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

[Carl]

At festivals people are in picture taking mode. They figure everyone and everything there is to be photographed.

 

[Disneyrsh]

I have a white standard poodle and a black miniature poodle, and when I have them out with me they get a huge amount of attention. My sp, Daphne, is therapy dog certified, so loves all the little kids pawing on her. My black min, Carmen, isn't TDC but has the temperament for it (by the time I got Carmen, I had two little kids and NO time), so loves it too.

I notice people taking pictures of them occasionally. I don't mind, they're cute dogs! I've dyed Daphne pink for valentine's day, and that gets a HUGE amount of attention.

We're thinking of doing orange for halloween, that way Daphne's orange, Carmen's black.

 

[Planogirl]

I used to take care of my Dad's Collie that looked just like Lassie except he was very huge. I would take him walking sometimes and people loved to stop and pet him especially kids.

I wouldn't have taken him to a festival though. He would have gotten tired of the crowds FAST!

 

[Marseeya]

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

I've questioned that in the past myself.

Frankly, I think well-behaved dogs are pretty much welcome anywhere, but where I live, people bring dogs that are obviously uncomfortable in crowds. If that's not a lawsuit waiting to happen, I don't know what is.

 

[NMAmy]

I've questioned that in the past myself.

Frankly, I think well-behaved dogs are pretty much welcome anywhere, but where I live, people bring dogs that are obviously uncomfortable in crowds. If that's not a lawsuit waiting to happen, I don't know what is.

On the website for the Renaissance Festival, they promote the fact that dogs are invited and welcome. People need to pre-register their dogs (I believe the cost is $5) and have the dog's shot records.

As to why my nephew and niece-in-law brought Devil along--they both work full-time and have no kids yet. Devil is like their child and they didn't want to go away for the day and leave him home alone. He is a very spoiled dog but he's so easy going and well behaved that we (the family) all just laugh about it and speculate about what the two of them are going to be like as parents.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I can't picture myself taking pictures of animals or people I don't know. I don't know why, I guess for the same reason someone else mentioned -- what am I going to do with it? Show friends this dog I happened to see but don't even know the owner??

 

[laurie31]

We're thinking of doing orange for halloween, that way Daphne's orange, Carmen's black.

Be sure and post a pic!! We dyed our white toy poodle at Easter. I'd always wanted to try it but was chicken. DH couldn't believe I did it. Paulie didn't seem to mind

Goofyforlife - I met a Bernese Mountain Dog when I was a college student abroad. We landed in Amsterdam and I was soo jetlagged. I don't remember much about the Rembrants we saw in the museum but I remember that dog. Yep, I made his picture He was so beautiful and soft

NMAmy - we don't take lots of pics of strange dogs, but the pic I posted earlier will go in our Yellowstone scrapbook as dd just loved the dog and begged for me to get a picture of it so "I can always remember it." I have my Bernese Mountain Dog pic in my Europe scrapbook too He was just as much a part of my trip as the art and other stuff

Oh, and my older dd thought that big dog was a dalmation too! Of course, it was waaaaay bigger than a dalmation and the spots weren't right either. When we got closer she see the difference

Laurie

 

[snoopy]

Perhaps the people taking the photos were just photography buffs, or artists who wanted to capture the markings on the dog? I've done that when I wanted to paint a subject but worried I wouldn't remember details -- although usually my subjects were people not animals.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I have at least two friends that have taken photos of someone else's dog.

Last year in the park we met a lady with a pug. It was a champion pug, so it was very nice. The pug was wearing a sequined "coat" type thing. The owner said it was special design to keep the dog cool. I think maybe the fabric was wet, but with the sequins you couldn't tell. My friend took a pic of the pug because it was interesting.

Last weekend while we were waiting for the parade to start there was a dog with the people next to us. Next weekend is the AIDS walk, and we are a "pet friendly" event. One of the guys who works for the AIDS agency took a picture of the dog (who happened to be wearing a bunch of beads and looking very festive) and put the picture in our most recent e-mail with a caption about the dog being excited about the upcoming walk.

