A few critical settings and adjustments should be in play when photographing dogs. First, the shutter speed should be set to freeze the action of your dog's movements. Aim for 1/1000th of a second or higher. This helps to ensure that any movement from your pup will be captured sharply and clearly. Second, choose an aperture with a low f-stop number for maximum depth of field—around f/4 or wider if possible — which will increase the amount of sharpness throughout the image. You'll want to keep the ISO as low as possible while maintaining proper exposure; 400 or lower is ideal for portrait photography, but it may vary depending on the light conditions and how much ambient light is available. Finally, the white balance should be adjusted to ensure that the colors in your image are true and accurate. If you're photographing inside, use artificial light such as fluorescent or tungsten bulbs to avoid unwanted color casts.