There are two words in professional photography that can strike fear into even the most seasoned photographer are the words "kids" and "animals."
Unlike a job where you know you'll be able to spend an hour with the subject and come away with at least a few winner shots, while kids and animals have the capacity to make you crazy. They'll give you the best looks when you're changing lenses and getting setup, but when it's time to shoot, they become uncooperative. Animals can be frightened by the camera, children become fascinated by it.
Kids
Spending some time up front with kids can go a long way to putting them at ease. Talk to them for a few minutes in the company of their parents, get down to their level and explain what you want to do. Even very young kids seem to respond well if you spend just a few minutes explaining what's going on and how they can help.
A trick that works for very young children and babies is putting a mirror near by or ask a parent to stand next to you and hold it. Infants are fascinated by their reflection so be ready to shoot when the mirror comes out and make sure your camera and flash units are set for continuous shooting.
For older children talk to the parents before the shoot and encourage them to bring along some of their favorite books and toys. Sometimes the presence of a coveted toy can put a child at ease and add to the picture.
You'll also discover kids are easier to work with individually than in groups, where the temptation to act out in front of siblings can be difficult to manage.
Animals
Nothing can challenge your photographic skill quite as much as animal pictures. Outdoors you're at the mercy of distractions and the elements, inside the distractions of a new environment can make even normally cooperative animals difficult to control.
One device that used to help when photographing horses is wrapping a trash bag around the top of a buggy whip or crop. Have an assistant raise the bag and rattle it briefly and gently when you're ready to shoot. It's a rare horse that won't lift up its head and put its ears up when the bag rattles.
The operative word for the bag trick is "briefly". Rattle it too loud or too long and you're likely to scare a horse and, since most times you'll be shooting with the animal in a show halter, scaring them can put them and you at considerable risk.
Cats and dogs are normally easier to manage, but also present unique challenges. Cats are notoriously aloof and uncooperative. The fish pole type toys where you can dangle a toy just out of reach can sometimes get cats attention. A laser pointer can also be a useful distraction. Be prepared to shoot the second you turn off the laser pointer as cats will almost always look up right at that moment.
Another trick with cats is to hiss at them. It's instinctual for them to face a potential threat and almost every cat will turn quickly toward that noise.
With dogs it's just a matter of patience. Dogs will be excited at the new surroundings and you'll be the most interesting thing in their world.
It often helps to have the owner bring a portable kennel if they have one. Dogs go into "den mode" once they've been in their kennel for a while and you'll sometimes have a few minutes of relative calm when you first bring them out. It also helps to walk them first and let them sniff out their new surroundings.
Mainly, with any animal, you'll want to allot plenty of time and be pleasantly surprised if it goes faster.
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