He posed
I adopted Percy when he was nine months old – not a puppy, but not an adult. He wasn’t very obedient; he’d have no control if someone knocked at the door, he didn’t know how to greet dogs on walks, and he had zero recall or ability to sit and ignore distractions.
After a run through obedience class, he improved considerably. Or more accurately, I learned how to direct him. Highly food driven, I could get him to sit for longer and longer periods of time.
Because he wanted to say “HI!” to every single dog or person, we started indoors. He began associating the sound of shutter clicks with treats, and his obedience grew.
Every time we’d go for a walk I’d work on keeping his attention on me and ignoring all the distractions of living in a huge, dense city.
Balloons weirded him out.
So did water and sand.
But we learned to trust each other.
And I understood when he was tired, or uncomfortable, or done.
He realized I wouldn’t put him in any danger.
From that trust, an indelible bond formed between us.
And from that bond the photos overflowed.
Some where playful…
Some were dramatic
Some were silly.
So many silly ones.
It didn’t take more than a year after his first obedience lesson that I could direct him to sit in the middle of busy crowds, bikers, running kids, and joggers with dogs on The 606. He would wait like a perfectly polite dog for his reward – treats and lots of pets and belly rubs.
I doubt Percy understood how much his patience with me and my camera would mean after he was gone, but I’m forever grateful.