Personality is key in a dog model.

What Makes a Good Dog Model?

• Are well socialised
• Can settle around new people and environments
• Are able to do a sit and wait at a short distance
• Have reliable recall
• Don’t resource guard food, space, toys, or people
• Are comfortable being gently handled
• Can cope with short periods of focus and repetition

Your Dog Doesn’t Need to Be “Confident”

For the shoots with My Anxious Dog, we used the face of the brand Bella who can be people reactive.

The Dog Always Comes First on My Shoots

It’s good for dogs to have a good skill set like ‘hold’ as this can lead to more bookings.

Why the Right Dog Matters for Commercial Brand Shoots

You can’t fake this kind of enthusiasm on a shoot!

Why I Built a UK Dog Model Database

I couldn’t do my job without the amazing dog models!

Thinking About Applying as a Dog Model?

Professional photographer working Worldwide with Pet Businesses

I’ve been noticing AI generated imagery creeping into pet brand content and I kind of understand…when it first came out, I had a little play too. It’s fun, it’s clever, and it feels like you can create almost anything you want in seconds. Especially as a creative person, it’s hard not to be curious about it. But the more I see it being used by pet businesses, the more it makes me uncomfortable.

Not because I think AI is going to replace photographers (I genuinely don’t), but because of what it can do to a brands reputation.

There’s an emotion in real photography that AI just can’t replicate.

Why real images matters so much for pet brands

When you’re using AI imagery, you’re not actually showing your real product or service in a real moment. Even when it looks realistic… it still isn’t real. And whether people consciously realise it or not, something can feel slightly off.

Sometimes it’s obvious; five legs, two tails, paws appearing from nowhere, but even when the mistakes are subtle, there’s often still a disconnect that people pick up on instinctively.

If someone realises the imagery is AI generated, it can feel a little like they’ve been duped. And if they don’t realise immediately but later discover it wasn’t real in the first place, that trust can take a hit and in the pet industry especially, trust is everything.

People care about what they buy for their dogs and other pets. They want to know something is genuine, tested, loved and used in real life, not just generated to look aesthetically pleasing or ‘perfect’ online. I have to admit, I muted notifications on one pet brand recently because every image was AI generated and it just didn’t connect with me.

Those real moments are what people connect with.

How AI imagery can affect trust and brand perception

The danger with relying too heavily on AI imagery isn’t usually dramatic or immediate. It’s more subtle than that – over time, it can start to chip away at how professional your brand feels, how believable your products appear, and ultimately how much people trust what they’re seeing.

Because great brand imagery isn’t just about creating something visually impressive. It’s about showing how a product or service genuinely fits into real life, all those imperfect but honest moments that make something feel relatable.

Real pet photography vs AI-generated content

This is also why real animal photography still matters so much. Animals don’t perform perfectly. They react to their environment, their emotions, their handlers and the moment they’re in and that unpredictability is actually part of what makes the images feel believable – some of my favourite shots are ones that weren’t actually planned!

Is AI bad for pet businesses?

I don’t think AI itself is inherently bad, like any tool, it depends how it’s used. I use it to help plan my week, refine my content (as I know I can ramble a bit!), and to pull ideas together. But I do think pet brands need to be careful about relying on it too heavily, especially in an industry built so strongly on connection and trust.

The chaos of a dog with a new toy is something worth capturing. 

What kind of imagery actually connects with pet owners?

The imagery that tends to resonate most is usually the imagery that feels honest – those moments where people can recognise themselves and their own pets in your brand, and it’s very rarely perfect! It’s those slightly chaotic moments of real life – the muddy walk, the excited look when a treat is coming their way, the joy of a new favourite toy.

Final thoughts: should pet brands use AI imagery?

For me, this conversation isn’t really about whether AI is “good” or “bad”, it’s about authenticity, trust and what your imagery is saying about your brand, because your photos aren’t just there to look nice they’re there to help people believe and understand what you do.

If you want real photos that connect and are true to your business, feel free to get in touch, I’d love to hear about your brand.

Kerry x

Professional photographer working Worldwide with Pet Businesses

How many times have you landed on a pet brand’s website or social media and before you have read a single word, you already have a feeling about that brand. Whether it feels trustworthy, professional, calm, fun or a little bit unclear, and whether you want to investigate further is usually decided within seconds, and almost all of that comes from the imagery.

Dicky Bags showing a real life example of their products being used somewhere poo bins aren’t always available. 

