First off, let me clarify, the title of this post does not represent the views of the photographer or this project…..it might but you’ll never know;)  So I have not just declared a favorite breed……but America has, and for many years running it has been the Labrador Retriever.  Having come in contact with and photographed so many new and exotic breeds over the first couple months of the project I suppose I am kind of guilty of forgetting about the Lab, but a recent shoot was enough to put them right back on top of the heap.

When I used to be heavily into birds, I always reminded myself to recognize and appreciate blue jays as one of the most beautiful birds on the planet. Being common made them no less beautiful.

And so it is with the Lab, America’s best friend.  In the Labs case, despite being a handsome dog, its not as much their looks as their versatility and temperament.  But much like the Blue Jay, it aint their fault they’re everywhere!  And so without further adieu a photographic celebration to remind you who is top dog!:

This is the first of a couple posts I’m going to make for Kengali’s Ridgebacks.   As you have probably already inferred, I am crazy about these dogs….thanks in large part to Ginny and all her great dogs!  Don’t know if I mentioned this before, but one of Kengali’s girls had just had pups the Monday before our shoot.  Eleven of them!!  Of course I kept wandering over towards the room where they were nursing throughout the day with my camera and Ginny and Tori were incredibly accommodating.  They actually let me into the nursing pen and I did my best not to be a bull in a china shop.

The timing of the litter, Tori’s temperament, and Ginny’s willingness to give me access and educate me along the way were all so fortuitous for my photography – I had to pinch myself!  On to some of the images:

The next few pics are part of the ‘Early Neurological Stimulation’ program Kengali’s dogs go through.  This science based program was pioneered by Carmen Battaglia PhD and involves a series of exercise the dogs are put through beginning at about three days.  The program includes holding the pup a couple times a day in a variety of positions, pressing lightly between the toes and so on in order to give them a jump start on socialization and physical movement/ability.

Alright, so this next one is a bit of National Geographic moment…..mothers induce their pups to pee and poop as seen in the picture below and consume all the waste…..as far as I know this is the process for all breeds.  So thanks Tori, but no kisses for a couple weeks;)

Finally, thank you Ginny for providing this opportunity, being so flexible with your schedule, generous with your knowledge, providing such access to your dogs, and just for being such a pleasure to be around!

Hey Folks! Scrambling to get out the door for my 24 hr drive to Westminster but wanted to update you on what’s coming up over the next couple weeks.  First, I still have a couple slots open for individual dog owners and breeders between now and the end of the month – will come to anyone east of the Appalachians.

Here is a picture since no post should be without one:

Ok here is whats up:

13th and 14th: hopefully following dogs at the show, kind of Day in the Life of a Showdog – champion Xolo’s, Ridgebacks, and DD-Bordeaux on the radar!

15th: Dogue De Bordeaux in Boston – BRRRR! Hoping for snow.

16th: Shoot with Pendragon Bordeaux

17-23: individual owner shoots in Philly/NJ and traveling south.

24-26: Charlotte and Asheville for a couple Mutt specials – still love em!

27ish: back to Kengali to shoot the pups!!

SLEEP!

Its been a crazy week at SMP! Eighty kids on Monday and Tuesday, then a shoot for Martha Stewart show Wednesday evening in West Palm, all day with Kengali Ridgebacks in Eustis, Fl on Thurs and then back to shoot a wedding on Saturday.  Needless to say Im backlogged on the editing, but I am so excited to get to these beautiful Ridgebacks that I took a sneak peek and Im sharing a few with you! Three good arguments for Ridgebacks being the sexiest dogs on the planet:

My education continues!  Ive been photographing dogs for years, but not until this project have I come to take a closer look at the breeds and what they’re all about.

This morning I was ready to post an Alaskan Husky, the dog above, who was on the beach when I did the shoot with Sole.  Understanding Im still in Breeds 101 and working feverishly towards my degree, I tread lightly with my claims, fearful of making some newbie gaff.

There I was on the AKC website, just to quickly confirm I had a dog that was predominantly Alaskan Husky and then make my post.  No Alaskan Husky! No plain old Husky? Let me check again….Alaskan Malamute, American Eskimo Dog, Siberian Husky….definitely no Alaskan Husky.  Sniffing some controversy I became excited.  While the AKC is definitive on breeds they recognize, they really do not speak much to breeds that fall outside their registered breeds and their is often a juicy backstory.  Google time…….

Here is what I found at www.alaskan-husky-behavior.com :

Why isn’t the Alaskan Husky in the AKC registry? This is a common question among people searching for information about the Alaskan Husky. The sled dog is not really a breed, it is a mix of several types of working dogs. The only thing that really matters in determining an Alaskan Husky is the willingness to work and the drive to pull.  

If all breed standards were so simple!  Clearly this spry fellow below is keen to work and his drive to pull is evident.  And so, with complete confidence I declare him pure Alaskan Husky and beg anyone to say differently! On to the pics –

I had a moment of pause….is this a Malamute?? The white face and black cap are distinguishing features, but alas the blue eyes are a disqualifying feature.

As cool as this dog was he was also completely unfamiliar and keen on me. Time to get my ass off the ground!!! Turned out to be very sweet.

