Author's Corner

by Lauren Lewis

Bark & Ride: a tail-wagging adventure

By Mark J. Asher
(Andrews McMeel Publishing)

Humans aren’t the only ones who long to hit the open road. Traveling is perhaps just as thrilling to our furry friends. This whimsical collection of photos captures that sense of excitement and humor that makes loading up your pooch in the car and driving with the windows down all worthwhile—but in this case he’s the one behind the wheel.

Mark J. Asher lives in Ashland, Oregon, with his canine pal, Payton. He is the author and photographer of Barking Up the Family Tree: Kids and Their Animal Kinships and Old Friends: Great Dogs on the Good Life. In the spirit of spring travel, Asher took time to chat with Tails about his latest work.

Tails: Tell us about your pooch, Payton. Does he like to travel?
Mark J. Asher: My dog Payton, a German Shepherd/Lab mix, loves to travel. For him, getting in the car means one of two things, both of which are very exciting. First, we’re going to one of the nearby trails where he can run free and frolic with his canine friends. Second, we’re off on a road trip where he can explore new places, fresh scents and sights, and get attention from new people, which traveling always provides.

Tails: What was your motivation for Bark & Ride?
MA: It has always brought a big smile to my face when I’m going about my day and I turn and see a dog behind the steering wheel of a car, waiting for his or her [guardian] to return. Just that split second when your mind expects to see a human being and instead there is an incredible dog sitting there with a great expression.

Tails: Where did you find your four-legged models for Bark & Ride?
MA: I networked with the dog community where I live, spreading the word and posting fliers at the dog park, vet offices, and at groomers. I actually used my own dog Payton in the book. He’s sitting in the driver’s seat, reading the morning paper, and enjoying a cup of coffee.

Tails: Give us a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the making of Bark & Ride. What was it like trying to get the animals to pose in all those vehicles?
MA: The nice thing about photographing dogs in vehicles is that you can communicate to them where you want them to be and their stimulus to move about is limited by the size of the vehicle. One of my favorite shots in the book is a Mastiff on an old International Tractor. The dog weighed over 100 pounds and it was quite a chore to get the dog up on the seat. But once we did, to the surprise of [her people], she stayed right there.

Tails: What was your favorite part about shooting these images?
MA: As always, working with the dogs. Just meeting all of these sweet, silly, and smart animals. Also, it was a great creative challenge to come up with as many different road scenarios as I could.

For more about the author, visit www.MarkJAsher.com.