Visual Essay Assignment
Dr. Parker - COMPOSITION I - FALL 2024
w visual essay?
I am a “dog person” through and through. Growing up, there was always a dog or two in the house; then, when I moved out on my own, I had two different dogs while I worked on my BA and MA. However, due to my hectic schedule, I had to give both of those dogs to families in need. Fast-forward to September 2023: I found an ad for someone selling bloodhound puppies. For context, I have always loved bloodhounds. One look at his ears, eyes, and face and I was done for.
On his “gotcha day”, I drove three hours to a town in northeast Texas to pick him up. He was 10 weeks old and super wrinkly. He slept the entire ride back home (after this picture was taken).
Copper plays with a bone while giving me a very judgemental stare. (Parker).
"It's all fun and drool, isn't it?"
My experience raising a bloodhound
WOOF
WOOF
Copper poses for the camera (Parker).
in the beginning...
I am a “dog person” through and through. Growing up, there was always a dog or two in the house; then, when I moved out on my own, I had two different dogs while I worked on my BA and MA. However, due to my hectic schedule, I had to give both of those dogs to families in need. Fast-forward to September 2023: I found an ad for someone selling bloodhound puppies. For context, I have always loved bloodhounds. One look at his ears, eyes, and face and I was done for.
On his “gotcha day”, I drove three hours to a town in northeast Texas to pick him up. He was 10 weeks old and super wrinkly. He slept the entire ride back home (after this picture was taken).
Copper plays with a bone while giving me a very judgemental stare. (Parker).
his namesake
- I named him after the hound Copper from The Fox and the Hound.
- And yes--I made him watch the movie as soon as we got home.
- Fun fact: Copper from The Fox and the Hound is technically a beagle!
Copper lays on the couch while watching The Fox and the Hound on TV (Parker).
the first few weeks
For the first few weeks, Copper did a lot of eating, sleeping, and sniffing. At one point, I used a scrunchie to pull up his ears so they wouldn’t get wet/dirty when he ate. My efforts were in vain. Potty training was…rough. Although he had numerous accidents, Copper quickly caught on to the routine of walking to the back door and sitting in front of it when he needed/wanted to go outside (to potty, play, etc.)
Copper eats his dinner (Parker).
Getting Comfortable
Over time, I learned about the different things that make him most comfortable, including phsyical contact. For example, he is always putting a paw on or near my arm if we are on the couch. I have also learned that Copper is afraid of cars, loud noises, and wind; so, if I turn up the volume on my TV or music he gets a bit antsy and starts a low whine.
Copper looks up at me from the ground with a "what the heck?" expression (Parker).
bloodhounds 101
After doing some research, I've found out some pretty cool facts about bloodhounds:
- The bloodhound is the only dog who's evidence is admissible in court. (Kahn)
- You should clean their ears every 3-4 days to avoid the risk of ear infection.
- They are known as one of the more docile dogs to have around families (espeically kids) (AKC).
Copper lays down in the yard outside, waiting for snacks (Parker).
mr. personality
Don't let his floppy ears fool you, though. Copper has a knack for having on-point facial expressions and tone inflection that seems scarily similar to humans. Also, his "what are you doing?" face is on. point.
Copper's eyes are almost as expressive (if not moreso) than his barks (Parker).
copper's favorite things
- Gretting people at the door at PetSmart
- Sniffing everything in sight
puppy school
So far, Copper has completed the beginner puppy school . I think it is super important for dog owners to bring their dogs to at least one of these classes or sessions. The amount I paid was reasonable for six weeks of classes that taught basics: sit, stay, lay down, and so on. He now likes to sit/lay down at the front of PetSmart and greet everyone that walks in--and the employees. He hates leaving, though, and will do almost anything to keep from walking back out the doors. We are enrolled for the intermediate level puppy classes that start at the end of February; my hope is to work on Copper's stubbornness and "heeling".
Copper at his first day of puppy school in late September (Parker).
