About

Archive: ‘just for fun’



Keeping Your Dog Entertained During Quarantine

Friday, April 3rd, 2020

Times are undeniably strange these days during the coronavirus quarantine. Days are starting to run together, and I think just about everyone is missing social interaction! I’ll admit that I’m feeling just a tad bit stir crazy – maybe you are too? Thankfully, I’ve come up with a few fun ideas that may keep you and your pup from too much boredom. Since we all have a bit of extra time on our hands these days, let’s go ahead and embrace this 1-on-1 time with our dogs!

poodle mixes


New Puzzle Toys!

I’m not sure if I know any dog that doesn’t love a brand spankin’ new toy! Interactive treat toys like a puzzle toy can keep them entertained for quite a while. A treat toy like a Kong that can be filled with different yummy things is another great start – did you know you can fill it with peanut butter (or their favorite treat of choice) and freeze it? It’ll take them a lot longer to work on after it spends a few hours in the freezer. I’d say that’s a win-win for everyone!

cute encinitas mutt


Another suggestion I have is to rotate toys throughout the next few weeks. For example, this week use only let them play with a handful of their favorite toys, and then next week put those away and put out a totally different selection instead. Mixing it up keeps things fresh!

Muttropolis, a pet store in San Diego, has a ton of unique toys to choose from to keep your pet busy. HERE are all their interactive toys in one place, which is probably where you’ll want to start. Take a look and treat your dog while supporting a local business (which is so important to do right now)! Did you know they’re also offering free shipping or curbside pickup, whichever you prefer?

Also – do you have a backyard to play in? If so, have you ever introduced your dog to a bubble toy?!

at-home pet photography session


Get Active!

How about going for a quick walk or jog? Getting fresh air isn’t only beneficial for your pet, but also for you!

The owner of Zen Pet, Denise, says:

As our beloved animals watch us spending more time at home, perhaps glued to our computers or iPhones trying to stay connected on social media. Perhaps our love for them can be our reminders for us to put down the phone for a few minutes and get some fresh air. 

The benefits we receive would be much needed vitamin D & exercise “while keeping our social distancing” and our doggies would be delighted to get more exercise, smell the spring flowers and can collect the smells of the day. Some countries have reached the point where all movement outside is restricted, but even in those places walking the dog is allowed as an essential exemption.

Our pets are our greatest teachers in uncertain times, learn from them. It’s simple; love one another. 

I love that perspective! How true! Zen Pet is one of the top pet sitting & dog walking companies in San Diego, so Denise knows what she’s talking about.

shih tzu photo


Alternatively: do you have stairs in your house? Put them to use and tire your dog out by jogging up and down the stairs together, or maybe tossing a ball up a flight to fetch. (Safely, of course! No tripping over each other or tumbling down the stairs!) It’s not only a workout for them, but for you too! I’m willing to bet that you’ll both get a good nap afterwards. :)


la jolla dog at home


Training

Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks? (Or re-learn the old ones he/she should already know?) Training and working on obedience is a great way to bond and make use of the extra time you get to spend with each other. Click HERE to get a list of some fantastic ideas on different tricks to work on to get you started!

The incredible trainers over at Specialty Dog Training in North County are suggesting one specific skill to work on:

Name recognition and focus – it is so important for your dog to love their name, respond to it consistently, and focus on you instead of the millions of distractions around them. By having strong name recognition, you’ll be able to get your dog’s attention and they will respond better and follow commands better when they are tuned-in and focused on you. 

Click HERE to see their tips on exactly how to work on name recognition at home right now. (They also list some pretty incredible deals they’re having right now!)

Best of San Diego pet photo


Or: have you ever tried to set up a makeshift agility course in the living room? If not, I highly recommend it! You can keep it simple by having them jump over the couch cushions or go through a blanket you set up as a barrier. Successfully completing an obstacle course will definitely help boost their confidence!


Games

One of my personal favorite games that I play with Bailey is “find the treat!” It’s super simple – I let her sniff a treat, have her sit & stay, I then go hide the treat somewhere in the next room in a place that’s mildly challenging to find. Then I call her, she searches for the treat, and eventually she finds it & we celebrate! This is a great way to work on some obedience while also giving her some positive reinforcement. Bailey is allllll about treats and would probably agree that it’s her favorite game too!



I hope these ideas spark some inspiration during this trying time. Not to mention provide a bit of distraction too; reading the news can be a scary way to spend time these days, but dogs have an amazing way of centering us in the moment and reminding us to simply be happy. And who couldn’t use more of that right now?

I’d love to hear how you are passing the time with your pet while you’re both in quarantine! Stay safe, everyone!


rancho santa fe dog photography

A Little Update on my Pregnancy!

