People often ask me how I get animals to pose. I don’t, really, I don’t like posed shots. I do work to make them comfortable with my camera. I offer them treats with the camera in one hand, and feed them often with the camera nearby or on the floor. I always look for ways to associate the camera with positive things. Border collies are notorious for shying away from direct eye contact with a lens. I deal with this in several ways. I hold the camera up over my head and dance around like a fool, I baaaaah like a sheep through the viewfinder, bark and growl, I put wool things on my head and swivel my head around. Border collies and donkeys are curious, their opening for training. If you do strange things and are willing to look stupid, they will look at you.

I look stupid all the time. Red is concerned in this photo, I was warbling like a bird and he must have wondered what to do with me.