How to get a good pic of your dog-part 3

collie1, originally uploaded by phaird.

Trying to get a portrait of your dog can be a real challenge. Getting them to stay in that perfect pose while you get your camera ready can be frustrating but there are a few things you can do. First, is to get your dog tired. Go throw a ball around or make them run. Let your dog get that energy out. Once they cool down from running around, they will be more likely to listen to you and focus on the strange task you are asking them to do (really, what do dogs care about photos).
Next you want to make sure you're dog is clean. Run a towel and a brush over them to get the dirt and grass off. You may not notice when your taking your picture but you will notice when you look at it.
Then consider your surroundings. Avoid distractions, get some toys and treats to keep your dog focused on you. Then you can consider your light. A bright sunny day will give harsh shadows and if you've got a dark haired dog, the shadows will go black really quick. A slightly overcast day would be ideal. You'll get all the details without the harsh contrast. If you do shoot on a sunny day, consider using a flash. Most on camera flashes will do a okay job of filling in the light in the shadows.
Last thing is to avoid distractions in the background. Trees popping out of your dogs head or a random person in the background will be distracting.
Most of all, you and your dog should enjoy the time. Your dog only wants love and attention from you and what better way to get it then taking photos.
Take a look at the photographers on the right of the blog to see some good examples. You may be inspired to try it something similar yourself.