THE LABRADOR RESCUE TRUST

Useful Tips on creating a good photograph of your dog, by Jenny Harrison:
Pet portraiture pictures
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We have had Dylan for a few months now and he has settled in just like he has always lived here. When I received the phone call to say The Trust had found a dog for me I was just like an excited kid at Christimas (and I'm 38!), our local Trust helper Gina said that he was black, American and weighed 54 Kilos!!!!! You wouldn't imagine the images going through my mind. After a quick conversation, I figured out that he was about 9 stone, but Gina said he was a gentle giant, although he's a bit like a donkey. Our first walk was something else when his pulling nearly took my arm out of its socket (well all those new smells were very interesting), but he has gradually calmed down. He will still pull if you let him get away with it and he can be a little stubborn when told to sit before crossing the road, but we are getting there.

He is a great dog who sleeps on the floor by whichever bed he fancies that night (and can snore at such a level it would register on the Richter scale). He has his own bed (the biggest in the shop) but he much prefers human company.

It is quite funny the different reactions you get when you take him out:

'What is he crossed with, a lion?' (purely in reference to his size)
'Is he a Bull Mastiff cross?' (from the vet)
'CRIKEY! he is big, I thought you were exaggerating' (from my best friend - and now Dylan's)
'He's lovely' - most people who meet him
'You could put a saddle on him!'

One little problem we are still in the process of solving, is the post. Dylan lunges for anything that comes through the letterbox. Quite good as he will bring it to you, but not good when he brings the letterbox also! Sometimes he is better at opening parcels than I am, and the faces of the cashiers taking in cheques with teeth marks are fabulous.

We do have a little routine now, when I come home from work; Dylan is usually up the garden (I think he is trying to tunnel to Australia behind my conifer tree) when he sees me he gets his stuffed dog (which has had to go to the pet hospital to be sewn up on numerous occasions) and we have a little retrieving session, we then have to have a fight, this involves Dylan on his back with me pretend chewing his neck (the neighbours must think I'm mad); the things us dog owners have to do!

As you can see from the picture this is a great dog that I wouldn't part with for the world.

- Kate