Share your Pet's POV
Create a short pet POV video or illustrated diary by safely filming or drawing from your animal’s eye-level, adding captions to show its thoughts.
Step-by-step guide to Share your Pet's POV
HOW ANIMALS SEE THE WORLD
Step 1
Find a quiet safe spot where your pet feels happy and relaxed.
Step 2
Sit or kneel so your eyes are level with your pet using the cushion if you need extra height.
Step 3
Choose whether you will film a pet POV video or make an illustrated pet POV diary.
Step 4
If you chose to film place your recording device at your pet’s eye level so it shows what your pet sees.
Step 5
If you chose to film gently get your pet’s attention with a treat or toy so it looks naturally toward the scene.
Step 6
If you chose to film record several short clips of what your pet sees for 15 to 60 seconds each.
Step 7
If you chose to film review your clips and pick the moments that show your pet exploring or reacting.
Step 8
If you chose to film add short captions that show your pet’s thoughts above the clips using a simple editing app.
Step 9
If you chose to draw watch your pet for a minute from eye level and notice the objects and actions it sees.
Step 10
If you chose to draw sketch the scene from your pet’s point of view on your paper.
Step 11
If you chose to draw colour your sketch and write thought or speech captions to show your pet’s voice.
Step 12
Share your finished creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have a recording device, cushion, or editing app?
Use a smartphone or tablet as your recording device, a stack of books or a folded blanket instead of a cushion to reach eye level, and free apps like iMovie or CapCut for captions—or switch to the 'choose to draw' steps using paper and pencils to make an illustrated pet POV diary.
My pet won't look at the camera or keeps moving—how can I still get good clips?
Gently get your pet’s attention with a treat or toy as the instructions say, record several short 15–60 second clips at your pet's eye level (using the cushion or books) and then review the clips to pick the moments that show your pet exploring or reacting.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages?
For younger children, follow the 'choose to draw' steps—watch your pet for a minute, sketch big shapes on paper, and add simple thought captions, while older kids can 'choose to film', record multiple clips, and use a simple editing app to add captions and more complex storytelling.
How can we make the pet POV project more creative or personal?
After you review clips and add short captions, personalize the project by recording a voiceover or adding sound effects in your editing app, or create a recurring illustrated diary series with coloured sketches and speech captions and share the finished creation on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to Share your Pet's POV
How do dogs "see" with their noses? - Alexandra Horowitz
4 Videos
How do dogs "see" with their noses? - Alexandra Horowitz
How To See Like An Animal | Get Out There | BBC Earth Kids
Astonishing Vision Helps Puppies to Explore | Wonderful World of Puppies | BBC Earth Kids
Astonishing Vision Helps Puppies to Explore | Wonderful World of Puppies | BBC Earth
Facts about pet photography and storytelling for kids
✏️ Thought bubbles and captions have long been used in comics to show inner thoughts — a perfect trick for your pet's POV diary.
🐱 Cats have a reflective layer called the tapetum lucidum that boosts night vision and can make their eyes glow in the dark.
🐾 Dogs can follow human pointing gestures and read some facial cues, which helps them respond to our actions and moods.
🐶 Dogs see fewer colors than humans — they mainly notice blues and yellows while reds often look grayish-brown.
🎥 Point-of-view (POV) shots are used in films and comics to make viewers feel like they're looking through a character's eyes.
How do I create a pet POV video or illustrated diary?
What materials do I need for a pet POV video or illustrated diary?
What ages is this activity suitable for?
What safety tips should I follow when filming my pet's POV?
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