How to Get the Best Santa Photos with your Dog

Ho ho ho, it’s holiday photo time! One of the great joys of dog guardianship is taking pictures with your pet. And if your family celebrates Christmas, a photo op with the jolly man himself is a great way to celebrate the season. But how do you get your dog to sit still for a picture with Santa? Read on for our trips and tricks to get the best Santa photos with your dog.

Is your dog ready for Santa time?

Before walking your dog down to the mall for a visit with Santa Claus, take honest stock of their temperament. Keep in mind, they’ll be meeting a bearded stranger in an unusual setting. If your dog is generally adaptable to change, calm in new environments, and friendly around other dogs and people, then a public Santa photo op should be fine.

On the other hand, if your dog is very shy around new people, or made anxious by strange sounds and sights, a mall or pet store Santa photo might not be the best choice. Instead, consider borrowing a Santa suit for a family member to wear in a private photo shoot at home. Or, when all else fails, there’s always Photoshop!

Sitting still for Santa

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It’s great if your dog is excited to meet Santa, but they’ll need to sit still to get a non-blurry photo! For optimal Santa pictures, work on your dog’s sit and stay commands in advance. Practice in lots of different environments, with different people nearby, so your dog will be ready for anything. Holiday photo studios are often crowded, or animal photo shoots take place in pet supply stores with lots of distractions around. The stronger your dog’s sitting power, the easier the photo shoot will be.

Of course, you can always bribe your dog to stay still. It’s the holidays, what’s the harm in some extra treats? Take a high-value reward with you to Santa’s house to hold your dog’s attention while their picture is being taken. If you’re in the photo with your dog, you can hold their leash and stay close to them so they feel secure and sit still.

Tell Santa what your dog wants

The burden isn’t all on you and your dog to make a pet Santa portrait turn out great! If you’re going to a place that specializes in pet photos, they probably have treats and training to make your dog feel at ease. If you’re visiting a mall Santa or similar, they may or may not have much experience with dogs.

You can make your dog’s Santa photo shoot go smoothly by communicating clearly with the photographer, Santa, and Santa’s helpers. Let them know what will put your dog at ease, whether it’s a scratch behind the ears or Santa getting down on the floor to be at their level.

How to get the best doggy smile

Doggy smiles are awfully cute. But the truth is, when dogs appear to have a human-like “grin,” they’re more likely simply panting, or possibly even stressed out (source). A true doggy “smile” is demonstrated through body language–soft eyes, relaxed ears, and a loosely wagging tail.

The best way to get your dog to “smile” for the camera is to keep them at ease throughout the photo shoot. This may mean having treats on hand, giving them a break when they appear stressed out, or joining them for a casual group shot. You can also smile back at them!

Your dog feeds off your energy, so the more relaxed and smiley you are, the more calm and happy they’ll be.

Let your dog ‘dog out’ for Christmas

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An adorable, posed portrait with Santa may make a nice holiday card. But we all know dogs don’t care about getting the perfect shot. And besides, wouldn’t you rather have a photo of your dog being themselves?

Your dog might not want to look directly at the camera or sit on Santa’s lap. Don’t worry, the pictures will still turn out great. Let the photographer worry about capturing a usable shot, and let your dog be a dog. As long as you both have a good time, the cards will turn out perfect–and perfectly you.

For more tips on taking photos with your dog in any season, click here. And check out some of our favorite, hilarious dog/Santa pics ever here!