Photography | biscuit's space | The blog of photographer Katherine Carver

Apr 4

Victory: First Training Class

Earlier this week, we started dog training class with our little Victory! Doug and I attended the first class a few weeks ago with just the humans to prepare us for the dog training class. Victory enjoyed training class and she was smiling the entire time! Victory learned her marking word, “charming” (named after the fictitious city in Sons of Anarchy, the first series we watched on Netflix with Victory from start to finish (there is still another forthcoming season), and it is a word that does not come up often in conversation — Doug picked our marking word!); “look at me;” “watch me;” “cot,” the command for Victory to get up on her cot, her Kuranda Cot, which is required for our training class; and “down,” the command for Victory to get off the cot; and “sit.” Victory did very well in class and we have been working on “sit” at home this week! There is even a male tri-color sheltie friend that Victory was eyeing in class!

Before starting training off the bat, we first wanted to give Victory a chance to acclimate as she was quite nervous when we first brought her home. However, our little girl is blossoming and sprouting her sheltie furs! We also wanted the temperatures to warm up so we could practice training materials in multiple environments, inside and outside. Thankfully, it is warming up here some. We still want to see spring temperatures and more sunshine, especially after our harsh winter!

Below, Victory posed for me on her Kuranda Cot to help get her used to it prior to training class. She listened and stayed put while I photographed her! She is a smart little sheltie! Of course, we did get Victory’s Kuranda Cot embroidered with her name on it since embroidering was available (she is the only one in class with an embroidered Kuranda Cot!) On a good note, Victory is starting to spend time on her Orvis bed located in our living room. She still has two more Orvis beds to try out (formerly Biscuit’s Orvis beds)! Also, the other night, Victory gave me her paw a few times in bed after she washed my entire face and then licked Doug’s arm pits via his t-shirt! Doug must have some pretty amazing ‘natural body scent!’ Perhaps this is a sign that she is getting more comfortable in her home!

Happy Friday!

Mar 31

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Victory: Photography Project — Part 12

“Heaven goes by favor, you would stay out and your dog would stay in.” ~Mark Twain

Beginning in January of this year, I began a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.

Recently, we took Victory to Worthington Dog Park, another dog park, which we joined! Little Victory had a great time, other than being immediately greeted by Cheese, the male Pomeranian shown below, who got a little too friendly with our Victory! Although, Victory did not seem to mind! (Cheese’s sister is shown below taking a few sniffs!) Victory does enjoy meeting new furry friends and her confidence is building. Tomorrow is our first training class with Victory! We are excited to see how Victory does during class! We really hope spring comes soon so we can do more outside activities together!

Happy Monday!

Mar 28

Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. — Part IX and Part X – Rescue dogs in need of furever homes

I am excited about a long-term Dog Photography Project that I am working on with the Baltimore Animal Rescue Care Shelter (BARCS) as well as some local dog rescue organizations, including the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. I hope to share further information in the future. Using the following links, you can view Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, and Part VIII.

For now, I can share some color photographs of these doggies pictured below in the hopes that they receive furever homes! If you are interested in adopting (or fostering in some cases) any of these dogs pictured below, please contact Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. for further information. Please consider dog rescue! Biscuit’s rescue story illustrates that we can make a positive difference and impact in one dog’s life.

At this point, all of the images for Part 1 of this project have been photographed! I have been working on this project for over a year! I will be busy editing and working on the individual images, and then I will begin photographing Part 2 of this project this spring. I feel like I am finally making some progress. I can’t wait to share this project upon its completion — hopefully early next year!

Below is a brief description of the dogs in the order they are pictured below.

1. Rey — is a male 7 month old Rottweiler and Shepherd mix. Rey is very loving and he is full of energy! Rey is in need of a furever home!

2. Edmont — has been adopted!

3. Media — is a female 8 year old Great Dane. Media is a gentle soul who is very loving. Media is in need of a furever home!

4. Driefuss — is a male 1 – 2 year old Golden Retriever/Beagle mix. Driefuss is so handsome and full of energy! The loss of one of his front legs does not slow him down a bit! Driefuss is very playful and he is in need of a furever home!

5. Trixie — is a female Cattle Dog mix, approximately 2 years old. Trixie is very sweet, gentle, and loving. Trixie is in need of a furever home!

6. Hope — is a female English Mastiff, approximately 8 years old. Hope is very gentle and loving. Hope is in need of a furever home!

7. Earlysa — has been adopted!

8. Rox — is a male Border Collie mix, approximately 7 months old. Rox is full of energy and very handsome. Rox is in need of a furever home!

9. Trucker — is a male Collie mix, approximately 1 – 2 years old. Trucker is very gentle with soulful eyes. Trucker is in need of a furever home!

