It’s summer! As if you didn’t have enough things to do to keep your Berner cool, here’s a summer reading list! When I got my first Berner, my breeder gave me a list of books to consider. I’ve loved having those books as a resource. Many of the books on that list are now on […]
Bloat! Confessions of a helicopter dog mom
Bloat. The very mention of the word makes me nervous. I’m cautious with my dogs to a fault. Thankfully, none of them have had bloat, but if one of them is not acting right, I’m paying attention. I instinctively reach down and feel the dog’s tummy to see if it’s swollen or distended. It’s true. […]
6 fool-proof ways to shoot great dog show photos
So you want to make some nice pictures at a dog show, but you’re not sure how. You don’t have professional equipment like the dog show photographer, and besides you don’t really want to be the dog show photographer. That’s really hard work. (In fact, you SHOULD BE SUPPORTING your dog show photographer. But more of […]
Before you click: This rule will get you great pictures
Want to make your photographs stand out, be more striking? Want to transform those happy snaps of your Berner from blah to beautiful? Why the Rule of Thirds makes a difference A very simple technique can make a world of difference in the way you see and compose your photographs. It’s called the Rule of […]
5 must-have grooming tools every Berner owner needs
Bernese Mountain Dogs – they’re big, hairy beasts. Add extra emphasis on the word “hairy.” Walk into a pet store and you’ll find a myriad of grooming tools, but little information about which ones are best for your dog. So, how do you take better care of your Berner’s coat between visits to a professional […]
‘Lowdown’ from a photo pro: Get great dog pics every time
So, you want to make better pictures of your Bernese Mountain Dog. It’s hard to mess up when you have a beautiful subject right there in front of you. But you can always make your pictures better by changing the way you look at things. And don’t feel you need a big fancy camera to do this. […]
Doorway manners: Training your Bernese Mountain Dog to wait (Video)
So, you have a 100-lb. Berner that loves his walks and wants to bolt out the door with you flying behind him like a magic carpet. If you have a stay/wait command, it’s easy to train a dog to wait for you to go through the door first. You can start out training at a door […]
Shooting shadow selfies: Have fun taking advantage of light
In an earlier post, I recommended shooting in early morning or late evening light. Here’s a great reason to shoot at these times: long shadows. When the sun is low in the sky, the light comes in at a sharper angle than during the middle of the day when the sun is overhead. Shadow […]
6 tips to make your Bernese Mountain Dog pictures better
Want to dramatically improve your pictures? It’s really not that hard. These six tips can make a huge difference in your results. 1. Get down on your dog’s level. One of the best ways to improve your pictures is to change your angle. Get down on the ground, eye to eye with your […]