Go get’em!
Your friend,
Fisher
and Baked Potato Productions
Dear Fisher,
I gotta tell you, I am really getting a little grumpy about all the photo ops I am expected to come up with. Every holiday season we go through a lot of posing and primping to get the picture just right. This year they wanted to have a picture of me with a Santa hat on and it was way too small and made me look like a pinhead. Really, I am not a hat dog anyway, so yeah, the picture was kind of off and I was kinda goofy looking.
So, what do you know about taking pictures of critters that I might pass on to these caring people?
Duke
Dear Duke,
There are a few simple tricks that even an amateur photographer can do. We all know that the professionals are really good and worth every penny they make, but realize, you do not have to leave your home or your comfy chair to be “the Star”. Your humans are likely aware that going to a pro would be out of your comfort level, and they are looking after your best interests. So cut them a little slack and think more positively. I have in mind that a photo op could be a treat op. Sound like something that would interest you?
Some animals get very nervous when the camera and an enthusiastic amateur photographer show up in their face. It is very important that everyone remain calm and casual about the whole affair. Sometimes candid shots are best and sometimes a posed setting is better. It depends a lot on your personality.
The eyes should be the most important thing to focus on. If you open yours, it would be very helpful. You can look up, straight at the camera, or to the side, but your eyes should show the endearing expression they are looking for, not the dread of the camera. Many times the person with the camera will offer a treat. If you accept it, do so with the knowledge that you are getting asked to look alert. As the photographer, your human should get down to your eye level or bring you up to theirs (via a high chair you could sit up on). From that vantage point, they are making sure the top of your head is not the focal point.
If a posed photo is planned, it is a good idea to do a little staging. What a shame it would be if your picture turned out great, but the pair of socks left on the floor by your chair were equally as sharp. Try to keep a simple background, void of clutter. It makes you look more like the star. Another thing is to try different angles, and not to feel your entire body should be in the photo. After all, if you are a very big dog, your eyes are not going to stand out in all that mass of fur.
I suggest you tell your people to look up How to Take Pictures of Pets at
How to Take Pictures of your Pets. It is well written and the steps are easy to follow. May you all remember that photos become memories, and cooperation in the project will make them real keepers.
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt* Tampa Bay
Dear Fisher,
I’m trying so hard to be calm, but the excitement of the Holiday has really gotten me going, and going, and going. I am pretty sure it is starting to annoy my people, because now they do the Christmas wrapping behind closed doors. Boy, I wanna help!
Then last night, they were having a quiet moment and all snuggled on the couch looking so cute, and silly me jumped up on the coffee table and was going to jump into their laps, but on the way, my furry tail crossed over the top of the candle. Boy, nothing like smelly singed cat hair to interfere with a little romance. I really feel bad about it. What can I do to make it up to them?
Maggie
Dear Maggie,
I remember well how much fun it is for a kitten to get into the wrapping paper and then bounce around on 3 feet because the Scotch tape is stuck to the 4th foot. But, be very careful about some of the dangers of the Holiday hoopla at your house. You already know about the candle! I am just glad you were not hurt. Your people were not as mad as you might surmise, but rather they were worried for your safety and maybe felt a little embarrassed about having a lit candle around a “lit” kitten.
Kittens have a tendency to want to explore anything new, and the gift wrapping and ribbon can be too much to ignore. Your people are wise to put all the fixings out of your reach because you could get all caught up in the ribbons and bows, tape and stickers, and whatever else they are using. It would not take a very long length of ribbon going down your throat to cause a serious digestive problem. And, of course, everyone knows you would not cause trouble on purpose. It is just your youthful curiosity.
Our friends at the ASCPA have published a helpful list for you and your folks. Their advice includes: do not sample the lovely floral arrangements, boughs of holly and live mistletoe – they can make you very sick. Do not drink Christmas tree water – it is a breeding ground for bacteria. No chocolate! No people food hand-outs! There is more at their site ASPCA. If you are starting to feel like the world is against your having fun for the Holiday, just remember that everyone cares about you, and you are having a fine life without getting into these possible dangers.
Make sure your people see this: If you suspect that your animal companion has eaten a potentially toxic substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center’s emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435 for round-the-clock telephone assistance. A fee may apply.
I found a really fun account of “Wrapping Christmas Presents With a Cat in the House” at wrapping presents. I hope you get a chance to check it out. While you are reading it (and totally relating to it), I want you to realize it would not have been written if not for so many other joyful little kitties getting into the same mischief. You are the essence of a kitten, and that is a good thing.
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt* Tampa Bay
Dear Fisher,
As you can see I’m a big, muscular, handsome tom-cat! However I seem to be having difficulty in how to handle a Golden Retriever, Jack, who is now a habitant of my domain. I’ve tried swatting him and biting him on the nose but nothing seems to work. He takes great joy in chasing me and I am personally getting sick of it. The other “intruder” on my turf is a cocker spaniel, Bailey, and he knows enough to give me my space. Any ideas on how I can train this brute?
Louis
Dear Louis,
Of course you are irritated with the constant chasing. The thing you must think about is your mode of behavior in retaliation. If swatting and biting of the nose is not working, perhaps you should think up a new plan. For instance, can you say “aloof”? It seems to me that Bailey uses this tactic well and it is working for the two of you. The more detached and unapproachable you can make yourself – and I know many cats who master this automatically – the less interest Jack will have in you.
You and Jack are just displaying parts of your different personalities. Big dogs tend to need much exercise to use up their restless energy. Big cats tend to not exercise so much, but rather just take life easy. Neither of you must accept any blame for your circumstance, but Jack does not see his actions toward you as a problem. You see a problem, and therefore must consider how you can change your attitude to make the situation better for you.
Jack sounds like he is in high prey drive, and as you have found out, once set in motion, he is hard to stop. This is where your humans might need to come into the picture. It is very hard to stop the chase once is has begun, but if they can look for the signs leading up to it they can help put a stop to the madness before it starts. The littlest signs that Jack is going into high energy mode should indicate to them that he needs to step outside – without you! It would be a perfect time to toss a Frisbee or tennis ball at the back fence and let him run off some of the steam.
Be very sure that you are not operating out of fear. Also be very sure you are not tempting him with little quirks of your own. Your humans can again watch for these tell-tail signs and avert your behavior. Cats have a way of staring at the “enemy” with their ears back and their tail wrenching back and forth. This particular tail action has quite the opposite effect of dog tail wagging. It is a defense ready action. So, you have on the one hand, the energetic ready-to-romp dog, and on the other, the defensive, ready to rumble cat. Hmmmm. Get the picture?
If your humans can pick up on these gestures, they can scoop you up and coddle you and you will first of all feel safe. Maybe even a little smug which if fine, but do not be too quick to show it. The ideal situation is to put a halt to the chasing, swatting and biting before is gets out of hand and the two of you are off to the races and their commands will likely become nothing more than background noise.
For more information and interesting advice, check out this web site: dogplay.
Your friend,
Fisher
published in tbt* Tampa Bay
Dear Friends,
I had this great idea early early this morning. I am pretty sure that if all of us join in composing a special holiday wish list, we as a conglomerate can help visualize a positive result for each individual entity. What do you think?
Just send a one-liner or more if you want, with your wish (can be material or otherwise) – toys and treats are always good, but then, so is World Peace! Send a photo, too if you would like. Email me at askfisher@gmail.com- it will be fun to hear from you!
I will start adding to my Fisher’s Fun page next week and we can keep it going until New Year’s Day.
Your friend,
Fisher
P.S. It will also be very much fun to follow up with your results from this exercise!
