We might love our four-legged canine pals more than some of our human friends, but we can’t expect them to be as graceful as cats in front of the camera. Combine the stoic derpiness of some dogs with some rough (or is that ‘ruff’?) camera angles from amateur photographers sneaking after the four-legged animals and you get the formula for awkward humor.
That’s where the ‘Dogs Poorly Photographed’ Instagram page comes into play. It’s a great social media project that documents “poorly framed” photos of dogs. They have a certain amount of je ne sais quoi that’s really appealing. We like to think off-angle shaky pics capture the unseen side of canine life. A side where dogs are more than just their owners’ companions. And, let’s be frank, when we come across a dog outside, we sometimes can’t resist taking a quick snap to show everyone we know. The result might be low quality, but it’s authentic.
If you needed an excuse to look at silly dog pics on your coffee break, this is the sign you were looking for, Pandas. Scroll down to add a bit more happiness to your lives and remember to give each good boy and girl a scratch behind their ears (the upvote button next to each pic does that). Got any badly-done-but-adorable pet pics to share with the crowd? You can do that in the comments.
CNN News reached out to the founder of ‘Dogs Poorly Photographed,’ and they were kind enough to tell us about the project and its success. Read on for the full interview, dear Pandas.
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“I sneak photos of our people’s dogs because it’s my awkward way to interrupt their relationship with their owner. I like seeing them outside of the context of their role as companions,” the founder of the DPP Instagram account said that the photos they share document a very different, unusual perspective about canines. A perspective that some people might not have seen (or even considered) before.
The mastermind behind the page explained to CNN News that they’ve “always taken” these types of “poorly framed” photos. They then decided to create the account “when people were making formal dog pages for their pets.”
They told us that they’ve “followed around a lot of dogs and scramble with my phone if I see something.” What’s more, they’re over the moon about the fact that their Instagram project has caught the eye of people around the globe.
“The best part of this has been that people really connect with the idea of sneaking pictures of dogs and I get people who send me shots from all over the world,” they told CNN News. “People love an awkward dog, trying not to get noticed and maybe a little vulnerable.”
As for the future of ‘Dogs Poorly Photographed,’ the founder hopes to feature even more dogs from more place around the world. They’re also thinking about making some mousepads.
The ‘Dogs Poorly Photographed’ Instagram project currently has just shy of 5.5k followers. We see great things for DPP in the future because the pics are a combination of originality and creativity that’s bound to appeal to even more people. The photos are too good to stay in a small niche, they need to be seen by more people.
The photos are raw, they’re real, they’re full of soul! We’ve never seen some of these expressions on a dog, ever. Those eyes, those snouts, and mouths tell us a story that we didn’t expect.
Approaching a strange dog on the street isn’t as straightforward as many would like it to be. Ideally, you’d rush in and start cuddling the cute pupperino and giving it as much as love as it wants. However, we don’t live in a perfect world. And in this world, we have to be patient, cautious, and polite. So before you go petting and feeding every four-legged wonder you come across, it’s vital that you ask for the owner’s permission to get closer.
“Firstly, you should always ask the owner’s permission before approaching a dog and avoid the snacks—dogs really don’t need human food, despite what those eyes seem to tell us!” PDSA Vet Claire Roberts told CNN News recently.
“Next, look at the dog’s body language, if they have a high, wagging tail, floppy ears, and look relaxed then you can start to approach them. Try not to look straight into their eyes, as this can seem aggressive to a dog, and let them come to you for a sniff before touching them,” the vet said.
“If they have a low or tucked under tail, their ears are pinned back or their posture is tense then it is likely they are feeling uncomfortable and should not be approached. It is best to avoid rubbing the tummy of a dog you don’t know, as sometimes dogs showing their belly can be a sign that they are feeling anxious,” Claire explained.
The PDSA vet shared with CNN News what owners can do to make their bestest boys and girls friendly to other people.
“It is best to start gradually introducing your dog to strangers when they are a puppy. Between 4 and 12 weeks of age is the ‘socialization period’ where your puppy’s brain is learning lots of new things, including how to cope with unfamiliar people,” Claire told us.
“If your dog is frightened of strangers, you can try and desensitize them, starting with introducing new people at a distance where your dog feels safe and associate this with something great, like a favorite treat. This can be a very gradual process, and it’s important to always allow your dog the choice to move away from a situation that makes them uncomfortable,” she said.
“We recommend always asking a certified pet behaviorist for advice with this as it is easy to accidentally make fear of strangers worse. It’s important to slowly introduce any dog to any new people, animals, places, and experiences in a positive way to help keep them happy and confident.”
Earlier, PDSA Vet Anna Ewers Clark stressed that not all dogs will feel as enthusiastic about us as we might do about them.
“Lots of us light up when we see a furry friend on our travels and our first instinct is to try to become friends, but our canine companions might not always feel the same way about us. Before approaching any pooch, the most important thing to remember is to check with the owner first. Not only is this polite, but the owners will also know a lot more about their beloved pet’s behavior than you do,” she warned.
According to the pet health specialist, some canines might have certain phobias and fears that strangers simply won’t know about. In these cases, you’ll have to stick to admiring the dogs from afar (or even taking a poorly framed photo).
“Other dogs may be over-enthusiastic and might jump up or lick you if their owner isn’t prepared. With these dogs, you might be able to do some positive training by talking to the owner and rewarding the dog with lots of fuss once they’re calm and sitting down,” the vet said.
“Even if the owner gives you the go-ahead to say hello, it’s important to check that the dog is happy and relaxed while you’re greeting them. It’s really important to pay close attention as some doggy indicators can be very subtle or misinterpreted.”
Note: this post originally had 81 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
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