Clive & Mayo the Sighthounds: Anxious dogs in the lake district
Clive and Mayo are a pair of beautiful sight hounds who needed a session that was quiet, open, and low-pressure. Both can be a little anxious, so the focus was on giving them space and time to explore at their own pace — no forced posing, no rush, just calm moments in stunning surroundings.
We planned their experience around three Lake District locations that offered a mix of scenery and stillness: a wooden jetty, a peninsula stretching out into the lake, and a lakeside with soft grasses and wide reflections.
The morning light on the jetty was soft and silvery, the kind that flatters both dogs and landscapes. Clive was the more cautious of the two at first, testing the boards carefully, while Mayo watched the water with quiet curiosity. Once they realised this was a space to just be, everything softened. Their body language eased, their tails lifted, and they began to shine through in the images.
At the peninsula, they really came into their own — wandering through the grasses, power stances, and occasionally pausing long enough for those unposed, in-between moments that say the most. By the time we reached the lakeside, both dogs had fully settled into the rhythm of the session. There was space, light, and fun — and that’s exactly what they needed.
Sessions like this are why I specialise in working with anxious and reactive dogs. It’s about creating an experience that works for them, not the camera. Every dog deserves a session that feels safe, kind, and unrushed — because when they feel secure, their true personalities come through naturally.
If you’ve got a dog who’s a little sensitive, anxious, or needs space, a calm, dog-led session like this might be perfect for them. It’s not about sitting still — it’s about giving them the time and freedom to just be themselves.
📍 Photographing across the UK, specialising in reactive, anxious, and sensitive dogs in natural environments.
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