Old Faithful: Studio Portraits of Really Old Dogs

Oct 21, 2014

Michael Zhang

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Toronto-based photographer Pete Thorne has been shooting a series of studio portraits of dogs. Not just any dogs, though: Thorne is only accepting subjects that are “really, really old.” The project is titled “Old Faithful,” and now includes over 50 dogs.

Thorne says that he receives multiple inquiries per day from owners who would like to see their dog included in the series. Oftentimes the dogs will have interesting backstories that shed some light on their lives.

Here are some of the photographs captured so far:

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"Meet Stella the 12yr old, one-eyed wonder Chihuahua! The little head tilt gives this tough girl a bit of deserved attitude." — “Meet Stella the 12yr old, one-eyed wonder Chihuahua! The little head tilt gives this tough girl a bit of deserved attitude.”

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"I shot Clovis shortly after his 14th birthday and sadly he passed away not too long after this portrait was taken." — “I shot Clovis shortly after his 14th birthday and sadly he passed away not too long after this portrait was taken.”

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"Meet Elmo, he's a 14 year old pitbull and the first old doggie I shot for the Old Faithful photo project. He's straight up smiling for his portrait!" — “Meet Elmo, he’s a 14 year old pitbull and the first old doggie I shot for the Old Faithful photo project. He’s straight up smiling for his portrait!”

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"Say hi to Weezee! Although this 10yr old Pug mix looks a little concerned about having her photo taken, she was very well behaved and one of the easiest to photograph!" — “Say hi to Weezee! Although this 10yr old Pug mix looks a little concerned about having her photo taken, she was very well behaved and one of the easiest to photograph!”

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"Meet Fink, the 14yr old Chinese Crested (yup hairless!). As his owner Laura says he's "bumpy, lumpy, grey and hanging in there"!" — “Meet Fink, the 14yr old Chinese Crested (yup hairless!). As his owner Laura says he’s “bumpy, lumpy, grey and hanging in there”!”

"Meet Finnegan! Finnegan is a Brussels Griffon smooth coat or a Petit Brabançon. He has a red coat. He is 12.5 years old. He weighs 6 lbs and is small for his breed. When he lived in Montreal, he went by his French name: Finni le Poo. He has a heart murmur, and has had multiple teeth pulled, otherwise he is in great health for his age." — “Meet Finnegan! Finnegan is a Brussels Griffon smooth coat or a Petit Brabançon. He has a red coat. He is 12.5 years old. He weighs 6 lbs and is small for his breed. When he lived in Montreal, he went by his French name: Finni le Poo. He has a heart murmur, and has had multiple teeth pulled, otherwise he is in great health for his age.”

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"Meet Jackson, a 14yr old Black Lab mix. There's something about the expression on his face that seems like he is peering into your soul." — “Meet Jackson, a 14yr old Black Lab mix. There’s something about the expression on his face that seems like he is peering into your soul.”

"Mance is a 13yr Old English Bulldog, a breed close to my heart. He has bone cancer that adds a lot of character to his face. He's in a pretty fragile state so I made my first trip out of the home studio to photograph him, in all his asymmetrical charm." — “Mance is a 13yr Old English Bulldog, a breed close to my heart. He has bone cancer that adds a lot of character to his face. He’s in a pretty fragile state so I made my first trip out of the home studio to photograph him, in all his asymmetrical charm.”

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"Meet Hazel. She was named after Hazel McCallion, the Mayor of Mississauga. This tough old gal had both her eyes removed due to pain and no tear production, and has 5 microchips from being re-chipped every time she was sold to a new puppy mill. Luckily she was rescued and adopted by Blanche Axton." — “Meet Hazel. She was named after Hazel McCallion, the Mayor of Mississauga. This tough old gal had both her eyes removed due to pain and no tear production, and has 5 microchips from being re-chipped every time she was sold to a new puppy mill. Luckily she was rescued and adopted by Blanche Axton.”

Thorne is hoping to put on a photo show and publish a coffee table book with the photos created for this project. New images are regularly posted to Facebook and Instagram. If you’re in the Toronto area and would like to see your old and faithful companion included in the project, you can get in touch with Thorne.

Image credits: Photographs by Pete Thorne and used with permission

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