Tuesday, March 19th, 2019

You may have seen the update on my Facebook page, or perhaps you subscribe to The Monthly Bark and heard the news in your inbox. But if you’re hearing this for the first time… surprise! I’m pregnant! :)

At the moment I’m 32 weeks along, which means I’ve successfully survived about 7 months of pregnancy with only 2 to go. (I hear they’re the hardest 2, but hey, after having made it through 7 I’m feeling pretty good!) Our little nugget is a girl (yay!!) and she’s due on May 11th!


I’ve been married to Mr. Shamrell for 9 years now, and although we didn’t always feel ready to have kids – or not both of us at the same time, at least – now we do and our little girl couldn’t have better timing. I have to say that I’ve REALLY enjoyed being married without kids for this long, but we are both very excited & looking forward to this HUGE change in our lives and have nothing but happy anticipation for the future! (Okay, a bit of nervousness too… but it’s all good nerves!) Those 9 years I’ve spent being a dog mom, and loving it – and I believe that our dog Bailey taught me some of the most important skills of how to be a good mother (to any species) that I’ll be able to bring with me into this crazy new adventure. So in the meantime, I’m just trying to brace myself for adapting to a daughter that won’t be potty-trained in a matter of weeks – and can’t be left alone for a few hours at a time – and won’t be able to walk for the next year, haha!

Before getting pregnant, I was never one of those women obsessed with babies/pregnancy/etc. I was never the first volunteer to hold a friend’s baby (I was nervous that I’d drop the poor kid!) and didn’t know anything about what it’s like to be pregnant. So let’s just say it’s been a STEEP learning curve! For example, I’ve learned that the first trimester is 100% sucky (all the crazy symptoms, none of the belly to show for it), the second trimester is relatively easy, and the third trimester is kinda like the first (except now you have a belly). My biggest symptom by far has been fatigue; turns out it’s pretty tiring to make a human being! But beyond that, I’ve been very lucky not to experience any morning sickness, crazy mood swings, swelling/pain in my limbs… and my food cravings have been very mild ever since the first trimester ended. (The only strong cravings I had were for fruit and Taco Bell. Go figure!) So I don’t want to jinx it, but I’ve got a lot to be thankful for… thanks Mom! (And all the other awesome women in my family who handed down their easy-pregnancy genes!)

san diego dog picture


Before I got pregnant, I was super curious how Bailey would do with the experience. One of my clients told me of her two dogs, “One of them totally knew I was pregnant and got very clingy & gentle, and the other one just thought I was getting fat.” Ha! Our experience has been somewhat closer to the latter; Bailey has never been a snuggler, nor has she ever experienced any real separation anxiety, and her personality/habits don’t seem to have changed in any way these days. But she knows I’m pregnant; we’ve been telling her about our doctors’ visits and she’s seen our second bedroom slowly morph into a nursery. She’s a smart dog… I know she knows. (Plus there’s been a couple of days when she just couldn’t stop smelling me; my scent must be changing along with my body & hormones!)

I’ve read up on how to prepare Bailey for her new little sister, and all the best resources say very similar things. First: start with a basic foundation of obedience. The more Bailey knows & is willing to comply with requests like “off”, “down” and “no” the better. Pretty obvious, right? It’s also a good idea to acclimate her to “life with baby” as much as possible – which means I should be playing YouTube videos of babies crying to get her used to that sound, and going for walks with the empty stroller so it’s an easy transition to walking with a baby in the stroller. (It’s a separate discussion of whether I’ll actually follow through with these “good ideas” – I mean, won’t we hear enough crying once the baby is actually here? And how awkward will it be to walk around the neighborhood with an empty stroller?!) Terri Steuben told us that it’s a good idea to talk to Bailey every step of the way, to explain what all the new things are for (in basic terms) and set her up with a bed and water bowl in the nursery so she doesn’t feel like she’s excluded from this new part of our lives. And most importantly, we’ll need to teach the baby to respect Bailey’s personal space once she’s mobile, since then she’ll be crawling around and reaching for anything she finds interesting! Beyond that, we’ll just take things slowly and make sure Bailey is still getting plenty of love & attention so she never feels like the baby has taken her place – after all, she is our first “baby”. ;)

san diego dog skyline


I’ve gotten plenty of questions about what’s happening to my business (arguably my other baby!) with this impending change. So forgive me as I answer those questions here:

~ Of course I’m coming back!!! I have NO intention of closing up shop; I haven’t worked this hard for 8+ years to pack it in now. That’s not even up for discussion. Now, I’ve stopped doing photo sessions at this point in my pregnancy because my sessions are very physical, and it’s hard to get on the ground at a dog’s level with a big pregnant belly in the way, haha! But I’ll be back in action as soon as I feel comfortable, safe and capable of doing so. To be honest, I don’t know exactly when I’ll come back – remember, I’ve never done this before! – but I expect to have a camera back in my hands in mid-to-late summer.

