Would you photograph a stranger's dog? Observations from the Renaissance Festival

[NMAmy]

We went to the Renaissance Festival this weekend and had a blast. We met my sister there, along with my great-nephew, and my nephew, his wife, and their dog. The dog, Devil, is an Alaskan malamute and he is really one of the biggest dogs I've ever seen (and I've always had big dogs.) He's just a year old and weighs 120 lbs already. He's also got a fantastic temperament--very mellow and well behaved.

I've never seen him anywhere but family gatherings and had no idea that it would be like travelling with a movie star. Every few feet, people stopped us to pet him and talk to him. This was amusing in the beginning but after 4 hours, we were all getting a little annoyed--you'd have thought we were travelling with the original Lassie--I'm thinking of teaching Devil how sign autographs. But the thing that just amazed me was that FOUR different people that I saw (and I wasn't with them the entire time so there may have been more) actually took the dog's picture.

Now I usually take Devil's picture when I see him but I consider him family and I'm mightily amused by the fact that he has seriously doubled in size every time I see him (about every 3 months.) But why in the world would you take a picture of a stranger's dog? We teased my nephew that he should have gotten Devil BEFORE he got married since he is definitely a babe magnet. My Niece in law and I would come out of a shop and there would be Nephew, DH, and Devil with a bevy of buxum Renaissance lasses vying with each other to pet the dog. I asked N-I-L if it bothered her and she told me, "Heck, no, this way I get to go into any shop I want and nephew never notices."

Just a side note: We saw some costumes with great entertainment value. My favorite was a young guy wearing sort of a chain mail jock strap, a cape, and nothing else. It started a long conversation between DH and I -- mainly, that you'd have to have the right kind of weather to wear that thing. Too hot and the chain mail would be, well, VERY uncomfortable (not that I imagine it was very comfortable to begin with) and too cold and YIKES. DH decided he could do without one once he started imagining trying to make a pit stop in that thing and all the possible injuries that could result. We're easily amused. There were also a lot of ample lasses who took the opportunity to prop their assets up for all to see. DH, Sis, and I were keeping a running count--well, we had a lot of time on our hands while Devil was greeting his admirers.

So, honestly, am I the oddball here or would you take a picture of someone else's dog? I might stop and say "What a beautful dog, etc." but I can't imagine why I'd need a pic to remind me.

 

[wdwmom2]

Yes I would take a picture, with the owner's permission, if the dog intrigued me enough!!!! I've had people take pictures of my dogs and I took it as quite a compliment. No problem here. Alaskan Malamutes are beautiful dogs!!!!

 

[Marseeya]

I could see doing that. If a photographer saw a beautiful animal, I'm sure they could get a great photo out of it, who cares who owns the dog, know what I mean? Or maybe they wanted a pic to figure out what the dog was later, or to show someone else.

 

[luvflorida]

So, honestly, am I the oddball here or would you take a picture of someone else's dog? I might stop and say "What a beautful dog, etc." but I can't imagine why I'd need a pic to remind me.

When we were in Key West I took pictures of quite a few dogs. Some were part of the entertainment in Mallory Square, so I figured it was okay to take pictures, but some were just walking around with their owners. If they weren't part of the entertainment, I always asked the owners if it was okay and they always said sure.

The thing with the Key West doggies that I found amusing was that they all wore clothes! I have photos of various dogs wearing boxer shorts, bandanas, hats, visors, tropical shirts, even footwear. My favorite is a photo of a guy walking five dogs down Duval Street and all five dogs, and the owner, are wearing sunglasses.

 

[DawnCt1]

I have actually seen people stop and take a picture of my dog.....on my front lawn! No, it doesn't bother me. She's a pretty girl. Annie is a 65 pound black standard poodle who carries herself very well.

 

[clarabelle]

I always feel that people who take their dogs out in public -to street festivals fairs ect... are kind of asking for a lot of attention
I enjoy seeing dogs at that kind of thing.
In my humble opinion if you don't want to be stopped- don't bring the dog

 

[pw2pp]

We also went to the Renaissance Festival last month and had a blast!
I didn't know that so many people DO bring their dogs and alot of the dogs had costumes on too. I told my DH I want to bring our dog next year.
I can understand taking a picture of a dog, especially a huge dog like that since they are so unusual. Maybe they are considering getting that same breed and want to show people what they look like??

Was this past weekend the LAST weekend of the year for the festival?

 

[sPaRkLeSpAz]

Well, I'm too shy to take pictures of strangers dogs. I would however pet them, and ask what their names are.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

DW MeanLaureen used to have an Irish Wolfhound when I first met her. She also ran into the same thing you did. People were fascinated with Murphy. Whenever she would take her out, people would flock to her, especially the children. I think the kids were fascinated with a dog that tall (she was small for an Irish Wolfhound but still stood 30 inches at the shoulder and over 6ft tall on her hind legs). Murphy loved the attention and was a gentle giant.

I think I remember Lauri saying that she used to snap pictures of people's dogs at events (with their permission) when she used to do portraits of dogs. She wasn't doing their dog in particular but she liked to have as many reference shots as possible for her work.

On the same subject, we did our first ever craft show this weekend and it was outdoors in a park that allows dogs so we let Reilly weasel his way into the outing. I think we would have made a fortune if we charged 50 cents to hug the little bugger. People would come into our booth and say "Can I hug your dog?". And of course Reilly would eat it up. I think he was good for business.

