I didn't set out to be a pet shooter, but now I look forward to the opportunity to spend time with owners and their loved ones. Getting a dog to perk its ears up can be more difficult than getting a 2-year-old to stay on set, but the result is rewarding.
Get down!
Or up or closer or wherever you need to be to get the shot. Don't depend on your camera's zoom to get close if you can close part of the distance the old fashioned way. The best application of this is to shoot at your subject's eye level, especially when photographing a child.