at the office and have to clean up dog mess?
- Can I find time during working hours to come home and let the dog out?
- If Not, is there someone who can do it for me?
If you are able to honestly answer yes to them, then you can learn how to house train a puppy and be able to teach your dog other lessons that need to be taught.
Here are my five steps on how to house train a puppy when you are working:
1) Plan everything with military precision, right down to the time of year you get your dog. Bring her home during the summer months, so that you are not inclined to rush the outside toilet time.
2) Bring your new puppy home during a period When your working life be less hectic - ideally when you have a couple of weeks holiday. That would be most ideal, as puppy house training can be completed in just a couple of weeks when done properly.
3) If you cannot get time off, plan it so that your older kids are off school so they can help with the training while you are out at work.
4) Discuss the training regime with other family members so that the training is consistent, even if the trainer is different!
5)Because time will be a major factor, read up on the most effective techniques by signing up for a training course before you get your dog. This will mean you can house train a puppy when you are working with as little stress and hassle as possible. I have created a lens on Squidoo specifically about house training dogs, so you will also be able to get some tips by visiting there.
Potty training your puppy is not that difficult. If you combine the latest techniques with my additional tips on how to house train a puppy when you are working, both you and your dog will have a great life together.
]]>All this week Soleil has been playing hard with Sammy, the now 1 year old miniature australian shepherd/collie mix of N's parents. So hard in fact that Soleil crawls into her bed at night with red rimmed eyes and a look of doleful fatigue that only an 8 year old dog forced to play for hours on end with a puppy can have. Suffice to say we've not taken her on any walks this week. This video I shot of them illustrates why.
Here he is, isn't he the cutest thing? :D :
You can enter it too > here
Search any pet food store to buy dog food and you will agree that trying to pick what is best for your canine is exhausting. One is bombarded by foods extolling different health benefits as well as a huge range of prices. The pet food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and pet food manufacturers are eagerly marketing for every dollar. New products show up daily. Products including adult, senior, large breed, organic and puppy food, to name a few.
So which food is best for your dog? Finding that out takes time and research. The truth is, the best dog food is the one that meets your dog’s nutritional needs, which varies based upon the dog’s age, breed, body weight, genetics, and amount of activity… and one that fits within your budget. It is worth consulting a veterinarian to get the most honest advice and a detailed nutrition plan for your dog. But for those of you that want to take matters in your own hands, you will find detailed the most important things you will need to know.
Dog Food Labels
Dog foods are manufactured under a series of different standards and regulations, put forth by the AAFCO ( The Association of American Feed Control Officials ). There are special labeling requirements that require all dog foods to have certain information on the label. So, in order that we can all make a proper choice for our dogs, we must know how to read and understand the label.
The AAFCO puts out an official publication, on a yearly basis, detailing special requirements. Among all the different requirements, they request all manufacturers to adhere to label regulations and must include on the package the following:
* Product Name
* Guaranteed Analysis
* Nutritional Adequacy Statement
* Feeding Directions
Product Name
When shopping for pet food, what is the first thing you look at? The product name, of course. We’ve all walked down the aisle and seen the product names jump out as us...calling us. Displayed in bold type and fancy fonts such descriptions as “With Chicken”, “All Life Stages”, “Duck Entree”, “95% Beef”, “Natural”. But what do these descriptions really mean? Is it just fancy marketing? The AAFCO has set forth rules that dictate how ingredients can be used in a product name.
95% Rule
* Applies to most canned food that consists mostly of meat, poultry or fish.
* Specifies that at least 95% of the product must be the named
ingredient on the label, not counting water and preservatives added for
processing.
* Counting water, the product must still consist of 70% of the product.
* If the name consists of a combination of ingredients, the two combined must equal 95%.
* The rule only applies to ingredients of animal origin, so grains and
vegetables cannot be used as part of the 95% rule. So if the product
name was “Beef and Brown Rice”, the product would still have to consist
of 95% beef.
25% or “Dinner” Rule
* This rule applies to many canned as well as dry foods.
* If the named ingredient, or a combination of ingredients, found on
the label consists of 25% of the weight (but less than 95%) excluding
water for sufficient processing.
* The name must include a descriptive term, such as “Dinner”, “Platter”, “Entree”, or “Formula”.
* If more than one ingredient is in the name, they must both total 25%
combined, with each named ingredient equaling or exceeding 3%.
3% or “With” Rule
* Originally, this rule was intended to apply only to ingredients highlighted on the package, outside of the product name.
* It allows manufacturers to highlight minor ingredients.
* The ingredient must have at least 3% added.
* The rule now allows manufacturers to use the term “With” in the product name.
