Cooper turned three-years-old on February 2 — a perfect excuse for a Valentine’s Day themed photoshoot.
I ordered Valentine’s Day themed balloons from Target and gathered decor for the shoot from around the house, including a cream blanket, blush-colored pillows, fake flowers, a few real flower petals from our backyard, and some antique-looking teal bins.
Originally, I was going to use a photo backdrop, but decided that the teal wall in our guest room tied in perfectly with the decor colors.
Cooper and Fidus have become rather grumpy about food and treats in the last year. As a result, I generally take their photos separately when I know I’ll be asking them to sit still for treats so that they aren’t stressed about the other dog taking food from them.
Cooper was up first. A border collie through and through, Cooper is amazing at following orders. With a little nudging and persuading with treats, I got her in just the right spots in the photo space I’d set up.
After a ridiculous amount of herding the dogs around, it was Fidus’ turn. He is much more treat-driven than Cooper. While Cooper is happy to have a treat, she’s far more pleased to complete a task. Fidus, bless his soul, just wants the treat. Nothing else exists besides that treat. His nose slowly moves closer and closer to the camera (where I’ve balanced a treat atop the lens) during shoots.
Can you see his eagerness?
When doing photoshoots that involve props with pets, be sure to keep an eye on them. Cooper was a little too interested in the fake flowers and the real flower petals. After some redirections (and moving the decor further away from where she was seated) she stopped. Fidus, surprisingly and unsurprisingly, did not try to snack on anything besides the treat teased in front of him.
We didn’t do anything too special for Cooper’s birthday this year — but the next weekend we took her and Fidus on a hike during the Super Bowl when we knew the trails would be emptier than normal. We are thrilled that the hike went well! Cooper learned to politely sit off trail without barking or becoming fearful of the people passing by — a huge step forward for her. Photos coming soon.
Coop & You 