If you want to adopt a rescue dog; donate money; and/or contribute your time to the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc., please, please contact Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. via e-mail at info@dogsxlrescue.org; or via telephone at 410-205-5014. To learn more, you can also visit the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc.’s website.

Mar 26

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Seen In: Huffington Post

I am very grateful to have some of my images recently featured in the Huffington Post in connection with my work with Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. from this photo shoot relating to my long-term dog photography project. The Huffington Post article focuses on large dogs who are in need of furever homes across the country. My hope is that all of these dogs receive furever homes as soon as possible! Please consider dog rescue. You can view the entire article and images here. My images are featured numbers 20 through 26, along with the cover image used in the article of Esperanza!

Happy Wednesday!

Mar 25

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Victory: Photography Project — Part 11

“If you want loyalty, get a dog. If you want loyalty and attention, get a smart dog.” ~Grant Fairly

Beginning in January of this year, I began a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.

We recently took Victory to Quiet Waters Park located in Annapolis — our first trip to a dog park with Victory! Victory had a blast and she was all smiles! (Prior to taking Victory to the dog park, we were not sure how she would react!) Victory entered the dog park and she was immediately greeted with many different dogs to sniff! We finished our trip to Quiet Waters by walking down to the water! Victory loves to look at the water and she did not want to leave!

During our time at the dog park, Victory met another sheltie fiend named Joey! Victory instantly recognized Joey as a shelite and she followed him all over the park! It was adorable! (Interestingly, Biscuit also met a sheltie friend when we took Biscuit to Quiet Waters Park for the first time last spring).

Me and little Victory together, commemorating our first trip to the dog park!

Mar 21

Victory’s Life in Photos: 2014

Below are some photos of Victory thus far from 2014! I am so glad to be documenting our precious little Victory! The images begin in the lower right corner with Victory wanting more prime rib (after eating a plate of prime rib) on New Year’s! The images conclude in the upper left corner with Victory at the dog park! We recently took Victory to two dog parks, and she really enjoyed them! Doug and I will likely join at least one of the dog parks so Victory can continue to have fun at the dog park! However, last weekend, our little Victory was, shall we say, violated — she was ‘humped’ by a 3.5 pound shaved Pomeranian, named Cheese! Cheese just could not get enough of our Victory. Victory entered the park and Cheese was literally climbing on our little Victory! Thankfully, Cheese’s human took him for a ‘time out.’ Interestingly, Victory did not seem to mind! Victory has such a sweet temperament! I will share more photos next week from our adventures to the dog parks!

We really want spring to be here and stay. However, Doug mentioned that we are scheduled for snow next week! Hopefully, spring will make its appearance and stay for a while! At least, this is what we hope!

Happy Friday!

Mar 20

Victory: Photography Project — Part 10

“They motivate us to play, be affectionate, seek adventure and be loyal.” ~Tom Hayden

Beginning in January of this year, I began a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.

Little Victory does not like baths! Below are a few photographs from a recent bath we gave her. Doug and I do not trust anyone else to bathe our Victory! We are protective of her! However, we do let the vet clip her nails and trim her paws every four to six weeks! Victory, thankfully, lets me brush her daily to keep her coat looking good! We typically bathe Victory every four to six weeks, and we use Espree oatmeal shampoo and luxury conditioner. In between baths, we use baby powder behind her ears, where her fur tends to get a little greasy.

As you can see below, Victory tries her best to escape the soaker tub! During our recent bath, Victory was an escape artist — she hopped out of the tub during this bath! It literally takes the two of us to give her a bath! One to hold her and one to wash her! Doug is going to look into getting an extension to our tub faucet, similar to a shower head, to help make bath time go more quickly! Victory always feels so soft and smooth and she always looks gorgeous — especially after a bath!

Happy Spring!

Mar 18

1 Comment

Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. — Part VIII – Rescue dogs in need of furever homes

I am excited about a long-term Dog Photography Project that I am working on with the Baltimore Animal Rescue Care Shelter (BARCS) as well as some local dog rescue organizations, including the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. I hope to share further information in the future. Using the following links, you can view Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, and Part VII.

For now, I can share some color photographs of these doggies pictured below in the hopes that they receive furever homes! If you are interested in adopting (or fostering in some cases) any of these dogs pictured below, please contact Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. for further information. Please consider dog rescue! Biscuit’s rescue story illustrates that we can make a positive difference and impact in one dog’s life.

Below is a brief description of the dogs in the order they are pictured below.

1. Nibilina — is a female American Bulldog, approximately 4 years old. Nibilina is very pretty and full of love and she is in need of a furever home!

2. Esperanza — is a female Bullmastif mix, approximately 6 years old. Esperanza is very playful and she is in need of a furever home!