Flavor Rule
* A percentage of any one ingredient isn’t required.
* The word “Flavor” must appear on the label in the same font size and color as the ingredient name.
* The flavor might be the corresponding ingredient, but more often than
not, it’s another substance such as “meal”, “by-product”, a “stock” or
a “broth”.
Puppy pictures are perhaps one of the best themes that you could use for your photo shoot. If you love your puppies too much, you can always keep their memories alive finished photos. Of course, you want to keep the nicest pictures so they would look perfect on your albums.
Puppy pictures can be taken in either two of the following ways: finished digital shots or finished flick cameras. Since digital picturing is the stylish thing today, some have turned to this kind of camera for professional or individualized use. Film cameras are almost irrecoverable today as the world saw a brighter and meliorate technology in digital cameras.
The Difference Between Digital And Film Cameras
When taking younker photos or any other pictures, the termination to both camera types are similar. Although digital picturing is mostly used today, some ease prefer using the flick cameras as they cannot be denaturized as such as digital photos can be changed. Most picturing contests require flick cameras to make sure that the pictures are not edited.
In digital cameras you simply have to block the connector the computer and everything can be manipulated. In flick cameras, you ease have to scan the pictures to change them.
Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://dogphotos.ws
Ugh! My poor border collie mix puppy (the one in front) is ill and I don’t know what is wrong with her. She hasn’t been able to keep anything down all day and I’m worried about her. We’ve had trouble with our neighbors over dogs and somehow every time something happens there is a possibility in the back of our minds that she’s been poisoned. I’m so glad that we will be moving soon! I find this really upsetting. I want her to get better now! And Hope (full blooded Border Collie) had been fine but this evening after she ate dinner we found her puking on the rug. I hope it’s not starting with her also!
I don’t want to take either one to the vet because A) it’s expensive just to walk in the door over there and we don’t need any surprises right now. B) those people don’t ask me before they treat her, it’s like they think they own her and she just sleeps with me. I didn’t go so far as to get nasty with them but the last time we were there the vet insisted on some shot that I didn’t think she needed. And they took her out of the exam room last time and when she came back she was freaked out – also not acceptable! And who wants to shop for a new vet on the weekend?! I’m concerned about MIsde, but also about Hope. I don’t like this one bit!
My version of treatment is pepto bismal (yeah right, she knows that isn't puppy food,) chicken broth and some efforts at white rice which was good in theory. She won't take gaterade and I don't know what else to try but the biggest concern right now is if she starts to get dehydrated. She acts hungry and is perfectly willing to eat, but according to what I've read if she eats much right now that can make it worse. Grrrr! I don't want her out of my sight!
]]>Thank goodness I'm at MomG's this week-end. I was getting pretty bored hanging out with My Liz all the time!
I thought that I would treat everyone with some gorgeous pictures... of me of course... from when I was a puppy. I've matured a lot and really grown into my wrinkles, ears and paws. I was pretty cute, and now... well now I'm just pretty!
Enjoy!
(I'm the sleepy one at the back... I was tired of biting my brothers and showing off for the visitors....)
I know you want more, but that is all for now, have a fabulous week-end!
]]>My puppy is sick. She woke us up at 4:45 this morning with a sad little miserable whine, wanting to be let out of her crate. The reason became clear pretty quickly as the poor lil bug had urped all over the place in there and there just wasn’t room for her and it. So hubby cleaned up the crate while I cleaned up the poochy and I went back to bed. Later as hubby was getting ready for work I heard him muttering to himself and the sound of him cleaning the rug just outside the bedroom door. I just wasn’t comfortable being at work today with her being sick so I came home pretty early. It doesn’t seem to be letting up so I went to get her some pepto, some Gatorade and more paper towels. Hubby is going to be gone the next few days so if she doesn’t get better I’m going to be here by myself dealing with this. I hope she feels better quickly. I hate it when she is sick!
]]>Poor Marley! Turning four months old has not boded well for my favorite puppy. Last night he threw up....some foreign, wood-like brown object. I think he must have eaten it outside. He seemed better last night. This morning a bee stung his foot!! He won't walk on his paw now and I feel bad for him. I can't see the stinger to get it out and he won't let me touch it anyway. Poor puppy:(
I actually have work to do today! YAY! Too bad I'll be worrying about my dog.
]]>Hong Kong Dog Rescue has done it again! SO-U.TV brings you another heart warming story this week. Lexie, a beagle and dachshund mix was rescued by HKDR. When first found she was nothing but skin and bones, but now, she has been nurtured back to a healthy, happy dog who is ready to be adopted! See it all at http://www.so-u.tv/playVideo.php?contestid=&id=4294
