All photos © Carol Beuchat.

Carol Beuchat started photographing dogs in 1999 while in South Africa as an Honorary Professor at the Univ. of Cape Town. Since returning to the States in 2003 Beuchat has been dedicated to dog photography full time. She explains, “Dogs are such interesting animals, perhaps more than we generally realize if we only see them as pets.  At the dog park, the leash is off,  the dogs are free to interact with each other (if the owners will let them), and what you can observe is real canine behavior.  I started photographing at the dog park while there with my own dogs, and I was astonished at the amazing facial expressions, the athletic maneuvers, and all the teeth on display while they played each other. As fierce as the dogs might look in photos, they are very careful not to hurt one another, and they even seem to calibrate the roughness of play to the size and age of the playmate.  I’ve come to really appreciate how differently dogs play with each other than they do with people, and also that providing dogs with the opportunity just to be with other dogs really enriches their lives.”

Beuchat recently self published DOGSPLAY: The Joy of Being a Dog, which is available in hardcover from Blurb or as an eBook on her website.

© Carli Davidson

A portrait of Mane, a Dogue de Bordeaux. The disproportionately large head of this breed makes it an ideal candidate for Carli Davidson’s series “Shake,” an exploration of the unique shapes and textures created when dogs shake their heads. More images from Davidson’s series can be seen in the PDN Faces 2011 online gallery.

A Chihuahua and a Great Dane size each other up in this tense standoff. David Allan Brandt’s canine portrait was included in the winners gallery of the 2009 PDN Best Friends contest. The 2010 Contest is currently open for entries until October 15. A People’s Choice winner will also be selected.

A befuddled pooch deals with mixed emotions in this portrait of man’s best friend by Jonathan Canlas. More images from some of the best wedding photographers around can be seen in the Top Knots 2010 Winners Gallery.

Photo by Camille Cier.

Photo by Michael Kloth: “Part of my ongoing series working with humane society animals.”

Photo by Ixiana Hernandez: “During a studio session Beanie showed me her magnificent tongue in a daring yet classy move:), it was my favorite shot of the session.”

Photo by Pat Swain: “My friend, Hayla, has five cats. But this Oriental, Rex, looking at us is her soulmate.”

Photo by MurphyDogStudios.com: “Chick the Boxer at four months old. Part of a series of images capturing the life of my boxer.”

Photo by Kurt W. Baumgartner: “A frontal face shot at eye level of a Komodo Dragon; taken in the wild on Komodo Island, Indonesia.”

Photo by Michael C. Rathsam: “Captured during photo shoot of one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met.”

Photo by Terry Berenson: “My dear friend Ellie, with one of her dozen rescue dogs, at her mountain home in Sedona, Arizona.”

Photo by Lindsay Flanagan: “George, the French Bulldog, just moments after sticking his face in a muddy stream in Central Park.”

Photo by Seung Hun Cha: “Waiting for his family in his apartment all day long…”

Photo by Jennie Warren.

Photo by Brooke Jacobs: “A thoughtful moment.”

Photo by Kelli Brinkley: “Guido doing his best camel inpersonation.”

Photo by Alexa Miller

Photo by Mia A. Lalanne

Photo by Mike Raabe: “While on a trip to Guadalupe Island in Mexican waters, this female great white named “Snow White” got up close and personal, ultimately sticking her head into my cage to say HI!”

Photo by Malia Rae

Photo by Michael Kloth: “Part of my ongoing series working with humane society animals.”

Photo by Lisa Shifflett: “Tally, waits with utmost patience for another shovelful of snow to be thrown on his face. March 3, 2009, New Jersey.”

Photo by Antonio Encarnacion: “It’s funny how a dog will pose for you when you flash a treat in front of the camera and just maybe crack a smile.”