Loose Leashes - Hardcover

Amy Schmidt has been writing children’s poetry and short stories for several years.

Ron Schmidt studied photography in college and worked with several high fashion and celebrity photographers before opening his own studio.

Ron and Amy live in the Northeast with their two children, Rory and Tess, and their gigantic white dog. They enjoy spending time with their family and advocating for animal welfare and literacy causes.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to dog photography: (1) action snapshots, complete with mud and drool, and (2) posed portraits, complete with concepts and props. The Schmidts take the latter approach in this handsomely shot collection of cute doggies placed into all kinds of goofy scenarios. You’ll find a corgi driving a car, a Weimaraner on ice skates, a pug wearing swimming goggles, and a bathing Lab with a rubber ducky on his head. The look and feel is one of a 12-month calendar, with some photos in bright colors, others in sepia tones or black and white. Each photograph is paired with rhyming text of varying lengths. Some of the attempts at humor fall flat, but much of it complements the pictures nicely (“I need a little privacy,  / Some quiet time to think. / So if you’ll kindly draw my bath, / I’ll soak here in the sink,” says a tiny Yorkie).  The “Furry Facts” in the back matter give insight into each pooch, though breed names are a glaring omission. Grades K-2. --Daniel Kraus