~ During my “maternity leave” I won’t be doing any photo sessions, but I will be reachable by email to book sessions for after I’m back in the studio. I expect that my schedule in the late summer and fall will book up quickly – after all, the last few months of the year have always been my busy season, and all the sessions I would normally book in the spring & early summer will have to wait until after I’m back from maternity leave… so it’s likely to be a packed rest of the year! (Which means you should get in touch with me NOW if you’re thinking of booking a session this year! Visit my main website and fill out that contact form at the bottom ASAP, since I’ll be giving priority to the earliest inquiries!)

~ Attention past clients: with all the downtime of maternity leave, something tells me I’ll get a little bored. And you know what I do when I have nothing else on my plate? I plan promotions & sales! So keep your eyes peeled on your inboxes for something fun & exclusive, just for you. :)

~ Attention commercial clients: ditto the previous comment! Although I won’t be out there shooting, I have THOUSANDS of stock images in my archives that would love to find a new home on your website/social media/product packaging.

dog looking at san diego


A few more thoughts on the personal side of things:

~ Just laying on the couch and feeling her kick is my new favorite thing. 

~ I don’t drink coffee or eat sushi, so a lot of the typical “hard to give up” foods don’t actually bother me. I’m feeling much more deprived for wine & beer, as well as cookie dough and caesar salad (both of which have raw eggs, boooo.)

~ Any hesitations I used to have about eating whatever food & snacks I want? Gone! Poof! I could get used to this… pass the Ben & Jerry’s please! 

~ No, we haven’t thought of a name for her yet – still working on it!

~ I never thought I’d say this, but it’s actually been kinda fun to watch my midsection grow to the size of a basketball! Haha!

So thank you for all your support – and an extra thank you to the amazing people who have sent me cards and/or gifts!! I often refer to “the Allison Shamrell Photography family”, and you’re proving (again) that it’s not just a saying. Here’s to that family, as it grows this year by one very special little girl!

2018 Pet Industry Trends – Courtesy of Reviews.com

Friday, April 20th, 2018

Hey everyone! I have an exciting blog post for you today: it’s a guest article! My friends at Reviews.com offered to share some great information with you, and I think you’ll find it incredibly useful! Enjoy!   – Allison

 

Our pets are the light of our lives for obvious reasons; they make us laugh, they protect us, and of course unconditionally love us. So of course, we’re so excited to learn of any new trends for of furry friends. There are obviously some trends and fads that can be too much (I’m looking at you pet hair dye), but there are some really incredible new ways to take care of and spoil our pets. Ultimately the most promising services help us treat our pets like family without overly inconveniencing ourselves. Some of the services and products most exciting to watch for are pet insurance, pet tech, pet care for while you’re away, and dog food meal delivery.

 

Pet Insurance

pet insurance industry

We love our pets and would do anything to keep them safe and healthy, but that $1,000 emergency vet visit bill still really stings, no matter how much we love them. Luckily, one new trend for the pet owner community is pet insurance. There are pet insurance agencies popping up, all designed to create custom policies and coverage options for your cat or dog. We have insurance for ourselves and most things we love (cars, homes, etc.) – why wouldn’t we have insurance for our pets? It’s a really great opportunity to have a little financial coverage for emergencies. If you’re unsure if you need pet insurance this is a great article to read. If it’s right for you, and you want to check out your options this is a great place to start.

 

Pet Tech

pet techphoto of pet tech

Devices, robots, and automation of everyday products is changing the way we take care of our pets. Pet trackers help us know how active our pets are, where they are, and where they’ve been. Just like we do for ourselves with our own fitness trackers. Automatic treat dispensers with a camera and screen or speaker allow us to talk to and see our pets, giving them treats while we’re at work or away from home. iFetch helps keep our pups who seriously like to play active when we don’t have time or away from home. There is no end to what can’t be made easier for pet owners and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

 

Pet Care While You’re Away

pet care industry trend

The hardest part of vacationing can often be finding care for our pets while we’re gone. Kennels and boarding can be really expensive, stress out your pet, and it can be hard to find one that is entirely comfortable for both you and your pet. DogVacay and Rover are new options for dog boarding, house sitting, drop in visits, walks, or doggy day care. These services screen all of their ‘hosts’ and ‘sitters’ and provides information, pictures, bios, etc., finally making your time away from your pet significantly less stressful.

