One Breed at a Time: My Goal to Photograph Every Dog Breed

Some photography goals are about learning a new technique, trying a different location, or pushing yourself creatively. And then there are the goals that are a little bigger, a little crazier, and a whole lot more fun.

Mine? Photograph every single dog breed on my list.

Yes, every one of them.

The list? Well its extensive! It covers every AKC breed and then some!

From the breeds I see all the time to the ones that might make people stop and ask, “Wait, what kind of dog is that?” I want to photograph them all. Every personality, every quirky little habit, every unique face, every fluffy ear, curly tail, and distinguished snoot. My goal is to celebrate just how wonderfully different dogs can be, one photo session at a time.

I've been keeping a running list of breeds (at the bottom), checking them off as I photograph them. Some are already crossed off, and there are still plenty waiting for their turn in front of my camera. Every time I get to mark another breed as DONE, it feels like a little victory.

And my latest victory came in a very small, very adorable package.

Meet Arlo, a Japanese Chin with a pretty impressive party trick.

Meet Arlo: Tiny Dog, Big Personality

Some dogs bring their good looks to a session with an air of royalty. Others bring a little extra entertainment.

Arlo, a Japanese Chin, brought both.

Japanese Chins are such charming little dogs, with their elegant coats, expressive eyes, and unmistakably regal look. There's something about them that makes them seem like they should be lounging on a velvet pillow somewhere, accepting compliments from their loyal subjects.

But Arlo had another talent that stole the show.

He AWOOs on command.

Yes, you read that correctly. This little guy can let out an AWOoo right when he's asked. And if there's one thing I love during a dog photography session, it's a dog who brings a little unexpected magic to the experience.

Of course, my job is to capture the personality in front of my camera, and Arlo made that easy. Getting to photograph a breed that's been waiting on my list is exciting on its own, but getting to meet a dog with such a memorable trick makes the experience even better.

There's always something special about discovering the little things that make each dog uniquely themselves. Sometimes it's a goofy grin, sometimes it's a signature head tilt, and sometimes it's a perfectly timed AWOooo.

Arlo definitely gave me something to remember.

More Than Just Checking a Box

You might think photographing every dog breed is simply a matter of working through a list. Find a dog, schedule a session, take the photos, and check off the breed.

But it's so much more than that.

Every breed has its own history, physical characteristics, and personality tendencies. And every individual dog brings something different to the table. Even when I've photographed dogs that look similar, no two sessions are ever quite the same.

Some dogs are natural-born models. Some need a little time to warm up. Some are busy investigating every blade of grass in the vicinity. And some, like Arlo, have a special talent that turns an ordinary session into something unforgettable.

That's what makes this goal so exciting to me. I'm not just collecting portraits of different breeds. I'm getting to know individual dogs and celebrating what makes them special.

And let's be honest: getting to spend time with all these dogs is a pretty wonderful reason to keep going.

The List Is Growing, One Breed at a Time

I've been keeping track of every breed I've photographed, and the list is a mix of familiar favorites, unique rarities, and breeds I'm especially excited to meet.

Some boxes already have DONE next to them. Others are still waiting patiently for their moment.

With so many breeds out there, this is definitely a long-term project. There are sporting dogs, hounds, working dogs, terriers, toy breeds, herding dogs, and so many others to explore. Some breeds are easy to find, while others will require a little more searching and planning.

That's part of the adventure.

I love the idea of looking back someday and seeing a collection that represents the incredible diversity of dogs. A collection full of different sizes, coats, expressions, and personalities, with each portrait telling its own little story.

And every time I photograph a new breed, I get one step closer.

With Arlo, I can officially cross Japanese Chin off the list.

One more breed photographed. One more story captured. One more reason to keep chasing this goal.

Who's Next?

The fun part is that I never quite know what the next session will bring. Maybe it'll be a breed I've admired for years. Maybe it'll be one I haven't had the chance to photograph before. Maybe my next model will have a talent that makes me laugh just as much as Arlo's AWOooo.

Wherever this project takes me, I know there are going to be a lot of wonderful dogs, a lot of memorable sessions, and hopefully a whole lot of photos that show just how special our four-legged companions really are.

So, if you share your life with a dog whose breed is still waiting to be checked off my list, I'd love to hear from you!

Your dog doesn't need to know how to pose, perform tricks, or sit perfectly still for the camera. They just need to be themselves. Wiggles, zoomies, silly expressions, and all.

Because this goal isn't about finding perfect dogs.

It's about celebrating every kind of dog, one breed and one unforgettable session at a time.

And Arlo? Thank you for the adorable portraits, the personality, and the AWOooo. You made checking off Japanese Chin a pretty memorable experience!

Breed progress: Japanese Chin DONE! 

