Jones - Dog years : faithful friends, then & now

Copyright 2015 by Amanda Jones. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.
ISBN 978-1-4521-3745-2 (hc)
ISBN 978-1-4521-4354-5 (epub, mobi)

Designed by Emily Dubin

Chronicle Books LLC
680 Second Street
San Francisco, California 94107

www.chroniclebooks.com

I have the great fortune to work with what are, in my eyes, the most beautiful creatures on earth: dogs. In all shapes, sizes, colors, and personalities, the joy these creatures bring us is timeless.

During the twenty years that I have been photographing dogs Ive had the opportunity to work with hundreds of them at various points in their lives and in many cases throughout their lives. From adorable mischievous puppies to wise old souls, capturing these moments is my life work.

A dogs life is a span that marks so much in our lives. We get them as puppies and they are cute and goofy, driving us crazy with constant chewing on furniture and shoes, as well as making a mess of the house. Then we teach them and they learn to behave better (sometimes). The connection over time deepens, and as our dogs age, the tides shift and we tend to learn more from their teachingsto relax, to be joyful, to throw caution to the wind, and enjoy the simple pleasures of everyday life. Life really is better with a dog by your side.

This book is about that time. A dogs life starts off small and then grows to include many different humans, other dogs, new tricks, and new experiences.

My inspiration for putting this book together came from my very first dog, Lily. Lily is a longhaired Dachshund. She came into my life after I began photographing dogs. When I met a trio of longhaired Dachshunds at one of my early shoots, I knew instantly that was the breed for me. It took a few years to be in the right housing situation where I could have a dog, but as soon as that opportunity opened up, I welcomed her into my life. What a joy it was!

Running into the middle of a girls soccer practice at the local park and causing total havoc, chasing her on the beaches of Maine, and watching her chase after moths in tall grass were just a few of the pleasures she brought us in her early years.

Lily was with us for sixteen wonderful years. In that time my husband and I moved across the country and back. We bought a house, had a baby, and through it all dear Lily was there with uspassing the time, being by our sides, joining us in our adventures of life.

My time spent with these dogs on the set and in their homes has been an amazing journey and learning experience. I now feel that I am part dog-portrait photographer, part dog psychiatrist, and part dog trainer, all of it coming from years working with dogs and their owners. My shoots are about so much more than the photographs; they are about the dogs and the people who love them. They are about honesty and trust. There is a deep understanding that these are more than just animals. They are partners by our sides as we travel through life.

In working on this book, I rejoined dogs, couples, and families who I had worked with years ago. Some dogs had been lost to illness and accidents. Most are living amazingly long, happy lives in perfect surroundings. Owners and dogs had aged, become gray, wrinkled in the eyes, and less spry. The visual impact of comparing the young and the old varies greatly from dog to dog, just as it does from person to person. Some dont seem to age at all, yet others show the signs quite openly in their eyes, their jowls, and their gray hair. It is this semblance of ourselves and our souls in their eyes that gives us such a deep connection with dogs.

One thing that remains constant is the love people and dogs have for each other. That does not change, no matter how many dog years go by.

LONGHAIRED DACHSHUND

8 MONTHS

2 YEARS

Lily is a complex dog. A little aloof and independent, definitely self-serving, this little dog knows what she wants and doesnt give up until she gets it. She can charm the pants off anyone. I love how she poses the same way for each shoot we did together. Anything for a treat. Her favorite one is a raw baby carrot.

We call her Last Word Lily Jones.

AMANDA JONES

7 YEARS

15 YEARS

MIXED BREED

I went to the pound near where I lived in Northern California and there was puppy Georgia. She was a bit of a mess but I fell for her immediately. I put in my application and that was that. I was 23.

Now Ive had Georgia my entire adult life. She is my loyal companion, riding whatever wave Im on. I got new apartments. I got new jobs. I got new boyfriends. Georgia is such a good barometer of things good and bad. She is always there for me, my dear little friend.

Shes definitely part of me growing up and becoming the person that I am today. She and I discovered San Francisco together. She needed such long walks that we would walk all over the city. We moved to Los Angeles when she was a senior citizen and she loves the warm weather. I think it has given her a few extra years, sitting out on the warm patio smelling the flowers.

AMANDA NELSON

1 YEAR

16 YEARS

LABRADOR RETRIEVER

In my family, we always had male dogs. To change things up, I decided I wanted a little girl dog. And Corbet is every bit of that, my little girl.

When she was young, I found out she had elbow dysplasia. She had surgery at six months and I was like, Oh, my little girl is really tough. We got really close during her rehab. It was like extra bonding working together to get her better. None of it slowed her down.

Now she is 11 years old and she is slowing down a bit. She needs a little moral support getting up the stairs, but she does her little bunny hop and I cheer her on.

KIM WRIGHT

2 YEARS

11 YEARS