3. Iona — is a female Great Pyrenees Mix, approximately 1-2 years old. Iona is beautiful and she is in need of a furever home!

4. Dennison — Has been adopted!

5. Darjeerling — is a female St. Bernard mix. Darjeerling is very sweet and gentle and she is in need of a furever home!

6. Abel — Has been adopted!

7. Lilo — is a male Husky mix. Lilo is a bit shy and he is very gentle and sweet and he is in need of a furever home!

8. Sam — is a male 15 week Shepherd mix. Sam is just adorable! Sam is very sweet and well-behaved and he is in need of a furever home!

9. Tara — is a female 15 week Shepherd mix. Sam is just adorable! Tara is very sweet and well-behaved and she is in need of a furever home!

10. Alcide — is a male 15 week Shepherd mix. Alcide is just adorable! Alcide is very sweet and well-behaved and he is in need of a furever home!

11. Mario — is a male 15 week Hound mix. Mario is a cuddle bug! Mario is very sweet and well-behaved and he is in need of a furever home!

12. Princess Peach — is a female 15 week Hound mix. Princess Peach is precious! Princess Peach is very sweet and well-behaved and she is in need of a furever home!

If you want to adopt a rescue dog; donate money; and/or contribute your time to the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc., please, please contact Dogs XL Rescue, Inc. via e-mail at info@dogsxlrescue.org; or via telephone at 410-205-5014. To learn more, you can also visit the Dogs XL Rescue, Inc.’s website.

Mar 14

1 Comment

Victory: Photography Project — Part 9

“Every one in a while a dog enters your life and changes everything.” ~Unknown

I have recently begun a weekly photography project with my muse, Victory! I will continue to share this project on the blog! I have also been documenting Victory’s milestones so to speak each month — you can read these here! I think that it is fun to document all of Victory’s changes, while preserving fleeting moments and memories.

As you know, I recently photographed Victory in our guest room among the menagerie of our “friends” (stuffed cheetahs and pandas)! Below are some final images! Victory loved sniffing all of the “friends.” In some of the photographs, Victory blends in with the “friends” even playing some “hide and seek!” Enjoy!

Happy Friday!

Mar 12

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Victory: Five Months In

“Nobody can fully understand love unless they are owned by a dog.” ~Unknown

Today marks five months since we adopted our little Victory! You can read more about the previous months’ milestones here.

Below are some things that we learned about Victory this month:

She lets me give her belly rubs on her back. At first, she was not too keen on my placing her on her back, but once her belly was being rubbed, she relaxed and seems to enjoy it like her brother Biscuit!
She is now fully transiting into the dinning room and kitchen since she does not want to be left out.
She is starting to eat her dinner in her feeder on her custom feeder mat located in the kitchen!
She loves to chew and play! We have a basket of toys, a combination of some toys that were previously Biscuit’s toys and some new toys purchased for little Victory! This month, Victory has fancied herself on taking toys from the basket and placing them one by one into her ‘hut!’ It is adorable! In fact, one evening we came home and every last toy from the basket was in her ‘hut!’– there was barely any room for her little body as she surrounded herself by all of her toys! Perhaps Victory is a little hoarder! So, she seems to like the game of taking the toys to her ‘hut!’ Therefore, each night, we put the toys away in the toy basket so that she can then have fun taking them all to her ‘hut’ the next day! She also loves chewing on her toys (among other things!) We think that we are going to try the Kong toy next with her and see how she likes it!
She went to the pet store again to get more chew toys and she was a hit — everyone thought that Victory is so beautiful!
She loves the Hound About!
She loved going to Quiet Waters Park — Victory had a grand time!
She loves to eat peanut butter Frosty Paws!
She loves Cheese Please, treats we discovered from her BarkBox made of only cheese! Doug ordered her two boxes to keep on hand in the house!
She still is not fond of getting a bath. In fact, this month, Victory hopped out of the soaker tub during her recent bath! Now, we make sure that one of us is holding her the entire time! She looks and feels so great after an oatmeal bath!
She is getting us up less during the night for a drink(s) of water — she is sleeping more!
She, along with both of us, begin training classes next week with little Victory!
She gives us tons of kisses before bed, and she wakes me up in the morning licking my eye lashes with her head on my pillow! Victory is quite affectionate!
She still loves to cuddle — our little cuddle bug!

There was a time that I thought that my heart would not be able to be filed with as much joy as Biscuit brought us. However, our little Victory has stolen our hearts and she has filled our hearts with just as much joy as our precious Biscuit. We have many more memories to make with Victory! We are so happy Victory has entered our lives.

Can you locate little Victory below!

Happy Wednesday!