This post features Sole (pronounced Solay) who I met down in Costa Rica in mid-December.  Since starting the breed project, whenever I run into a mixed breed I feel compelled to try and figure out what’s in the mix.  Sole puzzled for me for a few hours, I kept thinking some sort of hound.  What was she? ………… and then she did this:

She was so obviously  Pointer (predominantly) that I felt a little silly.  The AKC’s Pointer Page left me feeling a little bit better  ‘….the Pointers lineage is foggy, but there is no question that it  includes Foxhound, Greyhound, and Bloodhound’

Sole was the dog of Isabela, the owner of Las Avellanas Villas, where I stayed.  One afternoon I was privileged enough to take her on her ½ hour afternoon walk down to the beach, shooting the whole way!!  These are some of my favorites from the afternoon.

The bird got away. Sole continued undaunted:

Moving on to easier prey:

Isabela is also a great photographer in her own right, you can check out more of Sole (her shots) at her site and also her beautiful project working with reflections.

The annual Christmas Rush is over at Steven Moore Photography, the New Year is here, and I finally have time to throw myself into the Breed Project!

A couple shoots coming up that I’m really excited about.

First, at the end of the week is Layla, a 12 year old English Setter.

At the end of the month it’s a day with Amoroso Xolos and breeder Stephanie Mazzarella…..I posted on facebook about this shoot in November but we had to reschedule.  Since then, her dog Basilio, has achieved #5 in the national Xolo rankings!  You can learn more at Amoroso Xolo and follow their blog which is updated regularly.

In February I’ll be doing a shoot with Kengali Ridgebacks in Eustis, Fl.  I met Ginny, the breeder, and a few of her dogs at Meet the Breeds/Eukanuba Dog Show.  Kengali has a new champion, Tobias, now CH Kengali’s Double Naught Spy!  I know that the ‘CH’ is for champion, but Im gonna have to get an education from one of the breeders about the whole naming system….for now I’ll just be content with knowing that when these dogs become champions they get really cool sounding names!  Here is the website for Kengali Ridgebacks and you can check em out on facebook too.

I have finally finished editing the Vizsla shoot! I am determined to keep The Breed Project chugging along with regular shoots and blog posts despite the annual November Christmas family photo rush.  We’ll see!

This being one of my first posts of an A.K.C purebred that was shot specifically for the project, Im still sort of feeling my way on the best way to present each breed/shoot.

For this one, Im doing just a brief intro and  links for those who want to read more. In general, since Im a photographer and this is a photography project, I’ll try to keep descriptions short and do most of my commentary as captions to images where I want to highlight something captured in an  image that is specific to the breed.

Vizslas were bred and kept by the Magyar Hordes (no idea, go Wiki it) in what would later become Hungary.  They are known from art (this seems to be the default method of determining the origins of the older breeds) as far back as the 10^th Century and became popular among Hungarian Royalty for their qualities as hunting/field dogs.  There is a little bit of uncertainty about what exactly went into the cocktail, but it is generally agreed that the ancestors of the Vizsla were crossed with Weimeraners and German Short-haired Pointers near the end of the Hungarian Empire (WW1), resulting in today’s Vizsla.  The breed standard for the Vizsla is between 21 and 24 inches tall and from 40 to 60 lbs.  They have short coats of a beautiful golden rust color. In short, they are regal dogs!

AKC’ Vizsla Breed Description

Vizslas on Animal Planets Dogs 101

Alright, onto Banjo, Reggae and Georgia the pup.

First and foremost Vizslas are pointing dogs.  They use their nose like you use your index finger, only theirs is a highly tuned sniffing machine as well as a directional guide.  Another difference is that where you might use your pointer to indicate that something is ‘…….over there,  across that muddy ditch and through that thorny bramble patch so thick you start to ask questions about why there is evil in the world’ –  Vizslas will follow their pointer with reckless abandon across that mud, bound through the godforsaken brush and do it all again in reverse to bring whatever was over there back to you, then give you this look like……..’cmon, throw it over there again.’  Which brings us to the next point…..Vizslas are exceptional in that they are pointers and retrievers, a rare distinction!

Due to their reckless abandon in heavy vegetation, Vizslas commonly bear battle scars.  The A.K.C description of the breed makes a point to say that these scars are not to be held against them by judges when they are being shown….instead they are viewed as a sort of badge of honor!At Play:

Georgia – The Pup

Making the transition from field to home, Vizslas short coats allow them to stay relatively ‘clean’ to begin with, and they are relentless self groomers so they are great in the home. Once in the home these dogs are as affectionate as they come and have earned themselves the title ‘Velcro Dog’ for their tendency to attach themselves to you, especially if you happen to be their owner.  While a lot of breeds lay claim to the Velcro moniker, as far as I know Vizslas are the original and undisputed Velcro Dog. 

In the Studio:

Did two dog shoots last week.  Three Vizslas on Monday and then a Miniature Apricot Poodle on Thursday.  Im still editing and will do a post on both but thought Id post a couple of my favorites so far……Ive actually been dragging the editing of the Vizslas out like a good book I dont want to end!

This is Koko,  a handsome example of a Yorkshire Terrier and officially my first subject for The Breed Project.  Now before the Yorkie aficionados come out with guns blazing, let me say that Koko makes no claim on the breed standard.  He is no showdog for sure, his virtue lies in the ‘outstanding pet’ department!

Actually, he is a teacup Yorkie and weighs in at a slight 3.5 pounds, much less than the 4-7 pound range for the standard Yorkie.  Whatever Koko lacks in size though, he certainly makes up for with BIG ENERGY.  The shoot lasted several hours and I was amazed at how Koko kept going and going……like the Energizer Bunny on Speed.  At one point I was thinking he must need to eat every fifteen minutes to maintain this output, but I soon realized that I was in fact feeding him a meals worth of treats every 15 minutes trying to bribe him to stay still for 1/125th of a second!

Now onto the pics: