I recently donated a photo session to an organization that I really believe in – Canine Companions for Independence, a national service dog training organization. Their annual golf tournament rolled around, and my donation was snatched up at the silent auction! I was thrilled to hear that I’d (fittingly) be photographing a couple of service dogs, too! I had the opportunity to work with a puppy raiser named Kathleen, and her two dogs Pele & Alaska: Pele is a fully-grown dog that’s already gone through training, but didn’t get placed with a handicapped person, so she went back to live with Kathleen as a (ridiculously capable) family pet! Alaska is currently in training – he’s only a year old, and in February, he’ll go back to CCI for “college” where he’ll learn advanced skills for working with a disabled individual. So although Alaska won’t be Pele’s brother for too much longer, I absolutely loved photographing both of them together! They have absolutely wonderful chemistry and they’re SUCH gorgeous dogs! They’re labrador/golden retriever mixes, but I think the only golden retriever parts about them are their extra-fluffy butt feathers, haha! They appear to be 99% black labs, and incredibly handsome ones at that. So add their good looks to their happy, confident, service dog personalities, and suffice to say they were a delight to photograph! :)

Here are both pups, in a spot they don’t often get to enjoy: their parents’ bed! But a photo session is a special occasion! ;) Pele is on the left and Alaska is on the right.

This is Alaska, the younger boy. He’s already so handsome, don’t you think?!

And this is Pele, the little lady with the absolutely uncanny ability to stare directly into your soul. Seriously – this was an incredible moment – taking this photo sent a chill down my spine, and I had the feeling she was carefully evaluating exactly what I was doing and what I wanted her to do, as each second passed. I practically felt like she was one step ahead of me! (I guess that’s what you get when you work with service dogs!)

I simply love the way both dogs look up at Kathleen. She’s their mom, their trainer, their constant companion… the devotion and love they have for both their parents is so beautiful to me.

Kathleen & Don, thank you for introducing me to your incredible dogs! I’m so glad you won the auction prize – and I’m looking forward to seeing you both again soon!