I Love Dogs

Dogs are just about my favorite subject to shoot. Their unpredictable nature can make for a difficult shoot, yet almost always yields images that are tender, heart-warming and oozing with personality.
As my Bernese Mountain Dog, Lilah, and I begin therapy dog training, I become more and more enamored. She visits Pleasant bay Nursing Home and I see the faces of grouchy old men melt when they see her, cooing and smiling as they pet her. The nurses' faces light up when she trots down the hall. And my grandmother, who is there recovering from a stroke and learning to speak again, says clear as day "Oh hello!" (to Lilah first, then me of course).
There have been many studies claiming the benefits of simply petting a dog. Their wet noses and wiggling bodies can help aid depression, loneliness and even help lower blood pressure, aid in retrieving memory and increase mobility. Dogs seem to remind us all of simple joys in life. And they certainly display qualities we can all learn from- unending devotion, loyalty and energy, as well as an amazing degree of tolerance and patience.
So, if you own a pooch, go give him or her big hug. If not, stop by your local Animal Shelter next weekend and talk to an employee about adoption, or simply go visit with the pups waiting for a home- you will enjoy petting them just as much as they will.