How to be a dog photographer

Dec 27, 2018
We go behind the lens with a photographer of four-legged subjects.
Ellen Shershow tries to capture the unique personality of each pet she photographs.
Courtesy of Ellen Shershow

That dog you love so much on Instagram? His owner is probably making thousands of dollars a post

Nov 22, 2018
Pet owners flocked to the second annual PetCon to learn how to turn their pets into social media stars.
A dog poses for a portrait at the 2018 PetCon held at the Javits Center in New York City. 

 
Jana Kasperkevic for Marketplace

Consumers are "humanizing" their pets and paying the premium prices

Nov 6, 2018
Americans spent nearly $70 billion on their pets last year — roughly half on food alone.
Purina offers canned dog food at different price points. Alpo costs 85 cents a can at a Kansas City grocery store, while the company’s premium product, Beyond, is $1.85.
Peggy Lowe/KCUR

She's a trainer who was schooled by dogs

Oct 26, 2018
She did it for the love of Lola, a rescue. Then it became her profession.
Some of Renee Bogaarts' furriest clients.
Courtesy of Renee Bogaarts

She's a trainer who was schooled by dogs

Oct 26, 2018
She did it for the love of Lola, a rescue. Then it became her profession.
Some of Renee Bogaarts' furriest clients.
Courtesy of Renee Bogaarts

Does your dog really need "natural" food?

Feb 23, 2018
General Mills is set to pay $8 billion for pet food maker Blue Buffalo. That’s the company that markets, among other products, “farm-to-table canine cuisine.” Here’s what’s behind this deal — and why this market is so red hot. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

What rescue puppies teach us about supply and demand

Dec 7, 2017
Puppies sometimes make cross-country journeys to meet adoption demands.
Kelly Brown drives the Brother Wolf van through Rutherford County, North Carolina on her way to receive dogs for the trip to Connecticut.
Timothy O'Connell for Topic

For public good, not for profit.

Why it's so hard to qualify as a dog walker

Oct 13, 2017
Laine Higgins wanted to earn some extra cash. So she applied for a job as a dog walker in New York City with one of the many on-demand dog-walking services. And was denied. “I got one question wrong on the safety test, and I think what did me in was all of the questions they […]

How to help your pup keep calm and carry on this Fourth of July

Jun 30, 2017
Firework pharmacopeia for our furry friends.
A dog wearing an American flag.
Hector Retamal/AFP/GettyImages