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Photographer Takes Portraits Of The World’s Hardest-Working Dogs
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Photographer Takes Portraits Of The World’s Hardest-Working Dogs

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The working dogs of the world tend not to get as much time in the spotlight as their house-pet brothers and sisters. Photographer Andrew Fladeboe, however, is working to remedy this injustice by treating these dogs with the respect and artistry they deserve.

Though his photo series is called “The Shepherd’s Realm,” the dogs aren’t limited to shepherds or cowherds – search and rescue dogs, mobility dogs, guide dogs, companionship dogs and K-9 police dogs also receive recognition. Their fur may be wet or dirty, but their intelligent expressions and stoic nature show that, as companions and workers, they are an indispensable aid for their owners. His project has taken him primarily to New Zealand, Scotland and Norway.

In an interview with National Geographic, Fladeboe explained that most people don’t realize how much these dogs love to work; “Yes, often they live hard and short lives, but for a dog like a border collie, they are happiest when they have a job to do. I feel much worse for a border collie that lives in a big city than one that is worked to the bone on a farm.

Read on for Fladeboe’s answers to Bored Panda’s questions about his work. He will be having a solo photo show in NYC this October through Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art, so make sure to pay him a visit if you can! He also has prints for sale through this gallery.

More info: andrewfladeboe.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | phhfineart.com (h/t: mymodernmet, slate)

Shepherds

“Its always interesting getting a dog to pose for you,” Andrew Fladeboe told Bored Panda. “Its not a natural act for the dog and not something that the owners train their dogs to do”

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“Fortunately I’ve been photographing working dogs lately, so they are already well trained and used to direction”

“Its really a matter of patience, and being able to adjust the shoot on the fly and getting the owner to direct the dog the way you want. I think they find it as a challenge of sorts for their dog’s ability to follow commands”

Mobility Dog

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Fladeboe said he was fascinated by “how much they love to work and the story that is 30,000 years in the making. They have evolved with us as a species to fill a number of jobs we’ve asked of them”

Search-And-Rescue Dog

“We are so connected to dogs, and not just in terms of getting jobs done or as the pets we know them today. Dogs show up in the myths and folklore of almost every culture. They are part of our collective subconscious. The working dog is the perfect archetype of our sagacious friend”

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“These owners are determined and loving. It takes years to develop a successful working dog, and for most people that do it, it is the most important thing in their lives. I really look up to them. I want to raise and train a dog, but I travel too much to have a dog of my own”

Epilepsy Assistance Dog

“I try to take a posthumanistic approach to the dogs I photograph. I try to represent them as individuals, in the most noble way possible to give justice to their existence. It is art for animals’ sake”

Bird Hunters

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Cowherd

Police Dog

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Puffin Hunter

Biosecurity Dog

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Urban Search-And-Rescue Dog

Comfort/Therapy Dog

Explosive Detector Dog

Guide Dog For The Blind

Search-And-Rescue Dog

Urban Search-And-Rescue Dog

Comfort/Therapy Dog

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Thank you, Andrew Fladeboe, for agreeing to talk to Bored Panda about your wonderful photos!

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agata.grajoszek avatar
AgataGrajoszek
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful pictures, amazing dogs, the best creatures in the world <3

alli_tripp avatar
AlliTripp
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonderful images captured from just a few of many beautiful hard working dogs...thanks for sharing

barbara.kistler.142 avatar
BarbaraKistler
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The second picture where the dog is jumping into the sheep, his face is ferocious! Love them

eileen.macleod.37 avatar
EileenMacleod
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I so love your work and sentiments regarding your chosen subjects.

Rhon avatar
Rhon
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is beautiful. Where would we be without dogs in our lives. They are brave, wonderful creatures. Love em so much

 avatar
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What amazing versatile animals they are. Really are mans best friend.

kristinapiastro avatar
KristinaPiastro
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are all hardworking dogs! I have such a warm feeling for all of them!

maryellen_jaynes_7 avatar
MaryellenJaynes
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

dogs are so amazing, they just keep finding new talents in dogs the more they work with them, Love these wonderful creatures

jamie.cocanougher avatar
JamieCocanougher
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is beautiful! you should also show how cats can help as well, along with other animals:) But i love this!

atras_do_tempo avatar
AmarokGigas
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a downside however. Dogs heading another animals to the slaughterhouse is not fun at all.

cjayant avatar
CyrilJayant
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very nice article and it is amazing think about the relation ship between the man and the dog.

jpatterson avatar
jpatterson
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you don't feel you can stand behind our troops .... please feel free to stand in front of them !!

angela.lopez.12327 avatar
AngelaLopez
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great photos! I just wished they would have included my favorite working dog, the Rottweiler!

