According to the survey’s findings, dog owners have about seven photos of their dogs on display.
When I first read the number, I laughed. I love my dogs, past and present, and I love photos. But seven? Who would have seven photos of their dog sitting on tables in their homes or office?
Ever the researcher, I walked around my home counting dog photos. Oops, I shouldn’t have laughed.
Three black-and-white photos in the master bedroom. One of my daughter, Jordan, and Teddy at Lake Michigan. One just of Teddy and his favorite ball. One of Jordan with our passed dog, Lucy. All three in silver frames nestled among other silver-framed photos of family members.
Three more dog photos are also displayed in our home.
Two more are in our study. One of Jordan and Lucy and another of Jordan and Teddy.
The final photo is on a table in our living room. The photos of Teddy in this frame change periodically, documenting the Lab’s life changes.
I took another tour of our home to count the photos of my husband, Ed, Jordan and me.
I loss count of all of the photos of Jordan. There were just three of Ed and me.
So, the dog children have more photos than the human parents but not as many as the human child.
According to the Kelton survey, 23 percent of pet owners have a “dog only” photo album and 16 percent have a scrapbook.
We don’t have a dog photo album, but we do have an animal scrapbook.
It starts with photos of the dogs Ed and I grew up with, Fritz and Maxi. Passed dogs Mocha and Lucy have dedicated pages as well as our passed cat, Bailey. Abby, our current cat, has scrapbook pages, too.
Unfortunately, Teddy doesn’t have any pages yet.
It’s not that the black Lab hasn’t done anything noteworthy. Teddy completed three obedience courses as well as earned his American Kennel Club Good Citizen certificate.
But I’m kind of bored with scrapbooking so the pooch’s accomplishments are languishing in a file folder.
Seventy-one percent of survey respondents admitted having at least one dog photo that they carry with them.
Well, at least I don’t do that, I thought. I have one photo in my wallet but it’s of my daughter.
I was feeling quite smug. Then I realized I have photos of Teddy and Lucy on my phone.
All three of us treat our pets as family members. But according to this survey, when it comes to immortalizing our dogs in print, I’m the biggest culprit of the three.
If not for me, the dog photos wouldn’t be displayed, and the scrapbook wouldn’t have been created.
I’m assuming Jordan has the most dog photos on her phone but I’m a close second.
At least, I don’t have a sweatshirt with a picture of Teddy and the words “I love my dog” underneath. I hesitated to write that last sentence, alas giving Ed a Valentine’s gift idea.
Dog photo tips
1. Time action shots.
2. Take lots of pictures.
3. Turn off the flash.
4. Get down on the dog’s level.
5. Enlist help.
SOURCE: Dogtime.com/lifestyle/parties/1874-how-to-take-pictures-of-your-dog
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