Meet Layla and Zoey: A Dog Mom Q&A & Portrait Feature
Meeting Laura and Her Pups
Every pet has a story, and every portrait captures it. Meet Layla and Zoey, two lovable pups with personalities as unique as their journey, celebrated in a custom pet portrait! As a pet portrait artist, one of the most rewarding parts of my work is seeing the love families have for their furry friends and turning those memories into art.
Laura shared, “I love how responsive and caring YiFang is! She captured my pets’ features spot on. It’s obvious she loves being an artist with the amount of thought she puts into her portraits.” I’m so grateful for her kind words and the wonderful conversations we’ve shared.
Layla and Zoey’s Story
Layla and Zoey each have their own beautiful story.
Layla, now 11 years old, has been by Laura’s side since she was 19. Just eight weeks old when she first came home, Layla was once bitten by a larger dog as a puppy, leaving her with a slightly crooked snout that leans to the left—a unique feature that adds to her charm. Laura says, “Layla is her sweet self,” while her husband insists Zoey’s personality is captured perfectly in every photo.
Zoey, now 9, joined the family in 2018. She had only been at the shelter for a single day and already had multiple people lined up to adopt her. But fate had other plans. “We got to the shelter 15 minutes before closing,” Laura recalls. “When I asked to meet her, she ran right up to me and jumped into my lap. The volunteers couldn’t believe it—they said out of everyone Zoey had met that day, I was the only one she ran to. So we took her home that night.”
Q&A with Laura
Here’s what Laura shared about her pups, their quirks, and the lessons she’s learned along the way.
Q1: What are Layla and Zoey’s absolute favorite treats?
Layla absolutely loves peanut butter—it has been her all-time favorite since she was a pup. Zoey’s favorite is meat; she can’t be bribed with much else. But one thing they both agree on is cheese. No matter where they are in the house, if they hear the cheese wrapper, they’ll come running!
Q2: Do you have a homemade recipe you swear by?
Plain boiled chicken always does the trick. I’ve never had to try anything else, lol.
Q3: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned from raising Layla and Zoey?
Every dog is different—whether it’s training, feeding, or their love language. Layla is quick to catch on to training, even at 11 years old. She eats fast, loves rough play, and only cuddles when it’s on her terms. Zoey, on the other hand, will just stare at you if you ask her to sit. She grazes on her food throughout the day and is a total cuddle bug.
Q4: What top three mindsets should someone have before getting a dog?
Patience is a virtue, don’t set rigid expectations, and get pet insurance!
Q5: If you could come back as any breed in your next life, which would you choose?
I’d spin the wheel on this one—every breed is loved by someone.
Q6: If Layla and Zoey could talk for one minute, what would they complain about?
They’d complain about two things:
Their human brother, who just turned one and is still learning boundaries.
Their meal portions—they’d definitely want bigger servings!
Stories like Layla and Zoey’s are exactly why I love what I do. Every portrait captures the love between pets and their families. If you’d like a custom portrait for your own furry friend, I’d be honored to help!
Have any questions? Feel free to reach out here or send me a message on Instagram—I’d love to hear from you!