How pet brand photography tells a story

Your photos aren’t just showing what your product looks like, they’re telling people how it fits into a dog’s life and yours. A lead becomes part of the morning walk whether it’s a stroll through a park or a hike in the fells.  A treat becomes that moment a dog engages and looks up at their human, and a toy becomes an interactive moment of bonding. Whether you’ve planned it or not, your imagery is always telling a story.

Why storytelling imagery builds trust and connection

That matters more than people often realise, because when someone discovers your brand, they’re not just deciding whether they like the product. They’re asking themselves, often without even thinking about it, whether it feels right for them and their dog. If your imagery reflects their world, their lifestyle and how they see their dog, they’re far more likely to connect. If it doesn’t, they tend to move on, often without quite knowing why.

Who does your brand cater for? Let them instantly know in your images.

How to decide what story your pet brand should tell

This is where a lot of brands get stuck. It’s easy to jump straight into “we need some photos” without stepping back and asking what you actually want people to feel when they see your brand. Do you want it to feel calm and considered, outdoor and adventurous, fun and full of energy, or more premium and refined? The story you’re telling through your imagery should reflect that consistently.

Who doesn’t look at this image and want their dog to feel like this in their dog bed? Emotion led photography helps people understand what you do.

Examples of strong pet brand imagery in practice

It’s something I see done really well by brands like East Ruston Cottages, where the imagery is not only recognisable, people know as soon as they land on the website that dogs are at the centre of what they do. It’s not just the setup, it’s the consistency in how the brand feels across everything you see. The same goes for The Innocent Hound, where the imagery carries across social media, catalogues and trade shows, all reinforcing the same story. It’s not about having more images, it’s about having the right ones and using them well. Have a think about the last time you found a brand and thought ‘that’s for me’.

The Innocent Pet Company have used images like this on their website, trade stands and marketing materials.

How to create pet brand imagery that actually works

When you approach a shoot like this, it becomes less about what looks nice and more about what makes sense for your brand. Thinking about how your product is actually used, who your audience is, what their day-to-day life looks like, and how your product fits into that makes decisions around locations, dog models and overall style much clearer. You’re not just creating images, you’re building a visual story that your audience can recognise and connect with.

Sunnyside Cottage in Robin Hoods Bay showing that dogs are allowed on the bed.

Is your pet brand imagery telling the right story?

First impressions happen quickly, and your imagery is doing more of that work than you might realise. So it’s worth asking yourself what story your brand is telling right now, and whether it’s the one you want people to remember.

If you’re not quite sure what that story is, or you’d like a hand shaping it into something more intentional, feel free to get in touch – I’d love to hear about your brand.

Professional photographer working Worldwide with Pet Businesses

Something happened at Crufts this year that which really stuck with me; I came across a brand with a huge, impressive stand – but I’d never heard of them, and being in the pet industry for so long I was curious so popped over for a a chat. I found out that this was their first full year of trading, which made it even more mindblowing, how do you launch a brand at that scale!?

But when I asked how the brand started, there wasn’t really an answer and when I looked them up later, there was nothing on their website either. No founder story, no insight into who was behind the business, no sense of why it existed in the first place, and for me, that felt like something was missing, it actually made me a bit suspicious. Maybe it’s just me, but as a dog owner who cares who I’m buying from, it’s important to know the reason for a brand existing and people don’t just buy products, they buy the people behind them. Or as Simon Sinek says “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it”.

Taylor – one of the founders of Fettle Pet Supplements

People buy from people

Most pet brands don’t start in a boardroom, they start with a dog, a problem and an idea which solves that problem. That story is often the reason the brand exists at all. When you can see the person and the story behind the brand, understand what they care about, and why they started, it creates an immediate connection – it builds trust and makes people be able to relate. Take that away and even the most beautifully packaged product can feel a anonymous.

Your story builds trust (before your product does)

When someone lands on your website or social media for the first time, they’re making a decision quickly – not just “do I like this product?” but “do I trust this brand? Founder imagery helps answer that question almost instantly – seeing a real person (you!), with their dog, in a genuine environment, tells your audience that your brand is personal and in a market that’s becoming more saturated, that kind of trust is incredibly valuable.

Sarah – Founder of Send a Dog a Bone postal treats

Founder photos create connection quickly

We’re all used to scrolling quickly which means your audience isn’t always going to read your full story straight away but they will connect with how something feels and a simple image of you with your pet or working within your business, can communicate far more than a paragraph of text ever could. It gives your audience a human connection, and that connection is often what makes someone pause, explore further, and ultimately choose you.

Rachel – Pet business coach & dog friendly holiday cottage owner.

