Capturing Puppy Memories Digitally

When you get a new pup and realize he’ll be a pup for only a few months, you may decide to capture the memories while you can. So you find the camera you use on vacation and try snapping the pup’s expressions.

And if you’re skilled at photography, you’ll take clear, properly composed shots of everything from the pup sleeping upside down to playing with his friends. Not being that skilled, I take many pictures to get a few good ones. Thanks to the photography gods for digital cameras!

Whether you use a point and shoot camera or a digital SLR, you can get puppy memories captured with these tips:

Lighting
Take the pics where there’s good lightning, either inside or outside. Flash does not always produce true colors. The one time where flash came in handy is when the light is behind the dog (he’s backlit). For some reason, outside on a cloudy day is the best lighting.

Focus
Out-of-focus shots are maddening. You have this outstanding pup expression, but the picture’s fuzzy. Get the dog’s attention with a toy or another person and shoot away before he moves (uh huh!). You can also use a tripod if you get blurring. For example, on the left is a sample of an out-of-focus shot I call “the stuffed animal.” Would have been a great shot if I focused the camera correctly.

Angle of shot
Technically, you should shoot at the dog’s level. Sometimes that’s a little difficult but you need to be creative. Put the dog on a chair or a top stair so you can get to his level.

Zoom In
All cameras have a zoom feature. Get a full body shot and a head shot and one from the front. The pup’s image should fill the frame.

Fix your mistakes
Not every one has Photoshop, but there is software (it may come with your camera) to crop, fix lighting and sharpen pictures. It is best to take a good picture, but that’s not likely if you’re an amateur.

Create pup memories now. Time’s ticking away . . .

Bichon or Cockapoo traits or both?

Did you know – A Bichon Frise is a cross breed?



This post is the second of two posts about looking at Prince Alvin's Cockapoo and Bichon traits. First post is Designer Dog - “Luck of the Draw”. Breed information in this post is from puppyfind.com.

Wow – Alvin, a Bichon Cockapoo, did get the “Luck of the Draw,” at least in appearance. He shows more Bichon than Cockapoo characteristics in this area. But when it comes to certain types of behavior, I wish he had more of the Cockapoo attributes.

Here’s the Bichon (puppyfind.com) traits Alvin displays:

• Bichon Frises have long, elegant necks, strong chests, short muzzles, and a scissors bite. They have a dark halo around the eyes and a dark nose and lips, giving an inquisitive facial expression. This inherited facial expression is what makes Alvin such a handsome pup (in my opinion).
• The Bichon Frise is highly hypoallergenic and does not shed, making it a good breed for those with allergies.
• The Bichon Frise is sensitive, responsive, affectionate, and abundantly playful. It is a perky, jumpy, happy dog that loves companionship and is happy to cuddle up.
• Bichon Frises have an easy, happy disposition.
• Bichons may bark frequently or tend to nip when playing. Alvin has become increasingly vocal, usually when it’s not appropriate (from the human viewpoint).
• Like cats, Bichons have sudden spikes of energy which cause them to run wildly around the house. It’s called Frise Frenzy and looks like pure craziness!
• The Bichon Frise is highly intelligent, making training a fairly simple task. Bichon Frises can be difficult to house train (ain't it true!).
• The Bichon Frise is an active dog that needs daily exercise. It is eager to play vigorous indoor games, romp in the yard, or take short walks on the leash.
• Bichons may have allergies or be sensitive to flea bites. Alvin appears to be allergic to something – we’re trying to figure out the allergen.
• The Bichon Frise’s coat needs to be brushed and combed every other day and trimmed every two months.
  

In retrospect, when looking for a dog breed, I should have had second thoughts about the "difficult to housetrain" and grooming characteristics that show in both the Cockapoo and Bichon lists. But the positive traits outweigh the negative and besides - in general, we are happy with our Bichon Cockapoo. We know he needs additional training, but that's a whole new topic of discussion!

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Designer Dog - “Luck of the Draw”

Did you know – Cockapoos were bred as early as 1940?

When people mention the term “designer dog,” they typically are referring to the more common mixed breeds such as Cockapoos, Labradoodles, and Puggles. When you are looking for a mixed breed, you need to look at the characteristics of each

breed in the mix.

In Alvin’s case, we looked up Bichon Frise and Cockapoo. We were able to find a “breed description” for Cockapoo on puppyfind.com as well as for Bichon Frise (puppyfind.com>Find a Puppy>Enter Breed>Find My Breed>Click Breed Name).

Now that it’s a few months after we brought him home, I revisited these descriptions to see how what well they fit Alvin’s physical and behavioral characteristics today.

Here’s the Cockapoo (puppyfind.com) characteristics Alvin displays:

• The Miniature Cockapoo weighs 12-20 lbs, with a shoulder height of 14-15”. At 5 months, Alvin is already 12 lbs and about 12” tall.
• The Cockapoo can be a wide variety of coat textures and colors such as white, cream, tan, or a mix thereof. Alvin is mostly white with buff/cream, and a little black. His coat is straight.
• Cockapoos are outgoing and eager for human companionship and attention. The Cockapoo will grow unhappy if it is left alone too often.
• Cockapoos enjoy the company of all living things, including other dogs and pets.
• Cockapoos do not shed much, however the coat does require extensive grooming. Alvin doesn’t shed at all, needs to be brushed every day, and needs grooming every 6–8 weeks.
• Cockapoos are intelligent and eager to please, which usually makes training a simple procedure. House training the Cockapoo may be difficult (Yes, yes, and yes!).

Wonder what Bichon characteristics apply in Alvin’s case? The answer was a wee bit surprising. I’ll continue this discussion with the next post.