‘He calls him my brother’: The special bond between owners and their dogs

When it was suggested that my next book of photographs focus on dogs, I was initially hesitant. Not because I don’t love dogs – quite the contrary, I believe they are superior beings – but the pressure to create something that reflected this was immense. Based on my previous books, the obvious direction would have been to capture dogs in cute outfits with their equally stylish owners – Doggy Style, if you will. But I wanted to delve deeper.

What is it about these extraordinary beings that captures our hearts and forms unbreakable bonds that transform us for the better? I experienced this bond with my late dog Baxter and my current little French guy, Sebastian.

I wanted to explore this incredibly layered relationship through other human-canine friendships.

I embarked on a journey around the world. My mission was to document the unique ways in which dogs and their humans coexist in concrete jungles. I encountered people with their four-legged companions and engaged them in a thought-provoking conversation: “If your dog could talk, what would they say about you?” This question sparked warm smiles and heartfelt responses, revealing the unique personalities and connections between dogs and their best friends.

Dog’s Best Friend (Smith Street Books) by Giuseppe Santamaria is out now.

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