Steve and I know each other through my day job. Over the summer he brought Basco to work to meet everyone and say hello from Washington. Basco retired from the secret service at the White House and came to live with Steve. He has the most beautiful coat and when you pet him he leans his body weight against your legs as if to say he’s there to be loved. Steve is a Pittsburg native but comes through Toledo for work at our headquarter facility. Basco travels along and so we planned a portrait session for the two at Sidecut Metropark just as the leaves were turning.
Basco has a work collar. When it’s on he only looks at Steve and waits for instruction. I can tell he hears me when I’m calling his name… but he will only respond to Steve. It’s the funniest thing ever to see a trained dog ignore you when just before he would run with tail wagging.
Steve shared with me a funny story about Basco and his willingness to obey. When he first came to their home and they called him to come he started to do the weirdest thing. They called and he’d start to come then stop. They called him again and he’d start coming again then stop. This happened all the way across the living room. Starting… Stopping… Starting… Stopping…. Then Steve figured it out. Steve also has a grey parrot. For those that know this bread they have the vocabulary and mind of a 3 year old. The birds had learned as well how to “instruct” Basco. When Steve was staying come in the living room they were staying sit in the room afar. Basco was obeying… but just was confused on whom to listen to when the grey parrot mimicked Steve. Ha ha ha. Poor Basco. Sounds like he might be getting commanded at home when the parents are away!
Basco needs lots of attention and walking. So he travels with Steve…
You can tell Basco is at home with Steve. He is enjoying the retired life!
I love this shot of them talking to each other. You can really see Basco’s size in the lower right shot. He’s a big boy!
This was almost a scary moment. Basco will listen beyond reason. I wanted him to just pose on the top of the bridge and he almost plunged below in excitement!! Eeek…
You can really see how beautiful he is here. Steve said his nose is dry from chewing on rawhide. Living it up!
This is my favorite shot from our session. Best buds.
I was excited to try out my new studio backdrop for the first time with Basco. I reasoned it would be easiest to try it out with a trained dog first. This winter I am planning on being a volunteer photographer for our local kennel and photographing the animals for adoption. This was much harder than I thought! Try getting an excited BIG dot to stay in just ONE spot. Thank goodness Steve was there and Basco was listening!
Here he is pictured with his muzzle. Something interesting I didn’t know… at the White House the dogs are muzzled because they want to avoid the issue of the dogs biting intruders. What intruders may not know is that at the end of the muzzle is a long medal rod that they are trained to fight with. The dogs will basically hit you with their muzzle until the guards rescue you. Ouch!!!
See the full GALLERY.