sctntxtn13 avatar
sctntxtn13
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God's amazing creatures. He directed Adam over all creatures, so we are their masters as well.

kelly.penkoskylogansmith avatar
KellySmith
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You forgot photos of all the working breed dogs....especially the Newf who is in the AKC working group, they are a versatile workers.

lucia_cojocaru_1656 avatar
MargeleFrumusele
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

dogs are beautiful creatures , better than human anyway. i love them

glynislailann avatar
GlynisLailann
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Check this out : http://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/maine-officers-say-goodbye-to-beloved-police-dog-with-a-fina#.cs3p5mE3X

anne_p_lewis_7 avatar
AnneStrobell
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Long ago, dogsledding was the most fun thing my dogs and I ever did. They loved seeing the harness, it meant pulling and running.

5487df6acddf1 avatar
RitchieSeath
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i have a border collie thats very happy in an urban envroment albeit she gets 3 4 mile walks a day, her life expectancy is double her father

ednasinclair avatar
EdnaSinclair
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved each one MY Love is for the German Shepherd but the comfort dogs, loving their owners I've had two shepherds and lost them both.

piamirimanian_1 avatar
piaMirimanian
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they didn`t choose to be our friends, but made the best of it only to survive the human species-try to be their friend as long as they agree

alyson_walters_58 avatar
AlysonWalters
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful images of hardworking animals and their love and dedication to humans. My heart yearns for the day when the rights of all animals

rimona avatar
RimonaGherson
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you mean slave dogs, sometimes used to torment other animals. disgusting human practices whish should have been obsolete already. EVOLVE!

agata.grajoszek avatar
AgataGrajoszek
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful pictures, amazing dogs, the best creatures in the world <3

alli_tripp avatar
AlliTripp
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wonderful images captured from just a few of many beautiful hard working dogs...thanks for sharing

barbara.kistler.142 avatar
BarbaraKistler
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The second picture where the dog is jumping into the sheep, his face is ferocious! Love them

eileen.macleod.37 avatar
EileenMacleod
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I so love your work and sentiments regarding your chosen subjects.

Rhon avatar
Rhon
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is beautiful. Where would we be without dogs in our lives. They are brave, wonderful creatures. Love em so much

 avatar
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What amazing versatile animals they are. Really are mans best friend.

kristinapiastro avatar
KristinaPiastro
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are all hardworking dogs! I have such a warm feeling for all of them!

maryellen_jaynes_7 avatar
MaryellenJaynes
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

dogs are so amazing, they just keep finding new talents in dogs the more they work with them, Love these wonderful creatures

jamie.cocanougher avatar
JamieCocanougher
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is beautiful! you should also show how cats can help as well, along with other animals:) But i love this!

atras_do_tempo avatar
AmarokGigas
Community Member
8 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is a downside however. Dogs heading another animals to the slaughterhouse is not fun at all.

cjayant avatar
CyrilJayant
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very nice article and it is amazing think about the relation ship between the man and the dog.

jpatterson avatar
jpatterson
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you don't feel you can stand behind our troops .... please feel free to stand in front of them !!

angela.lopez.12327 avatar
AngelaLopez
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great photos! I just wished they would have included my favorite working dog, the Rottweiler!

sctntxtn13 avatar
sctntxtn13
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God's amazing creatures. He directed Adam over all creatures, so we are their masters as well.

kelly.penkoskylogansmith avatar
KellySmith
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You forgot photos of all the working breed dogs....especially the Newf who is in the AKC working group, they are a versatile workers.

lucia_cojocaru_1656 avatar
MargeleFrumusele
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

dogs are beautiful creatures , better than human anyway. i love them

glynislailann avatar
GlynisLailann
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Check this out : http://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/maine-officers-say-goodbye-to-beloved-police-dog-with-a-fina#.cs3p5mE3X

anne_p_lewis_7 avatar
AnneStrobell
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Long ago, dogsledding was the most fun thing my dogs and I ever did. They loved seeing the harness, it meant pulling and running.

5487df6acddf1 avatar
RitchieSeath
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i have a border collie thats very happy in an urban envroment albeit she gets 3 4 mile walks a day, her life expectancy is double her father

ednasinclair avatar
EdnaSinclair
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I loved each one MY Love is for the German Shepherd but the comfort dogs, loving their owners I've had two shepherds and lost them both.

piamirimanian_1 avatar
piaMirimanian
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they didn`t choose to be our friends, but made the best of it only to survive the human species-try to be their friend as long as they agree

alyson_walters_58 avatar
AlysonWalters
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful images of hardworking animals and their love and dedication to humans. My heart yearns for the day when the rights of all animals

rimona avatar
RimonaGherson
Community Member
9 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

you mean slave dogs, sometimes used to torment other animals. disgusting human practices whish should have been obsolete already. EVOLVE!

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