 

Dog Food Meal Delivery

pet food industry trend

We all want to feed or pets the absolute best, but sometimes the absolute best can be really difficult to find time to shop for, prepare, and serve to our pets. Luckily, just as meal delivery has sky-rocketed for humans, it also has for our pets. But this is even better, because it’s delivered to your door ready to go, no prep necessary! This is the perfect option for any pet owner that really wants to take care of their furry best friend but might simply not have the time to go shopping for and make a new meal every day. If this service is something that excites you, check out this resource to see your options.

dog food pet trend

 

 

Photo credits:

http://appcrawlr.com/ios/dogvacay, https://www.reviews.com/pet-insurance/, http://gadgetynews.com/furbo-networked-camera-remote-pet-treat-cannon/, https://barkpost.com/pet-insurance/

Bailey, the San Diego Dog

Monday, February 5th, 2018

Hey everyone! I’m participating in Rover.com’s Tail of 20 Cities, celebrating my dog Bailey and our city of San Diego, along with 19 other photographers from around the world! Check out all the different city/pet portraits here: Tail of Twenty Cities Photo Journey and feel free to join the fun by posting a own picture of your own pooch representing your city with the hashtag #RoverCities!

 

Bailey and I visited Coronado for this project – because can you believe that view of San Diego at sunset?! Those colors make my photographer heart happy…

san diego

(Although Bailey was a little more interested in the birds that flew by…)

san diego dog with skyline

dog looking at san diego

The we headed out on the pier for a better look!

san diego dog

san diego

san diego dog picture

san diego dog with skyline

san diego dog skyline

 

And just for fun, a little throwback… you can tell this photo is a few years old because there’s no gray fur on her face… (sob)

san diego dog water

 

You know what? Why stop here?! This post has got me thinking about “quintessential San Diego” photos… and I have no shortage of those, thanks to my clients and their pups! Here are some of my favorite photos at various locations around town, modeled by just a few of my favorite dogs!

 

Maverick at the dog beach (well, one of the dog beaches!)

happy beach dog

Lucy, Gracie & Scarlett in Presidio Park

san diego dogs at the park

Haley & Teddy at Sunset Cliffs

san diego cliffs and dogs

Trevor & Tori and their parents – that’s San Diego (Bay Park) in the background!

san diego family

Garnet, hiking at Mission Trails

san diego hike with dog

Foxy at the botanical gardens in Balboa Park

san diego balboa park dog

Stella, on Coronado (with the Hotel Del in the background, of course)

san diego coronado dog

Candice, in North Park

san diego sign dog

 Mister Mister and his parents, out for a sunset walk on the beach.

san diego dog sunset

 

What a fun project – I love San Diego! And who better to explore it with than all these dogs?! Thanks for inviting me to participate, Rover.com – I can’t wait to see all the other portraits from photographers around the world! :)

 

Introducing Murphy & Porkchop, the newest “Spokespets” for Tender & True Pet Food!

Thursday, January 11th, 2018

Are you ready? Are you sitting down?! This announcement is a big one…

I’m incredibly thrilled to share with you that I’ve accomplished one of my biggest goals for my business – and simultaneously, two of my clients’ pets are FAMOUS!

Several months ago, I was contacted by the marketing team at Tender & True Pet Nutrition. They were looking for fresh, new imagery for their new flavor of dog & cat food, and asked if I had any photos that might fit their specifications. (I practically had to stop myself from laughing – with over 7 years of photography sessions under my belt, there are very few image specifications that I can’t meet!) So after sending them a gallery with dozens of photos to pick from, the people at Tender & True made their selections – and I’m incredibly proud to present you with the newest packaging that will be gracing the shelves of pet food stores in just a few months!

 

pet food picture

pet food photo

 

These pet food photos came from real, unscripted photo sessions here in San Diego. Murphy is the gorgeous golden retriever, whose photo I captured during a mini-session (!!) in Balboa Park. (Yes, the ocean was digitally superimposed into the background. It is a salmon-based food after all, haha!) And Porkchop is the Maine coon, whose photo session took place at his house (alongside his feline brother, Applesauce) in northern San Diego. Unfortunately Porkchop isn’t with us anymore, sadly… but regardless, both of their families are thrilled to see their pets immortalized in print!

You can buy Tender & True at Whole Foods Markets, various local pet boutiques (like Howlistic and Buddies & Babes here in San Diego!) and online at chewy.com. And if you’ve never heard of Tender & True before now, check out their gorgeous new website and get a feel for the care & attention to detail that goes into their products. I’m truly proud that my work is helping advertise their food!

And – if I may – I’d like to point out that this proves what I always say: I don’t work with professional models! I bring out the beauty and “inner model” in regular pets that have zero prior training. Neither Murphy nor Applesauce had any previous experience being in front of a camera, besides their parents’ cell phones. And yet look what we created!! We turned newbies into pro models. And that’s why I believe it’s worth hiring a professional – whether you want photos to hang on your walls or to feature on your company’s dog food – because a professional will be able to bring the best out of any pet.

Anyways… back to popping the champagne! :)

 

 

All Images Copyright | Blog Theme Created by LJP & SLR Lounge