Help!!!Common Problem

Hey I just got a new canon rebel xt a yesterday and ive been experimenting trying to learn....well i keep coming across the same problem....when taking a photo it is focusing on the nearest object and messing up the back, which i know is a common problem but i cant fix it, i thought maybe someone could help me.....attached is a example of opne of my pics, the grass is great but my dog is blurred i would like it all look as clear as the grass.....help if anyone can.....

Use center point focus and stop the lens down a bit to widen the depth of field. It takes practice to get a well focused shot on a consistent basis.

I would recomend picking up one of the following books for additional help as well. Understanding Exposure or Understanding Digital Photography, both by Bryan Peterson. I have the latter and it helped me tremendously.

The other answers have good advice in them ...

I have two additional words for you: manual focus

I feel stupid asking this but i guess this is how you learn......i have i idea of what center point focus i but i want to be sure that i am correct so please explain more and i have absolutely no idea how to stop the lens down.....please help....

Your XT has 7 focus points. They align in a cross pattern in the viewfinder. The center focus point is the center of the cross. To adjust the focus point you press the button at the top right of the back of the camera and rotate the dial until the red light in the viewfinder illuminates the center focus point.

Stopping down the lens refers to changing the aperture from a alower number (like 3.5) to a higher number (like 8 ). How many times have you read your owners manual? I read mine at least 4 or 5. Also I can't stress enough about the books in my first post.

Maybe the lens is set on "MF"? Have you experimented with the admittedly little book that came with the camera? Like looking up "Focus" in the index in the back?

Wow y'all play nice!! Welcome to the forum svtfordlady! While I do think manual focus is a good idea for learning the camera I understand taht you'd also like to know how the auto focus works. I'd suggest really reading the entire owners manual for the camera.
Good luck and have fun!!

We are nice really

Sorry svtfordlady - To answer you question more fully, I believe (I don't have your model SLR) that when using all the focus points, which I think is the default setting, they will 'lock' onto the closest object they find, the grass in your posted image.
If you use the 'basic zone' modes this will happen regardless (I stand to be corrected on this).
Try using one of the 'creative modes' (P, Av, Tv) and you should get the option in the menu to select just the centre, or any other, single focus point. That way you focus on what you want to.

depth of field (DOF) learn more about the aperature and shutter speed to get both the grass and the dog sharp.

http://photonhead.com …rs/shutterandap​erture.php

Mods usually try to set a proper example for the rest of you...

Another great book for the rebel is Digital Rebel Digital Field Guide by Charlotte K. Lowrie. I found this book to be very helpful in addition to the manual.