Stunning Portraits That Show How Dogs Age

It’s an incredibly somber thing watching our beloved pups age. Though it’s inevitable, it’s often difficult to come to terms with.

The ways in which our pups do age can be quite varied. Some grow up very quickly, almost as if out of nowhere. Others only very gradually show signs of aging. And some, remain puppies at heart their whole lives; gray hairs and all.

Amanda Jones is a professional photographer based in Massachusetts and has dedicated the last 20 years of her life to one particular project that has always been very close to her heart.

The project looked at the lives of several different pups and sought to document their aging processes over several years. She wanted to capture just how fleeting their precious lives are with her unique and touching images. The project was converted into a book titled dog years and is a photo series of 30 adorable pups.

“As a photographer who has been working with dogs for twenty years, I’ve experienced many emotional things surrounding our dogs,” said Jones. “What this particular experience solidified for me was the raw strength of the bond we share with our dogs throughout their entire lives.”

The project was initially inspired by a darling dachshund named Lily (featured below) who she had for 16 years. Lily had been with Amanda through everything, house moves, the arrival of her baby – the list went on.

“Lily, was a frequent model on my set. When I juxtaposed the imagery across her lifespan, I was moved,” said Jones. “I saw an opportunity to share similar stories through photographs.”

All of the pups in the series touched Amanda’s heart in different ways.

Above all else, this series shows that we can take comfort in knowing that while our pups might age physically, their hearts; their love and their loyalty are things that never diminish with age.