Personalities

For people who don't know dogs from Adam, a dog is a dog is a dog. For people who know dogs, this is, of course, bunk. Sure they've all got some obvious similarities, like they tend to walk on four feet, are inclined to pee on posts, live life to the fullest and in the moment (hence the peeing on posts, I suspect), and are loyal to a fault, but otherwise, it doesn't take much effort or insight to see that each and every dog is about as different as each and every person. Even within similar breeds, there are vast differences in personality. Some dogs are extroverts, some are introverts. Some are comedians, some are drama queens. Some love a good rowdy time, some prefer not to get their hair ruffled. Some like to eat their vegetables, some don't. Some like punk rock, some like classical. The list is endless.

We've been told over and over that we shouldn't anthropomorphize dogs (or any other animals for that matter). I say, we don't anthropomorphize them enough. Obviously, dogs don't communicate the same way humans do, and they don't reason the same way some humans do, but to wholly neglect the fact that each and every dog has a different personality is to turn a blind eye to something wonderful and it closes the door to discovering that wonder. Humans have shared their lives with dogs for ten thousand or more years now so it's no wonder that our partners on this planet are as varied as we are. After all, we made them that way, to reflect that which is best in us.

I photograph the dogs at Toronto Animal Services South for their adoption website. Here are some of the greatest personalities I've had the pleasure to meet.