NOISES!
For those who have been to my studio with their dog will know. I do WEIRD things.
Unlike human sessions, I do not play music. My studio is a big space with echos, so any odd instrument or noise will spook an animal if they are in an unfamiliar place. I keep all other noises quiet, so the animal will only focus on me.
WOOOOOOO WAHHHHHH ARRRRRRR!
What’s that? Whale noises… yes, I will make weird whale noises. This is a hybrid between a whale and a whimpering dog. This causes the dog to do a head tilt. After a few minutes of the head tilt and concentrating on me, the dog will come running to my lens licking my face making sure I’m okay. It’s really the sweetest thing and they are always happy to know, I am okay, and they get a butt scratch for being so cute.
SQUEEAK SQUEAK!
Squeeker toy! This is not to be used haphazardly! Since I have both hands on my camera, and I am sitting on the ground, I will put the squeaker toy right behind my knee so I am sitting on it. As I am shooting I will slowly “Squeak” the toy but sitting on it. The dog will not know where it is (so they wont come running for it) but they will look at me with that cute head tilt thinking “you hear that too???!”