My Dog is Reactive.

Can he still be in the studio?

Ask Drake.

Drake is highly reactive to other dogs as well as humans. So I was anticipating a challenge when his person, Jennifer, told me “His personal space right now is at about 15 feet.”

(Leash was on the whole time and has been digitally removed!)

Drake is a very good and very smart boy, who started as a foster, and was intensely reactive when he first came to Jennifer. She fell in love with him immediately, and after months of hard work with training and behavior classes, his reactivity has improved greatly.

I asked Jennifer what this journey with Drake has taught her. “I’m not a patient individual, and this is a very slow, very deliberate process, so I feel like he’s working on teaching me patience. I firmly believe every dog comes into your life for a reason and to teach you something special, and he is full of gifts.”

I made sure we respected Drake’s boundaries from the parking lot to the studio. This was the first pet session where I didn’t touch or feed treats to the subject, I simply sat against the back wall and photographed with a long lens. Jennifer listened as I directed her how to pose him, and you could feel the deep trust between them. If I did need to get up to move something on set, Jennifer and I would do a little do-si-do so Drake didn’t feel encroached upon. She had his leash attached to her waist at all times.

Their bond and relationship was obvious from the beginning of the session. He was toy and play motivated, and Jennifer had brought his favorite orange ball and a dog toy on a wand (like a big cat toy) that he loved.

It was such an honor to capture Drake’s personality while respecting his boundaries and limits. He’s come such a long way, and it’s a testament to the work humans put in to help anxious and reactive dogs live their best lives.

At Crimson Cat Studios we understand that each animal is unique, and we respect everyone’s limits and emotions. If your dog is reactive, give us a call and we’ll discuss what we can do in the studio to make them comfortable and capture their true personalities.

We also have a Tail Wag guarantee that you’ll absolutely love your pet’s portraits, or we will prioritize a reshoot or refund your session fee. Our mission is to honor companion animals in a way you can treasure forever!.