Julie,
while I agree that those images generate a lot of emotion, they are not what I would term "traditional portraits". Situational portraits -- especially those of dogs doing Service Work or Therapy Work -- make you understand what those dogs are all about and bring out the emotions in the people in the images and the people viewing them.

But, put those same dogs in the studio, without people with whom to inter-act, and there's a good chance you won't see what makes those dogs so special. Which is why I think it's important to be able to get those animals to inter-act with us, the photographers. To show us their personalities. To look at us behind the camera and behave the same way they do with the elderly in convalescent homes or children in the Cancer Ward of Florida Hospital. To show us their love (or their joy, their goofiness, their sweetness) so we can capture it.

The greatest moment I ever had in Therapy Work came when I couldn't photograph it -- I was the handler. Rowdy and his daughter, Cassidy (12-weeks of age), had just finished our Doggie Education program with 5th graders at a local school. As we were getting ready to leave, a woman came up to us and asked if we could spend a few moments with a group of children that had just arrived by bus. They were severely handicapped children: autistic, MS, MD. Most had never lived a "normal" life. Some had never reacted to anything outside of their world of a wheelchair or a bed.

The children were grouped around outside and we brought over Rowdy and Cassidy. Rowdy sensed who needed him most and put his head in the lap of a little girl who was blind. She was told that it was OK to touch him and she explored his entire head -- including his mouth -- with wonder and joy. Rowdy just licked her hand gently and she laughed.

Cassidy, who was a pretty wild puppy, sat calmly in my arms. One of the women who was supervising the visit asked if a young girl in another wheelchair could touch Cassidy. I said "OK" and tentatively placed her in the lap of the girl. She was autistic. She showed no reaction to Cassidy being there. Then, slowly, Cassidy placed her paws on the girl's shoulders and gave her the sweetest puppy lick on the cheek I've ever seen. The girl actually reacted to that "kiss" and placed her hands on Cassidy and rubbed her fur. I was paying full attention to the situation to make sure Cassidy didn't do anything to hurt the girl but when I looked up, the supervisor was crying. After a few minutes, we let Cassidy kiss her goodbye and moved on to other children. I asked the woman why that moment had been so special. She said "that girl has never reacted to any stimulation. That is the first time she has ever acknowledged another being outside of herself." I cried too.

Jim