(CNN) — If you ever want to get a dog to “smile” for the camera, try throwing a treat at it.
To the German photographer Christian Vieler It has worked wonders for him, and he has already published two books of dogs trying to catch prizes out of the air.
It is a very simple, but effective concept. The photos are nice, funny and sometimes surprising.
The bulldogs Schorsch and Soey try to catch something.
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Vieler’s first book, “Treat!”, was published in 2017, and he was amazed by all the positive feedback it received from around the world.
A sequel, naturally, was the next step. And I already had an idea for an updated theme.
“What’s better than one dog? How about two or even three?” Vieler says in his new book, “Treat Too!”.
The new book focuses exclusively on couples. Vieler photographed these dogs with the same style than in his first book, using a portable flash and shutter speeds of up to 1/8000 of a second.
These techniques allow you to capture funny moments or expressions that often disappear in the blink of an eye.
But twice as many dogs means twice the challenge.
Golden Retrievers Ben and Lilly fail to catch the prizes.
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All the dogs in each pair knew each other well, often because they lived together. Vieler demanded this familiarity so the dogs wouldn’t fight.
But the other side of the coin, he observed, was that there was a natural hierarchy between them.
“Very often, one of the members of the couple deliberately withdraws, and the image of the intended couple becomes a ‘one-dog show,'” he says.
Fibi and Tara poodles look at a handful of treats.
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Posing the two dogs at the same time, and keeping them side by side, was also difficult.
“Once the initial obstacles have been overcome, you have to be very timely when launching the awards,” explains Vieler. “After just one attempt, the dogs often have to be repositioned, which can become a test of patience.”
And even if you only see one prize in some of these photos, don’t worry: all the dogs received more than necessary.
“I make sure they both get the same amount without long wait times, so frustration doesn’t arise,” says Vieler.
Vieler prefers to use dry treats because they are not sticky and are easier to throw. Plus, they look better on camera, he says.
Balou, a border collie mix, and Pepe, a mongrel, ready to catch.
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Many of the photos were taken at Vieler’s studio in Waltrop, Germany, but he also got to know the dogs he chose for the book.
He likes to take time to get to know each dog and build trust before taking out his camera. Safety is always a priority.
And if you notice that a dog is scared or stressed during the session, stop taking photos. A stressed dog, he says, won’t eat the treats anyway.
Tammi, a half-breed, and Lotte, a labrador retriever, are two of Vieler’s four dogs. Lotte, right, was the inspiration for Vieler’s photo series “Dogs Catching Prizes.”
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Vieler has been taking photos of dogs like this for almost a decade. Inspiration came from Lotte, her Labrador Retriever and lifelong companion.
When he got a new portable flash in 2013, he tried it out on Lotte. He was amused by the shots he produced, and gave him the idea for his photo series “Dogs Catching Awards.”
Lotte is now 16 years old, and she is also featured in the new book alongside Anni and Tammi, two of the other dogs that Vieler and his wife, Linda, share. Anni is a Doberman Pinscher and Tammi is a mixed breed. The couple also have a dachshund named Alfred.
Vieler’s favorite photo in the new book is of Debbie and Quincy, two very laid-back basset hounds waiting for an award to be thrown at them.
It is a great example of how the expressions of these dogs can stimulate our imagination.
“I’m very happy to have caught this brief moment where they look at me slightly alert and expectant: ‘What are you doing now? Why don’t you throw it?’ Vieler said. “The longer I look into their eyes, the more fun it becomes. Each time.”
“The photo will also soon grace the back of my company car. I hope they don’t hypnotize anyone behind me.”
Basset Hounds Debbie and Quincy are waiting patiently for the next award.
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– Photo credit: Christian Vieler
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