Once upon a time, my husband and I had a dog named Hauser. He was a gentle, 80 pound Doberman Pinscher who loved people and avoided other dogs whenever possible. He craved attention much like a toddler, and when we chose him as a puppy in 2006, we thought for sure we’d be introducing him to human siblings in the near future.

Long story tragically short, Hauser never got to meet our babies when they were born. We had him for seven good years, and we were devastated when he suddenly died of cancer in 2013. He was a big part of our family, and Dog Parents know that our animals are our children, particularly before human children enter the picture. I was sad those two parts of our family never crossed paths.

So when Dara asked during our first call if their pup Wellington could join us for their newborn photos, I was an enthusiastic yes. Wellington had been their baby for a while, and he was eager to be included in the photos we took in their home in Chesterfield.

Wellington was the perfect puppy for our time together. He sat patiently and waited his turn for photos, gave his new baby brother’s toes a kiss on demand, and even smiled for the camera as we crowded together next to the window in the nursery. He seemed to have a deeper understanding of the assignment than I could even give him credit for. Wellington didn’t seem to mind that he wasn’t completely in the center of attention, and he sweetly stood by as baby E cluster fed bottle after bottle in his mama’s arms, and took up room in her lap.

Dara and C had prepped Wellington well for the session. He had been bathed and was fluffy and clean; his nails were clipped so there wasn’t a danger of scratching the baby as they got close. He had been walked to get the excess energy out (having grandparents visiting really helps with the extra work of getting a dog-child ready for a photo session!), and as we started the session, he got a little extra food and water in his bowl to distract him while I moved around and he got used to my scent. By the time we were ready for him, he was calm and collected, and ready to cooperate.

Dara, C, E, and Wellington, thank you so much for inviting me in for a lovely, cozy morning with your babies. I hope they’re fast friends and get lots of time to play together.

Want to include your dog in your newborn photography session? Their temperament and energy will heavily influence our session, so that’s something to keep in mind as you think it over. If your pupper is high energy and bouncing off the walls, your session may feel more chaotic. If they are highly suspicious of strangers and voice their displeasure with barking or growling, your session may feel more stressed.

But if you have a dog who does well with people after an initial greeting period, takes commands (and/or treats) well, and you trust them, let’s do it. I can arrive a few minutes early so we can become acquainted before our session starts. Let’s talk about your four-legged child and any concerns or questions you have.