 

[NMAmy]

Was this past weekend the LAST weekend of the year for the festival?

Yep, it was the last weekend. We usually go that weekend because it's not as hot as the weekends in August and early September. It was perfect weather on Saturday even though it was a little overcast.

It did get a little warm sitting at the joust during mid-afternoon. My 10yo great nephew asked me to help him take off his cape and whispered to me, "I don't know how those boys (the knights) can stand to wear those costumes when it's hot."

 

[NMAmy]

I always feel that people who take their dogs out in public -to street festivals fairs ect... are kind of asking for a lot of attention
I enjoy seeing dogs at that kind of thing.
In my humble opinion if you don't want to be stopped- don't bring the dog

Well, I actually agree with you, clarabelle. My dog was left at home because she's a puppy and doesn't behave very well with a lot of excitement around. I didn't know that nephew and his wife were bringing Devil so I wasn't prepared to be the center of attention. I think my nephew was a little surprised as well because they mainly take him with them around their neighborhood and it's mostly just kids that clamor around to pet him. This was his first festival outing and he was extremely well behaved.

I am a dog lover, too, and some of you have pointed out some reasons for taking pics of a stranger's dog--I appreciate other people's perspectives but frankly, at the time, I just couldn't figure out why folks would want to take his picture.

 

[clarabelle]

I went to a St. Patricks day Celebration one time where someone had dyed their miniature poodle green
The problem was- it was not a "people or Kid" type dog! It was nervous.
The owner acted irritated that kids kept coming up and wanting to pet it!
Duh!
That was where I was coming from with my statement
Your "nephew dog" sounds neat aw:

 

[golfgal]

The real questions is WHY do people bring dogs to things like this????

 

[poohlover]

WE have Newfoundlands that have had the same thing happen. We have been taking them places to get them well socialized. I want to show them & try pet therapy with them, so being used to people is necessary!

We took one to a local craft fair a few weekends ago & I believe he met everyone in our town! We did have a few people take pics & I think it's great! It was just what we wanted to have happen...have our dog get used to meeting people & behaving. He was just great & very patient with kids & adults alike. We did a lot of teaching about the breed & how they are NOT for every person.

One problem I have is when people know their dog doesn't do well with people but they take it anyway...

 

[va32h]

I don't know what I would do with a picture of someone else's dog. Just take it out once in awhile and say "here's that dog we saw that time"

But then, I am a person who doesn't take a lot of pictures in general. We have a dachshund mix - body of a weiner dog, face of a Lab - which tends to attract attention, but she is not very well behaved in public settings, so she doesn't get out much.

 

[laurie31]

I love dogs

My kids love dogs too, and when we see a dog, they usually want to pet it. We always ask the owner first and they only pet with permission. We haven't photographed too many, but we did get a pic of this one (with permission of course) He was sooooo beautiful! and HUGE!! I think dd could ride him I think he was a harlequin Great Dane, but I could be wrong.

Laurie

 

[robinb]

Every few feet, people stopped us to pet him and talk to him. This was amusing in the beginning but after 4 hours, we were all getting a little annoyed--you'd have thought we were travelling with the original Lassie--I'm thinking of teaching Devil how sign autographs. But the thing that just amazed me was that FOUR different people that I saw (and I wasn't with them the entire time so there may have been more) actually took the dog's picture.

I had a Japanese Akita and we had the same "problem" when we would take her to the local farmer's market. Akitas look like big furry teddy bears. When she was a puppy we would only get a only a few feet before someone else came up to pet her. When she was older we bought a doggie backpack and she carried some of our groceries. Her picture was taken many, many times. If it bothered me, I guess I would have stopped bringing her.

Just a side note: We saw some costumes with great entertainment value. My favorite was a young guy wearing sort of a chain mail jock strap, a cape, and nothing else.

I have seen many a chain mail bikini at science fiction conventions, but not a jock strap. Dang!

 

[NMAmy]

I don't know what I would do with a picture of someone else's dog. Just take it out once in awhile and say "here's that dog we saw that time"

This was kind of my point. I do take a lot of pictures but I tend to put everything in scrapbooks and I don't see myself adding someone else's dog to my scrapbook.

 

[goofyforlife]

We have a Bernese Mountain Dog....

Abby is cute and causes quite the scene when we take her out in public.

When I take her to training classes at our local Petsmart, I always have people talking to me about her even though it is obvious we're in class....

I had a guy take her picture with his cell phone to show his girlfriend, but he asked first...... (and his girlfriend had one who was older so it wasn't too odd)

 

[NMAmy]

I love dogs

My kids love dogs too, and when we see a dog, they usually want to pet it. We always ask the owner first and they only pet with permission. We haven't photographed too many, but we did get a pic of this one (with permission of course) He was sooooo beautiful! and HUGE!! I think dd could ride him I think he was a harlequin Great Dane, but I could be wrong.

Laurie

Hey, I actually saw a dog like this at the festival, too. I didn't take a picture, though, so I can't show you. Devil was really interested in this dog--I think because it was the only dog he'd seen that was even close to his size (he was still bigger. ) When we saw the dog from a distance, DH kept trying to tell me it was a dalmatian and I kept telling him he had no sense of perspective if he thought that giant dog was a dalmatian.