Breed List:

Brittany - DONE

Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Wirehaired Pointer

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Flat-Coated Retriever - DONE

Golden Retriever - DONE

Labrador Retriever - DONE

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

English Setter - DONE

Irish Setter

Red and White Setter

Gordon Setter

American Water Spaniel

Boykin Spaniel - DONE

Clumber Spaniel

Cocker Spaniel - DONE

English Cocker Spaniel

English Springer Spaniel - DONE

Field Spaniel

Irish Water Spaniel

Sussex Spaniel

Welsh Spaniel

Springer Spaniel - DONE

English Toy Spaniel

Vizsla

Weimaraner

Wirehaired Vizsla

Spinone Italiano

Lagotto Romagnolo - DONE

Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

Afghan Hound

American English Coonhound

American Foxhound

Basenji

Basset Hound

Beagle - DONE

Black and Tan Coonhound

Bloodhound

Bluetick Coonhound - DONE

Borzoi - DONE

Cirneco dell'Etna

Dachshund - DONE

English Foxhound

Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen

Greyhound - DONE

Harrier

Ibizan Hound

Irish Wolfhound - DONE

Norwegian Elkhound - DONE

Otterhound

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Pharaoh Hound

Plott

Portuguese Podengo Pequeno

Redbone Coonhound

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Saluki

Scottish Deerhound

Sloughi

Treeing Walker Coonhound

Whippet - DONE

Basset Fauve de Bretagne

Akita

Alaskan Malamute

Anatolian Shepherd

Bernese Mountain Dog - DONE

Black Russian Terrier

Boerboel

Boxer

Bullmastiff

Cane Corso - DONE

Chinook

Doberman Pinscher - DONE

Dogo Argentino

Dogue de Bordeaux

German Pinscher

Giant Schnauzer

Great Dane - DONE

Great Pyrenees

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Komondor

Kuvasz

Leonberger - DONE

Mastiff

Neapolitan Mastiff

Newfoundland - DONE

Portuguese Water Dog

Rottweiler - DONE

Samoyed

Siberian Husky

Standard Schnauzer

Tibetan Mastiff

Saint Bernard

Airedale Terrier

American Hairless Terrier - DONE

American Staffordshire Terrier

Australian Terrier

Bedlington Terrier

Border Terrier - DONE

Bull Terrier

Cairn Terrier

Cesky Terrier

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Smooth Fox Terrier

Wire Fox Terrier

Glen of Imaal Terrier

Irish Terrier

Kerry Blue Terrier

Lakeland Terrier

Manchester Terrier (Standard)

Miniature Bull Terrier

Miniature Schnauzer - DONE

Norfolk Terrier

Norwich Terrier

Parson Russell Terrier

Rat Terrier - DONE

Russell Terrier

Scottish Terrier

Sealyham Terrier

Skye Terrier

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Welsh Terrier

West Highland White Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

Affenpinscher

Brussels Griffon

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Chihuahua

Chinese Crested

English Toy Spaniel

Havanese

Italian Greyhound - DONE

Japanese Chin - DONE

Maltese

Miniature Pinscher

Papillon - DONE

Pekingese

Pomeranian

Toy Poodle

Pug - DONE

Russian Toy

Shih Tzu

Silky Terrier

Toy Fox Terrier

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka

Biewer Terrier

Coton de Tulear

American Eskimo Dog

Bichon Frise

Boston Terrier - DONE

Bulldog - DONE

Chinese Shar-Pei

Chow Chow - DONE

Coton de Tulear

Dalmatian - DONE

Finnish Spitz

French Bulldog

Keeshond

Lhasa Apso

Lowchen

Norwegian Lundehund

Standard Poodle - DONE

Miniature Poodle

Schipperke - DONE

Shiba Inu

Tibetan Spaniel

Tibetan Terrier

Xoloitzcuintli - DONE

Australian Cattle Dog - DONE

Australian Shepherd - DONE

Bearded Collie

Beauceron - DONE

Belgian Laekenois

Belgian Malinois - DONE

Belgian Sheepdog

Belgian Tervuren - DONE

Bergamasco

Berger Picard

Border Collie - DONE

Bouvier des Flandres

Briard

Canaan Dog

Cardigan Welsh Corgi - DONE

Collie

Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Finnish Lapphund

German Shepherd Dog - DONE

Icelandic Sheepdog

Lancashire Heeler

Miniature American Shepherd

Mudi

Norwegian Buhund

Old English Sheepdog

Pembroke Welsh Corgi - DONE

Polish Lowland Sheepdog

Puli

Pumi

Pyrenean Shepherd

Shetland Sheepdog - DONE

Spanish Water Dog

Swedish Vallhund - DONE

Basset Fauve de Bretagne

Danish-Swedish Farmdog

Dutch Shepherd - DONE

Japanese Akitainu

Kai Ken

Norrbottenspets

Peruvian Inca Orchid

Portuguese Podengo

Teddy Roosevelt Terrier

American Leopard Hound

Czechoslovakian Vlciak

Central Asian Shepherd

Silken Windhound - DONE

American Pitbull Terrier - DONE