Frieda loves the camera

Lots of people ask me how I get my dogs to sit still around the camera. It takes work. Some tips. I work to familiarize the dogs with the camera. I put it down next to their food bowls while they are eating. I put it down on the floor while they are napping (Careful: Lenore the pup tried to eat my camera). I show the dogs the camera and toss them treats.

Lots of dogs – including border collies – have issues with eye contact. So it’s important to get the acclimated to lenses and the sounds of the camera. Dogs are creatures of habit and if they get used to something they accept it. When cameras are suddenly thrust in their faces, or if they are abruptly approached outside and told to be still, they get anxious. Cameras need to be an organic, regular part of their lives.

In the case of Frieda, who used to growl at me and my camera, I started laying the camera down on the ground while she slept, and put a biscuit next to it. Over time, she associated the camera with good stuff and relaxed around it. So above I crawled across the floor, got nose to nose, and clicked away. She was completely relaxed. But it does take time and work, like anything worth doing.