Post by Lois on Dec 15, 2006 10:57:16 GMT 1
Christmas photo shoot
It is that time of the year when the Christmas cards start to arrive both by post and email, many of them depicting dogs dressed in Santa hats and tinsel. Most years I attempt to do one of these doggie dioramas featuring my dogs and in every case my dogs look like I have beaten them into submission! This year would be different I decided. This year I would plan ahead and take my time and I would do a REALLY good Christmas photo of the dogs. I purchased some new antler ears that from the $2 shop that featured a nice white fur trim and another hat and scarf with the same trim. That will look nice on the dogs!
MISTAKE #1 – I should have waited until the excitement of seeing me after being absent at work for 3 hours had subsided. Instead, in my excitement to get this wonderful photo underway I let the dogs inside too soon. My plan was to have the four dogs sitting in front of the fireplace that I had decorated with gold tinsel. I herded them into the lounge room and grabbed the first victim – Vader. While placing the ears on his head, Sabi (the crazy 9 month old) was running around the room, using the floor rug as a means to slide over the polished wood floors, then bouncing onto the couch, over the coffee table grabbing the new fur trimmed antlers on her way through. I left Vader in a SIT STAY and chased Sabi and rescued the antlers. The fur was a bit wet by this stage – (sabotaged or Sabitaged?). By the time I returned to Vader he had left the mat and was making himself comfortable on the couch. I dragged him back, put on his ears again (he had shaken them off) and told him firmly to SIT and STAY. OK, one in place, 3 to go.
MISTAKE #2 – Expect a deaf, stubborn 12 year old bitch to co-operate. Rumour was manoeuvred into position on the mat next to Vader. Unfortunately had to yell SIT and STAY very loudly to Rumour so she could hear me. Vader thought I was yelling at him and so lay down and rolled over on his back. His back foot hooked up in the tinsel adorning the fireplace and the whole lot came undone. By the time I convinced him it was OK and got him back in place, Rumour had wandered off and so it was back to square one. Antlers were out of the question with Rumour so a wrapped some of the displaced tinsel around her neck, which she tried her darndest to shake off before resigning to the fact that it was there to stay. OK 2 in place, 2 to go.
MISTAKE #3 – Make Grayce wear a stupid hat and scarf and expect her to not looked pissed off. While telling Vader & Rumour to stay, I had to physically get Grayce into a sit as she wanted no part of this stupid photo shoot. Her mood wasn’t improved thanks to Sabi deciding that the furry scarf around her neck looked like fun and proceeded to pull Grayce around the room by the end of the scarf that I had tied firmly around her neck. By the time I sorted those two out, Vader & Rumour had moved onto the couch. I left them there and decided at this stage it was going to be a matter of doing the best I could.
OK…. Vader & Rumour on the couch quite happy. Gracye sitting in front of the couch looking not very happy. Now just the Wild Wasabi child to tame. After numerous attempts at getting her to leave her antlers on, I got her to sit and stay. I think she was bored by this stage as she actually co-operated.
Camera on……
MISTAKE #4 – Should have closed the blinds behind the couch because the photos weren’t working out because of the light background (thank heavens for digital cameras). Had to lean over the couch to close blinds….. dogs think this is the signal all jump up. Well not all the dogs…Rumour decided she had staked her claim on the couch and wasn’t going to move an inch.
Dogs all back in position. Yell at Rumour to wake up. Photos taken.
MISTAKE #5 – To think that somehow in all the yelling and chaos that there would be that special photo that I tried so hard every Christmas to achieve.
Not this time…. No Christmas miracles at my place this year.
Merry Christmas everyone from Lois and my gang.
The Wild Wasabi tamed....for the moment.
Lois
