Need some advice using a 420EX

Hi I just got my flash the other day and my mom is wanting me to take some pictures of her dogs. The problem lies with one of the dogs, she is a little older and has cateracts (sp?) and when the flash goes off her entire eye reflects terribly. My photoshop skills just aren't up to task fixing eyes like that and they end up looking badly painted doll eyes. So enter my decission to buy a flash, I wanted one but I thought this was just as good of an excuse as any other right? So anyone have any nuggets of wisdom to help a newbie flash user? I'll be using a Canon G3 w/ tripod.

Any help, ideas, suggestions or even public displays ridicule are very welcome.

Easy fix. If its a 420EX flash, then just tilt the flashhead to bounce the light off a wall or ceiling.... That avoids direct flash-light into the dog's eyes (or people for that matter).

Just having the flash of an external unit farther away from the camera lens will help greatly in reducing redeye and "doll-eye".

Yeah I figured I'd be bouncing it off the ceiling or a wall. I was just wondering if there was any special technique or is it a trial and error thing?

I believe it's all 'geometry' as far as the angles go. Or if you've ever played 'pool' (billiards) you can bring your "bank shot" skills into play. After that though, your right, and it's pretty much trial and error. There may be a 'guide' somewhere, but that's about it. Or you can get yourself an Omni Bounce reflector that will take the 'harshness' out of your direct flash shots.

I've read of one important trick related to bounce flash. I'm prepared for it but haven't hit the circumstances yet. Anyway, the problem with bounce flash can be that you wind up with no highlights in the subject's eyes, making them look dull and lifeless. The trick is to rubber-band a business card to the back (viewfinder) side of the flash. That reflects a tiny bit of light directly into the eyes, giving them a highlight, but it's not enough to give red-eye or (for animals) white-eye. A nice little side effect is that your business card is now in the flash case so that people can return it if you lose it.

Well thanks for the help guys and I am very pleased with the results definately worth the price of admission.