I never fail to marvel at the way dogs live their lives in the short time they are with us. There are so many lessons on happiness that we can learn from dogs.

1. Dogs appreciate food.

Dog’s are never happier than when their bowl is full. No matter how many of the same or similar meals they get, they always appreciate a bowl of food. Think about this when you can’t decide what to cook.

2. Dogs don’t suffer from embarrassment.

Hey - we all do things that are awkward at times. But no dog feels bad if he falls in front of his buddies at the park or hides under the bed from the scary sound of the lawnmower! They just do their thing never caring what others think. Just be you!

3. Dogs love to the fullest.

Dogs will not judge you or base their love on what you do or how you look. They simply love you for who you are. Sad to say dogs even love those that mistreat them. So love your partners, friends and family unselfishly for who they are.

4. Dogs are not afraid to get dirty.

If its going to be fun, who cares about the dirt! Just get out and enjoy yourselves no matter what. You can always clean up later and you won’t regret those moments of joy!

5. Dogs value the importance of a good nap.

When the playing is done and their bellies are full, what do dogs do? They nap. In our overworked society, always remember to slow down and treat yourself to a nap! You’ll wake up feeling better for it.

6. Dogs know how to make friends.

Do they just befriend every new dog they meet? No. Notice how when dogs meet they take their time to sniff out the newcomer to the block. Only then do they decide to have a good romp with their newfound buddy or if they don’t connect, to move on with no hard feelings. You don’t have to be friends with everyone and if someone chooses not to be your friend, then simply move on, no hard feelings!

7. Dogs make the most of every moment and live in the moment.

You may never notice that a dog is ill, because no matter how sick they may be or feel, the lack of knowledge about their own prognosis or well-being is blissful and allows them to enjoy, at least to the best of their ability, whatever they are doing at a particular moment in time. Try not to dwell on the bad, but focus on what you can be grateful for.

Happiness as a Toronto dog photographer

Continuing on this theme of happiness, one of the most enjoyable things for me, is to capture the true happiness of dogs and the joyful moments of their lives. 

When I do a dog photo session, I plan on posed as well as candid moments. The posed shots are great for your wall art, frames or albums. But photographing dogs just having fun, showing the true joy in their lives, is equally as rewarding for me and for the dog’s owners. Dogs truly do live in the moment and enjoy their lives with unwavering enthusiasm. Capturing these moments of dog’s joy brings me and their owner joy too!

So here are some photos of dogs having fun to brighten up your day and make you smile during this hard time! These moments of pure joy were captured at the beach in Boca Raton, Florida - one of my happy places! 

Venturing into this dog photography business, I hoped that people would see the value in having photos of their dog kids in the same way that people want photos of their human kids. Turns out, they absolutely did. There is real value in having photos taken of your pet and yourself.

To discuss your own dog photography session please feel free to contact me.

For more on the theme of happiness and pet photography, please visit Jemma Martin of JM Photography, specialist pet photographer based in East Anglia, UK.