Julie,
my favorite is when they use dixie cups to hold up the taped ears! Great TV reception I hear : )

These are very nice. Using a high key background makes things more difficult than they need to be but that's an artistic choice. I always use mottled backgrounds because the shadows disappear -- especially in high-volume work where I don't have the time to be cloning out shadows on every frame.

Are the umbrellas white or silver? I find that silver reflectors really snap up black dogs (and as an owner of Rotties, I really understand black dogs). I use the white umbrellas for people because they create softer highlights and shadows.

Keep practicing! Nice Dobe puppy, by the way.

Jim