As far as taking pics of other people's dogs just to keep in my home, not so much!

 

[Cindy B]

Well thanks for the observation of the Ren faire participants. My son is going on a a field trip next week to the one in PA. I'll make a note to ask him about the various costumes!

OTOH, the dog sounds gorgeous. I try to take my dogs out all the time if its a friendly place. My mini poodle gets all kinds of attention. My 5th grade son has already figured out he is the chick magnet. However, my aged Lab is blind so she sniffs a lot and gets well personal with people. It gets quite embarassing like, "Oh, don't mind her, she's blind". So I try to tell people before they get too close.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

I suppose if I thought about it and the dog was unusual enough i might take the dog's picture.
But, my question is did you take a picture of the dude in the chain mail?
Kim

 

[eclectics]

I miss my Malamute! aw:

 

[goofy!]

.....

 

[Lachesis00]

Yup I agree! 100%

I would take it as a compliment.

Seems like since he surprises you everytime you see him by his size, how others see him. ;D

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!!!!

 

[laurie31]

We have rather rare and unusual dogs - Komondorok.

Not many people have seen a 100lb+ dog with white dreadlocks that drag on the ground. So, we are constantly stopped and asked if they can take a picture or just ask questions or just feel the cords.

Komondor Club of America
http://clubs.akc.org/kca/

My goodness! How beautiful!! I've never seen one! I would definitely take a picture of one of those! (I would have to pet it, too )

Laurie

 

[EsmeraldaX]

We get stopped for pictures with Monty everytime we take him out.

We once had a family from Germany on vacation in Salem, MA ask to videotape him. I've also had other tourists ask for photos of him or even weirder, photos WITH him.

 

[Meezers]

My "nephew" is a Samoyed, Husky, Malamute mix with a little timber wolf thrown in...we think.

I can't even walk him in the neighborhood without causing a traffic jam...and trust me....I know it isn't me!

Wow....I posted a picture!! That is Nicoli...or Pooh Bear...or just plain Pooh!

 

[shy little mouse]

I wouldn't have a problem with taking a picture of someone else's pet or having them take a pic of mine. I think the renaissance festival is probably the perfect people (and animal) watching event, and people bring their cameras. I can't wait until we go next year (I am working on our costumes now).

Devil sounds like a beautiful dog. My sister has a malmute/collie mix. She is gorgeous because she is red with the palest blue eyes. People either love her or are terrified of her (solely based on her looks- she is SO sweet). I miss that dog so much (she is in Oregon). aw:

ETA: I couldn't figure out how to add a pic to the post, but here is a link.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=9290&sort=2&cat=500&page=1

 

[Pugdog007]

Yes I would. I do it all the time. Mainly when I'm traveling. I have pics of Juneau dogs, Skagway dogs, Key West dogs, Cozumel dogs (they speak Spanish), Cayman dogs, Vancouver dogs (eh!), just to name a few.

 

[Daxx]

I have done this only once in my life ... and w/the owner's permission. Let me explain ...

I was on a street car in Switzerland. A very Swiss woman in her 70's got on w/her gorgeous Collie. This dog was beautiful -- perfectly groomed and just beautiful. I have never seen anyone ride any form of public transportation w/their pet (except for a working dog) b/c that thing just doesn't happen in my city (and this was pre-Paris Hilton dragging her dog all around town). Well, this woman was so traditional Swiss and her dog was so beautiful that I could not resist taking a photo on the quaint street car. So, of course, I gushed over how beautiful her dog was and asked permission to take their photo. She was very flattered. I still have that photo. I don't know the woman or her dog, but they are a fond memory from my trip!

Since then, I have yet to photograph a stranger's pet. I think it was just the time and the place and the beauty of the animal and its owner that made me want a photograph of it.

ETA -- I also think I had to take this photo b/c you could see the love the woman had for the dog and the love the dog had for the woman.