Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Photographer captures dogs' hilarious expressions as they attempt to eat sticky peanut butter

Hold the jelly! Photographer captures dogs' hilarious expressions as they attempt to eat sticky peanut butter

  • Greg Murray has created the series 'For The Love Of Peanut Butter' capturing dogs' hilarious reactions to the spread
  • Greg has photographed around 50 mutts including both mixed and pure breeds producing a book of his work
  • He first had the idea while trying to find ways to make his own dog keep still during a photo shoot  
An American photographer has created a portrait series capturing the weird and amusing expressions of dogs enjoying peanut butter.

Greg Murray, from Cleveland, Ohio, has snapped around 50 mutts having a taste of the popular spread for his series, For The Love Of Peanut Butter.

From Chihuahuas to Great Danes, the 34-year-old has snapped all kinds of different breeds licking their lips and flapping their jaws.

An American photographer has captured the hilarious expressions of dogs after they have been given a taste of peanut butter. Pictured: Ozzie the Shepherd and Lab mix appears to smile after his nutty treat
An American photographer has captured the hilarious expressions of dogs after they have been given a taste of peanut butter. Pictured: Ozzie the Shepherd and Lab mix appears to smile after his nutty treat

'Dogs do like peanut butter but most actually love it,' said Greg, who has been photographing animals since 2009.

'The faces they make while eating it tend to be hilarious. They drool, their eyes widen and their tongues do things you didn't think were possible. About 50 dogs have been photographed so far.
'Many of the dogs in the series are rescued mixes. Outside of the mixes, about 15 of the 50 dogs are specific breeds. In the end, I expect to photograph close to 80 different dogs for the series. About 20-25 of those will be specific breeds.'

Greg Murray has been photographing the dogs since 2009 creating the series 'For the Love of Peanut Butter'. Pictured: Kingston the Rottweiler chows down on the spread
Greg Murray has been photographing the dogs since 2009 creating the series 'For the Love of Peanut Butter'. Pictured: Kingston the Rottweiler chows down on the spread

Mocha the Chihuahua munches the nutty spread
Greg has photographed around 50 dogs including mixed breeds like Tucker
Greg has photographed around 50 dogs including both mixed and pure breeds. Pictured: Mocha the Chihuahua (left) Tucker mix (right)

Greg says that dogs love peanut butter and produce great expressions while eating it. Chance the Bichon Frise 
Greg says that dogs love peanut butter and produce great expressions while eating it. Chance the Bichon Frise 

Greg came up with the series after he was trying to take photos of his rescued mastiff Bailey.

He was trying to take a funny photo of her but was struggling to get the perfect shot when he decided to use peanut butter.

Greg said: 'About two years ago, before I even had a studio, I took a photo of me and my fiancé's rescued Mastiff. Bailey was a beautiful dog with a range of funny faces due to her large jowls, tongue and constant drooling.

'I was having difficulty getting a funny photo of her one day and gave her some peanut butter. The face I captured in the photo was hilarious and it will forever be one of my favorite photos.

'A 2' x 2' canvas of this photo greets our guests when they walk through the front door of our home. Our goal is to make people laugh with it and it usually works. She passed before turning three and we'll always be able to remember her by that photo.'

The photographer first came up with the idea while trying to take a picture of his Mastiff Bailey (pictured) and using peanut butter to try and keep him sitting still
The photographer first came up with the idea while trying to take a picture of his Mastiff Bailey (pictured) and using peanut butter to try and keep him sitting still

Greg also photographs pooches in pairs such as these two French Bulldogs Hall and Oates who battle for peanut butter 
Greg also photographs pooches in pairs such as these two French Bulldogs Hall and Oates who battle for peanut butter

Labrador mix Sadie seems to be very intrigued by the smell of her friend Pite in this amusing shot from Greg 
Labrador mix Sadie seems to be very intrigued by the smell of her friend Pite in this amusing shot from Greg 

After Bailey became the first dog of the series, Greg went on to photograph many canines including his other dogs Leo and Kensie.

The dogs were photographed in ten-minute sessions, which does require a fair amount of patience, but Greg usually comes away with 100-200 photos per shoot.

As much as dogs seem to love peanut butter, it is also very important to not give your pet too much and to always check the label.

Greg said: 'During a ten minute session, we'll give them a few tastes of peanut butter and I could come away with 100-200 photos of which I have to choose my favorite one or two. 

'They're all so consumed with eating the peanut butter that they'll sit in one spot until their finished.

'It is OK to give dogs peanut butter if it's the right kind and done in moderation. Just like humans, too much of anything isn't good for a dog. These photos were taken during very short sessions where the dogs were given a small amount of peanut butter.

The dogs were photographed in ten-minute sessions, which does require a fair amount of patience, but Greg usually comes away with 100-200 photos per shoot. Pictured: Peanut - a Doxie and Staff mix - enthusiastically licks her lips 
The dogs were photographed in ten-minute sessions, which does require a fair amount of patience, but Greg usually comes away with 100-200 photos per shoot. Pictured: Peanut - a Doxie and Staff mix - enthusiastically licks her lips 

Both of these mutts appears to be trying to reach the last bit of peanut butter on their noses
Cosmo the Golden Doodle
Both of these mutts appears to be trying to reach the last bit of peanut butter on their noses. Pictured: Carmela a pitt mix (left) and Cosmo the Golden Doodle (right)

The peanut butter keeps the dogs distracted enough to sit still during the photo sessions. Pictured: Poe the pit mix 
The peanut butter keeps the dogs distracted enough to sit still during the photo sessions. Pictured: Poe the pit mix 

'It is imperative to understand that not all peanut butter brands are safe for dogs. Read the labels and do you research before giving anything to your dog. Avoid peanut butters with Xylitol. It's very dangerous for them.'

Greg is now planning to complete For the Love of Peanut Butter later this year and turn the series into a book.

He recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to finish the series and help towards the book, which has already smashed the $3,750 target.

Greg added: 'As a photographer, my number one job isn't to take photos. It's to make people happy. It just so happens I do that by taking photos. 

'The photos I take of dogs eating peanut butter make people laugh. It makes me feel so good inside to provide a source of laughter and happiness to others.

'That's why I'm doing this series and coming out with the book. I want to make people around the world laugh.' 

As much as dogs seem to love peanut butter, it is also very important to not give your pet too much and to always check the label.
Rocco a pit mix licks the roof of his mouth
As much as dogs seem to love peanut butter, it is also very important to not give your pet too much and to always check the label. Pictured: Mama Gris Gris a pit mix (left) and Rocco a pit mix (right)

Saliva flies from the mouth of Vegas the Boxer as he enjoys his share of peanut butter during a photo session 
Saliva flies from the mouth of Vegas the Boxer as he enjoys his share of peanut butter during a photo session 

Greg is now planning to complete For the Love of Peanut Butter later this year and turn the series into a book. Pictured: Greg's dog Kensie 
Greg is now planning to complete For the Love of Peanut Butter later this year and turn the series into a book. Pictured: Greg's dog Kensie 

Almost all of the photographs that Greg has taken involve some serious tongue action. Pictured: Brittany the spaniel
Greg's own dog Leo a Greyhound and Shepherd mix
Almost all of the photographs that Greg has taken involve some serious tongue action. Pictured: Brittany the spaniel (left) and Greg's own dog Leo a Greyhound and Shepherd mix 

Petey the American bulldog closes his eyes in bliss as he enjoys the remainder of his peanut butter 
Petey the American bulldog closes his eyes in bliss as he enjoys the remainder of his peanut butter 






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