Chon - Waggish

Suddenly working on ad campaigns felt meaningless when all I wanted to do was spend time with dogs. I bought a camera and started taking headshots of other rescue dogs to help them get adopted. My volunteer work evolved into a bustling pet photography business, and nine months later, I quit my job in advertising to become a full-time pet photographer. The rest, as they say, is history. For nearly a decade now, Ive devoted my life to capturing the faces and personalities of thousands of pets. While I love all Gods creatures, great and small, dogs will always be my favorite.

Their loyalty, faithfulness, and unconditional love have filled a million tiny holes in my heart that I never knew existed. Im now convinced there is no better therapy than a tail-wagging, butt-wiggling, smiling dog. Perhaps after reading this book, you might agree (unless of course, you already do!). May the uncontainable happiness of these dogs touch your heart as much as they have touched mine. GRACE CHON Maeby, 2011

A happy dog radiates pure, palpable joyand who can blame us for wanting in on it? Just being near them makes us feel good. Yet the mystery remains, whats really going on behind those waggish grins? Are our dogs laughing with us? At us? At themselves? Are they operating at a higher stage of enlightenment... or just buttering us up before we discover the tiny, torn remnants of burrito wrapper suspiciously dotting the hallway to the den? Its a subject we found worthy of further investigation. Not to mention a great excuse to meet and photograph some truly incredible dogs. So armed with a camera and plenty of biscuits, we rounded up a world-class collection of caninesbig and small, rescues and pure breeds, deep thinkers, bemused skeptics, and carefree optimistsand let their smiles speak for themselves. Whaddaya say you call in sick today and
we go chase some squirrels? If loving tennis balls is wrong,
I dont want to be right. I just scared the crap out of
the UPS guy. Somebody call a doctor,
Ive got disco fever! I farted, and this time Ive totally outdone myself. How about you go get the stick
this time and I wait here? Oh, hi, youre home early!
Theres absolutely nothing going on
upstairsbut before you come up,
lets both pause and reflect on how
much you love me. Ahhh, that new ball smell. Youll never guess where I hid your underwear. I know, right? I cant stand how cute I am either. Im smiling because youre smiling! Why are we smiling? Shades on. Leg out. Leg out.

Head tilt.
Tongue ever-so-slightly forward. Trust me, theres an art to this. I smell pot roast. Yes, I know you cant work while Im staring at you.
Why do you think I do it? Hurry, take the picture
I cant hold this pose forever! You had me at hot dog. Will you let me in so I can go out again? A walk? Let me just check my sched...
Yep, Im good. I just ate my own poop.

And I liked it. I wonder if he thinks about me as
much as I think about him? Im such a sucker for Rottweilers. Hypothetically speaking,
lets say I did roll in that raccoon carcass...
exactly how bad would you freak out? Yes, Im aware I resemble a stuffed toy.