Especially for small pet brands

If you’re a small or independent brand, this matters even more, you’re not competing on scale. or trying to outspend bigger companies – what you have is your story, your values, and your reason for doing what you do. And your story is what sells.

Thinking back to that brand at Crufts, it wasn’t the size of the stand that stood out to me, it was the absence of a story because without that human connection, it’s much harder to engage, no matter how good the product looks. Or is that just me??

If someone landed on your website today, would they know who you are, and why your brand exists? And if not, it might be time to start telling that story a little more clearly.

If you’d like a hand bringing that to life through imagery, feel free to get in touch, I’d love to hear about your brand.

Professional photographer working Worldwide with Pet Businesses

It’s one of the big questions I get asked when I talk about photographing dogs – why wont my dog look at the camera? It might sound silly to say, but your dog has no concept of what you are asking them to do, so just holding something in front of them (ie your phone) might make them a little anxious!

Tips for helping your dog enjoy looking at the camera

 

Become a noise machine

A simple guide to hiking with Whippets in the Lake District. [Disclaimer – there is actually only one Lake in the Lake District (Bassenthwaite), the rest are classed as Tarns or Waters – good pub quiz knowledge!]

Do you need any special kit if you plan some fell walking with your whippet?

I would highly recommend investing in a good harness, preferably with a handle. If your whippet hasn’t had to navigate things like stiles or a little bit of rock scrambling, this will make both of your lives much easier.

As well as the harness, a bungy lead which you can connect round your waist so that you can keep your hands free for any small scrambles but also, if you are out for a while, you don’t want to have to hand hold your dog lead the entire time.

My go to brand for both of these are Ruffwear, I’ve been using them for about 8 years and both the quality and longevity give me faith and peace of mind that my whippets will be safe on a fell walk. I’ve recently changed Bertie’s to a Flagline as he prefers this, but you can read about why I think Ruffwear are brilliant on my blog The Best Harnesses for Whippets. 

I’d take water and a collapsible bowl – I’ve found whippets can be fussy when drinking ‘outdoor’ water and although there are usually plenty of streams to choose from, mine very rarely drink from them unless they are really desperate!

One thing to remember about the Cumbrian weather is that it can change in an instant! Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you are setting off on a mild spring morning that it will be like that if you head up a fell. You could experience all seasons during  your walk so particularly with whippets, take something that covers most basis – my go to is the Redhound for Dogs Chester as it’s not too warm, shower proof & packs away easily.

For humans, a good pair of broken in hiking shoes, and lightweight waterproof in spring/summer and layers the rest of the year.

If your whippet isn’t used to wearing a harness, it might be worthwhile doing some short trips and get them comfortable being lifted with the handle.

Are there good paths/tracks? You advise for planning a route

This really depends on what you want to do. Catbells is considered one of the ‘easiest’ fells but it’s not because it isn’t steep going, it’s a good 40-50 minute up hill hike but easy in the respect that there’s only a couple of very small scrambles which most people with a good level of fitness can do.

If you don’t fancy that, a lot of the Waters you are able to walk round quite easily and can take 3+ hours depending on which one you do. Bear in mind that some don’t have a ‘path’ so to speak but more of a track. One of the more popular Waters is Buttermere which is a lovely fairly flat stroll.

If it’s your first hike, research some of the more well known fells as the paths will be more obvious.

How long would you be out

However long you want to be! There what feels like an infinite network of routes which link all the Waters. With some good planning (something I lack), you do an all day loop if you wanted, or a short there and back stroll.

Build up your whippets stamina (and yours!) before you visit.

Are there places to stop/rest get refreshments on your favourite fell walks

Generally there aren’t any on the actual walks but a few of my favourite routes are:

Parking at the left side of Loweswater and walking to the amazing Kirkstyle Inn – this is a bit of a hidden gem nestled in between Loweswater and Crummock Water. Super dog friendly with a beer garden with the most majestic of views!

If you fancy attempting Cat Bells then The Lingholm Kitchen is very close and has the most amazing gardens and a fabulous café.

If you fancy something all day but not too challenging then you can park at the west of Crummock Water and take a hike to the Lakes largest waterfall, Scale Force, then pop into The Buttermere Court where I’ve always been made to feel super welcome before doing a loop of Buttermere, and then stopping in again on the way back! You can actually go round the other side of Crummock on the way back but it requires a little bit of road walking along the incredibly beautiful Honister Pass but it’s well used by walkers and has gorgeous views.

There are also some lovely walks direct from Keswick, which I have to say is probably one of the most dog friendly towns I have come across in the Lake District so far, you’d be hard pressed to find somewhere that isn’t dog friendly! You can check out my ongoing blog Dog Friendly Lake District for more!