Copper is bored with the graduation ceremony for puppy school (Parker).
the struggle is real
Like all dogs, it takes a while to get into routine. However, in Copper's case, it seems like it takes triple the amount of patience and effort to work with him on crate training, walks, and simple commands. He is a really intuititve dog, but his stubbornness rivals my own in spades. That stubbornness is the biggest road block in our training right now. Once he latches onto a scent, or something he wants to do, it takes a ton of willpower (and/or treats) to get him back on track. There are many nights where I sit and read as much as I can to try to learn more about the breed, his behaviors, etc. But just reading won't cut it--it takes practice and routine to make a difference.
Copper pouts while he waits for me to throw his bone--his puppy eyes are ridiculous (Parker).
looking ahead
We both have a lot to learn. I need to be more stern with nim when he misbehaves--as well as set a better training schedule at home. Once we finish the intermediate classes, I think I am going to start him in beginner nose work classes so he has a "job" and gets some enjoyment outside of other playful activities like catch, visiting the dog park, and so on. Raising bloodhounds is more than fun and drool--it's long nights, regular routine, and effort on your part (as well as effort from your dog). In the end, I am happy that I gave Copper a forever home and am excited to learn more about him, and about bloodhounds, in the future.
Copper looks off in the distance to see what made a unique sound (Parker).
Works Cited
"Bloodhound." American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bloodhound/. Accessed 10 January 2024. Kahn, Robert. "Dogs for the Prosecution." Courthouse News Service, 13 August 2021. https://www.courthousenews.com/dogs-for-the-prosecution/. Accessed 10 January 2024. Parker, Salena. Copper poses for the camera. 5 Jan. 2024. Author’s personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper plays with a bone while giving me a very judgemental stare. 10 Sep. 2023. Author’s personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper lays on the couch while watching The Fox and the Hound on TV. 10 Sep. 2023. Author’s personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper eats his dinner. 10 Sep. 2023. Author’s personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper looks up at me from the ground with a "what the heck?" expression. 15 Sep. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper lays down in the yard outside, waiting for snacks. 18 Oct. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper's eyes are almost as expressive (if not moreso) than his barks. 14 Dec. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper at his first day of puppy school in late September. 30 Sep. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper is bored with the graduation ceremony for puppy school. 4 Nov. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper pouts while he waits for me to throw his bone--his puppy eyes are ridiculous. 6 Jan. 2024. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper looks off in the distance to see what made a unique sound. 8 Jan. 2024. Author's personal collection.
Teaching Demo-Visual Essay
Salena Parker
Created on April 22, 2024
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Corporate Christmas Presentation
View
Snow Presentation
View
Nature Presentation
View
Halloween Presentation
View
Tarot Presentation
View
Winter Presentation
View
Vaporwave presentation
Explore all templates
Transcript
Visual Essay Assignment
Dr. Parker - COMPOSITION I - FALL 2024
w visual essay?
I am a “dog person” through and through. Growing up, there was always a dog or two in the house; then, when I moved out on my own, I had two different dogs while I worked on my BA and MA. However, due to my hectic schedule, I had to give both of those dogs to families in need. Fast-forward to September 2023: I found an ad for someone selling bloodhound puppies. For context, I have always loved bloodhounds. One look at his ears, eyes, and face and I was done for. On his “gotcha day”, I drove three hours to a town in northeast Texas to pick him up. He was 10 weeks old and super wrinkly. He slept the entire ride back home (after this picture was taken).
Copper plays with a bone while giving me a very judgemental stare. (Parker).
"It's all fun and drool, isn't it?"
My experience raising a bloodhound
WOOF
WOOF
Copper poses for the camera (Parker).
in the beginning...
I am a “dog person” through and through. Growing up, there was always a dog or two in the house; then, when I moved out on my own, I had two different dogs while I worked on my BA and MA. However, due to my hectic schedule, I had to give both of those dogs to families in need. Fast-forward to September 2023: I found an ad for someone selling bloodhound puppies. For context, I have always loved bloodhounds. One look at his ears, eyes, and face and I was done for. On his “gotcha day”, I drove three hours to a town in northeast Texas to pick him up. He was 10 weeks old and super wrinkly. He slept the entire ride back home (after this picture was taken).
Copper plays with a bone while giving me a very judgemental stare. (Parker).
his namesake
Copper lays on the couch while watching The Fox and the Hound on TV (Parker).
the first few weeks
For the first few weeks, Copper did a lot of eating, sleeping, and sniffing. At one point, I used a scrunchie to pull up his ears so they wouldn’t get wet/dirty when he ate. My efforts were in vain. Potty training was…rough. Although he had numerous accidents, Copper quickly caught on to the routine of walking to the back door and sitting in front of it when he needed/wanted to go outside (to potty, play, etc.)
