STRIKE A PAWS
The island pets that are top dogs at modelling
TRYING to get one boisterous pooch to sit is often hard enough.
But these six Shetland sheepdogs and one Alaskan Klee Kai could well be the most obedient canines in Scotland.
Owner Kaylee Robertson claims her dogs are like ‘fully trained models’ after she taught them to stand together while she takes amazing pictures.
The 28-year-old’s dogs, which range from six months to six years old, have been posing since they were puppies.
The ambulance technician, from Scalloway, Shetland, said Fenton, Thiago, Gimli, Mercy, Ghost, Murphy and Jara are happy to perform – but only if they are bribed.
She added: ‘We give them lots of treats and positive reinforcement.
‘When they had sat nicely and looked at the camera we would throw them a ball. They associate it as a game.’
The dog owner had one Shetland sheepdog but wanted more and surprise her husband-to-be Robert Garrick, 32, with one a week after they moved in together.
She said: ‘He was so mad. I had it all planned, I was going to make him a nice meal when he came home and surprise him. Now he will kiss the dogs before he kisses me.’ The photographer said the best advice for taking photos of your pooch is to keep it contented.
She added: ‘For anyone wishing to train and take pictures of dogs, there is one rule – a happy dog makes a great photo.’
Miss Robertson began training the animals as a child with her first dog Flint, a Shetland sheepdog.
She said: ‘I had ten beautiful years with that gorgeous soul who I used to show at the local dog competitions.
‘We won pretty much everything and I also scooped the Junior Handler with him.’
She lost her childhood pet to bone cancer but he has remained an inspiration for her to train dogs.
Miss Robertson also receives a lot of requests from fellow dog owners asking if she would do a photoshoot with their pets.
She said: ‘A lot of people want me to take pictures of their dogs and think I must have a way with dogs.
‘What they don’t realise it that it takes years of training.’
The images are set to be hung on Shetland Hospital’s wall to cheer up patients.
In 2016 Miss Robertson’s dog Fenton was selected from more than 200 canines as a finalist for Visit Scotland’s ‘Ambassadog’ project.
The tourism organisation wanted to find a canine that ‘conveys the spirit of Scotland’, but sadly Fenton missed out on the top prize of representing the country at UK-wide events.
Miss Robertson’s pets have, however, become something of a tourism attraction on the island. Speaking last year, she said: ‘I have had a lot of tourists come up to me to get their photos taken with the dogs.
‘I have met people from all over the world because of them.’