WELL HEELED

Pet Parents

After years of photographing people at close range, Dougie Wallace turned his camera on man’s best friend. Well Heeled looks at the strange world of pet parents, where dogs are groomed, dressed and accessorised as if they were children.

Some owners treat their dogs like little humans. Crystal collars, designer leads, elaborate outfits and dog prams become extensions of the owner’s own taste, identity and status. After a while, some of the dogs even seem to forget that they are dogs at all.

But the photographs keep bringing us back to the dogs themselves. At ankle height, Wallace captures their claws, paw pads, incisors, drool-drenched beards and wet noses. Behind the careful grooming and expensive accessories, they remain gloriously animal: distracted, watchful, impatient and occasionally desperate to get away.

The mood changes from city to city. Milan brings glamour and theatrical dressing. London offers its own mixture of eccentricity, rain and practical dog gear. New York is more battered and impatient, with dogs that look like commuters dragged out into the street before they were ready. Tokyo adds another layer of care, style and urban ritual.

Wallace’s direct flash gives the dogs the presence of human portrait subjects. Their eyes meet the camera with suspicion, curiosity, boredom, anxiety and sometimes complete disbelief. Some seem to understand the performance, while others look as if they would rather be chasing rabbits, chewing bones or sleeping on the sofa.

The humour comes from seeing people projected onto their animals. The dogs often appear more honest than their owners. They are not trying to look fashionable, successful or in control. They are simply standing there, waiting for the walk to end.

Well Heeled is a portrait of the strange, affectionate and sometimes ridiculous lengths to which we will go for the animals we call family.