Tips for grabbing a great selfie when you reach the top

Self timer & treats are your friend! You will more than likely to find stacked stone ‘cairns’ which are used as way points on a hike, I usually prop my phone or camera up against one of these and set a self timer. It can get windy so you may need another stone to pop in front, but they you can add your contribution to the pile!

Do some selfie practice shots before you visit so you feel comfortable knowing where your settings are before you do a hike.

Be aware of the Woolly Magicians

One thing I really didn’t consider, or know about much, was sheep. Lots and lots of sheep. Everywhere. When you least expect them.  I’ve walked one way, have seen no sheep – and on the way back, they have magically appeared from nowhere (or so it seems). I’ve had a couple of close calls where there’s been nothing in eyesight, but Shadow has air scented and gone off, so now, unless I really know the area, or I’m at the highest point and can have a 360 view, I keep mine on lead. During the warmer months it’s even harder to spot them as they nestle down in the ferns and long undergrowth. It’s just not worth the risk as dogs can be shot for harassing livestock.

Please don’t let this put you off, the hikes absolutely incredible regardless, and there are plenty of places to let your whippets off lead if they need a run around first.

Woolly magicians pop up when you least expect them.

One last thing

This may sound strange, but get your whippet used to different surfaces and also clambering or jumping up before you visit. There’s a lot of scree in the Lake District, which is stones/slate which line some of the fells – it moves around quite a lot when you walk on it, which can be quite disconcerting for a whippet – Bertie flat out refused to walk on some of our first scree hikes. If you have a pebbly beach nearby, or even somewhere with a lot of gravel, it might be worth just walking with them over it. There might be instances where you need to scramble up rock – getting your whippet used to jumping up eg logs or benches will help them with their confidence so you don’t have to try and lift them on everything.

Most of all – ENJOY! The Lake District is vast, dramatic, ever changing and I know you will absolutely love it. If you have any questions, please just drop me an email and if I don’t know the answer, I’m sure I’ll know someone who will!

Questions supplied by Redhound for Dogs – is there anything else you would like to see included on this blog post? Pop them in the comments and I’d love to know if you found this post useful.

I know recommendations are really important for small brands, as well as the people buying from them so I’ve decided to do series on the brands I know, like and trust. I have either bought from these small brands, worked with them or both for many many years so I hope this will help you if you are looking for something specific for your dog.

An enrichment toy with an infinite possibilities!

As a dog owner, I’d seen a fair few individual toys which you could stuff with food, the issue was that they never lasted very long regardless of what I stuffed them with. So when I came across K9 Connectables many years ago, I was instantly curious. I really liked the fact that you could connect a few of them together – in my head I thought, what a perfect thing to take with me when I go to the pub with the dogs!

Great for keeping a dog entertained for longer!

Different levels to build confidence

One of the things I loved the most about these toys is that there were so many different levels from easy to expert it meant that just a couple of the toys would keep the dogs entertained for longer – you can start easy and as their confidence grows you can make it harder by doing an extra ‘click’ but then, joy of joys, you can add more, and more to make them super difficult and really make your dogs brain work!

Keeping it interesting

I’ve been using different K9 Connectables for a fair few years so I’ve tried lots of fillings! Everything from cream cheese to mashed potato. The things I have found which keep my dogs entertained for the longest is actually roast chicken and blocks of cheese – I think it’s because you can squish it right in and both become quite compact so rather than bits falling out, the dogs actually have to lick to get at it, sometimes taking 20 minutes – times that by however many you want to attach and you have yourself some quiet time and mentally tired dogs afterwards! 

Since I first discovered K9 Connectables, they have brought out several new variations, like the stick on ones which you can connect to any of the others, and a fabulous kibble wobble ball which can also be connected and ones for tough chewers.  The sticky version is great for popping on the end of the bath if your dog isn’t particularly happy having a shower, or for distracting your dog while you clip their nails. But wait, there’s more!

Oh yes, your eyes aren’t deceiving you – when you buy a K9 Connectable, you aren’t just buying an interactive food dispenser, they bounce really well, and they float! It’s one of the many reasons I think K9 Connectables are well worth the money. I’ve got ones that have lasted about 6 years (the ones I haven’t lost) – I take them stuffed and connect to the pub garden to settle the dogs down, I use them if I haven’t been able to do a big walk, and then I take individual ones to the beach as a toy and unlike a tennis ball, they wont wear down your dogs teeth.

Have you already tried K9 Connectables? Let me know in the comments!

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