During our first few shoots it became obvious that when photographing a pet at someone’s home, or in unfamiliar surroundings, it's crucial that you take your time looking around the location. Everything you see is “background” in your shot, so look for any objects or scenes that could be a distraction in the photos (garbage bins, cars, hydro poles, telephone wires, etc.).

This photo of Soya Bean racing around the yard would be much better without the distraction of the garbage bin, an easy bit of background to move before starting the shoot.

Soya Bean-322

Where possible, remove or disguise potential distractions. On the other hand, look for ideal back-drops that would enhance the photo by giving the location meaningful context (eg. an urban location) or by aiding in focusing on the dog (a blank or uniform background (sky, grass, trees, etc.)