When photographing little people, the important thing here is to get to the same level as the subject is. Otherwise you risk getting tops of heads and foreshortened perspectives. Lie, kneel, sit or bend as needed to get down to the child's level, or have the child come up to yours - held in someone's arms, standing on a table or ladder, or whatever. Taking photos with the camera below the child's eye-level, gives a much better view of life as seen by the child.

The same principle applies to pets. Animals are often difficult to get to "pose". If possible have someone play with or hold the animal in their arms. Capture them when their attention is fixed on something, such as their feed bowl. And good luck. Good shots take a lot of getting with an active pet, but are very rewarding.

Some digital cameras can take short bursts of photos. If you aren't successful in capturing what you want with your own camera, consider borrowing or renting a burst-capable one to capture that elusive shot.