Copper eats his dinner (Parker).
Getting Comfortable
Over time, I learned about the different things that make him most comfortable, including phsyical contact. For example, he is always putting a paw on or near my arm if we are on the couch. I have also learned that Copper is afraid of cars, loud noises, and wind; so, if I turn up the volume on my TV or music he gets a bit antsy and starts a low whine.
Copper looks up at me from the ground with a "what the heck?" expression (Parker).
bloodhounds 101
After doing some research, I've found out some pretty cool facts about bloodhounds:
Copper lays down in the yard outside, waiting for snacks (Parker).
mr. personality
Don't let his floppy ears fool you, though. Copper has a knack for having on-point facial expressions and tone inflection that seems scarily similar to humans. Also, his "what are you doing?" face is on. point.
Copper's eyes are almost as expressive (if not moreso) than his barks (Parker).
copper's favorite things
puppy school
So far, Copper has completed the beginner puppy school . I think it is super important for dog owners to bring their dogs to at least one of these classes or sessions. The amount I paid was reasonable for six weeks of classes that taught basics: sit, stay, lay down, and so on. He now likes to sit/lay down at the front of PetSmart and greet everyone that walks in--and the employees. He hates leaving, though, and will do almost anything to keep from walking back out the doors. We are enrolled for the intermediate level puppy classes that start at the end of February; my hope is to work on Copper's stubbornness and "heeling".
Copper at his first day of puppy school in late September (Parker).
Copper is bored with the graduation ceremony for puppy school (Parker).
the struggle is real
Like all dogs, it takes a while to get into routine. However, in Copper's case, it seems like it takes triple the amount of patience and effort to work with him on crate training, walks, and simple commands. He is a really intuititve dog, but his stubbornness rivals my own in spades. That stubbornness is the biggest road block in our training right now. Once he latches onto a scent, or something he wants to do, it takes a ton of willpower (and/or treats) to get him back on track. There are many nights where I sit and read as much as I can to try to learn more about the breed, his behaviors, etc. But just reading won't cut it--it takes practice and routine to make a difference.
Copper pouts while he waits for me to throw his bone--his puppy eyes are ridiculous (Parker).
looking ahead
We both have a lot to learn. I need to be more stern with nim when he misbehaves--as well as set a better training schedule at home. Once we finish the intermediate classes, I think I am going to start him in beginner nose work classes so he has a "job" and gets some enjoyment outside of other playful activities like catch, visiting the dog park, and so on. Raising bloodhounds is more than fun and drool--it's long nights, regular routine, and effort on your part (as well as effort from your dog). In the end, I am happy that I gave Copper a forever home and am excited to learn more about him, and about bloodhounds, in the future.
Copper looks off in the distance to see what made a unique sound (Parker).
Works Cited
"Bloodhound." American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bloodhound/. Accessed 10 January 2024. Kahn, Robert. "Dogs for the Prosecution." Courthouse News Service, 13 August 2021. https://www.courthousenews.com/dogs-for-the-prosecution/. Accessed 10 January 2024. Parker, Salena. Copper poses for the camera. 5 Jan. 2024. Author’s personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper plays with a bone while giving me a very judgemental stare. 10 Sep. 2023. Author’s personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper lays on the couch while watching The Fox and the Hound on TV. 10 Sep. 2023. Author’s personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper eats his dinner. 10 Sep. 2023. Author’s personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper looks up at me from the ground with a "what the heck?" expression. 15 Sep. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper lays down in the yard outside, waiting for snacks. 18 Oct. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper's eyes are almost as expressive (if not moreso) than his barks. 14 Dec. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper at his first day of puppy school in late September. 30 Sep. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper is bored with the graduation ceremony for puppy school. 4 Nov. 2023. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper pouts while he waits for me to throw his bone--his puppy eyes are ridiculous. 6 Jan. 2024. Author's personal collection. Parker, Salena. Copper looks off in the distance to see what made a unique sound. 8 Jan. 2024. Author's personal collection.