Dog of the Day - 28th Feb 2013

Last day of the month already and the sun was out again! Today's Dog of the Day is a friendly English Bulldog called Frankie (there's another one around here who is not friendly!). He was having a good old roll. He wanted to play with Henry and Archie, but his size kind of precluded it - he weighs three times as much as them and I think I have a bruised leg from when he just rubbed against me! His owner told me that there's an English Bulldog meet-up this weekend in Hyde Park, so I'm planning to head there on Sunday - will be quite a sight, especially as they don't seem to come in any other colour...

Dog of the Day - 27th Feb 2013

The sun came out this afternoon, so the camera came out with me. Today's Dog of the Day is actually two dogs and a human again! This time it's Lucy the Boston Terrier and Louie the French Bulldog. They've been best friends since they were puppies and every afternoon the first one to the park will wait patiently, looking around for the other. Once the other arrives their owners let them off the lead and they run towards each other and greet like long-lost lovers! Both of them love to play with balls, but don't like to share them with some of the other members of the afternoon pack!

Dog of the Day - 26th Feb 2013

Today it is cold and drizzly - the camera is staying safely indoors! - so today's photo is from a sunnier day back in January. Today's Dog of the Day is Jaz's companion - a 7.5-month-old little chap called Tai, who is a relatively new breed called a Silken Windhound. It's a cross between a Borzoi and a whippet, so part of the sight hound family. He loves to run around, and is pretty fast, but is sometimes outrun by a whippet who's a bit older than him, and apparently lets out a little grumble of frustration.

More dog photos can be seen (and bought!) over on my website.

Dog of the Day - 25th Feb 2013

Today's Dog of the Day is the magnificent Jaz again, the Borzoi/Afghan Hound mix. She is an incredible dog - I grow more and more fond of her every day! Today she sat and posed for me - the perfect subject. She's ten, so a lot more placid than the 9-month-old pup I'm used to, with the energy that comes with that. Here's a selection of photos I captured of her today (one with the unfeasibly cute 5-month-old miniature wire-haired dachshund, Flossy).

Dog of the Day - 24th Feb 2013

It looks as if the Dog of the Day is often going to be Henry! This weekend I was busy with other photography work, so didn't have the inclination to take the camera out with the dog when I finally got home. So here is a picture that I took of Henry the other morning, lying on my bed. He's not allowed on the bed at night - doors firmly closed between us and the bedroom - but he is allowed during the morning while I'm showering. Occasionally he makes a run for it as we're turning off the lights at night, but he gets firmly plonked back in his bed in the sitting room. Anyway, here's the shot of him, looking a little sheepish on the bed. He has the most unbelievably long eyelashes which make my heart melt!

Dog of the Day - 21st Feb 2013

Today's Dog of the Day photo was taken a few days ago, when the sun was still out and my fingers weren't frozen inside their gloves. This is Poppy, a rather sweet elderly Jack Russell. The older ones certainly seem to sit still a bit more.

Dog of the Day - 20th Feb 2013

I've seen a few unusual dog breeds recently - the Borzoi/Afghan cross, a Bracco Italiano a couple of days ago, and a Bloodhound today. This is Billie, and she is six. Her eyelashes face down into her eyes, so eventually she'll have to have an operation to correct them. Poor thing didn't look as if she could see at all. And those jowels! I've never seen anything like them - they were actually blowing in the chilly wind! It's amazing how dog breeds are so different.

Dog of the Day - 19th Feb 2013

I think I'm in love! This is Archie, Henry's current best friend. They play together every afternoon, rolling around, chasing after each other, sometimes just lying with each other, munching on each other's faces from time to time.

Archie is a blue roan and tan show-type English cocker spaniel, and has just turned 5 months old. He is very very cute, but then I'm biased, as cockers are my favourite breed.

Dog of the Day - 18th Feb 2013

I headed out into the Bucks countryside today, enjoying the continuing lovely weather. I didn't encounter many dogs while there (although I did meet a couple of cocker spaniels, both enormous specimens). I didn't manage to photograph any, so today's Dog of the Day is one of Henry's regular playmates, who I captured just over a week ago. She is Lucy, a young Boston Terrier, who always likes to be in control of any ball or stick that's knocking around. I think she looks rather dashing in her winter coat.

Dog of the Day - 17th Feb 2013

It was such a glorious day today, so we took Henry to Battersea Park. The park was packed with people and their dogs, out enjoying the spring-like day. Henry loved running around like a mad thing, and sometimes when he runs he looks as if he's levitating (and smiling). He's today's Dog of the Day!

The Yellow Dog Project

Does your dog need to be left alone when it's out and about? Just had an operation? On heat? A bit of a scaredy-dog? Being trained and doesn't need doggy company?

Well, what you need is a yellow ribbon (or just something yellow) to tie onto its lead, to show other dog owners that the dog needs to be given some space.

I hadn't heard about this initiative until this week, but I think it's a great idea. With raised awareness, dogs with special needs can be given that little extra bit of space they need, and those of us with excited dogs (puppies, for example!) will know to give them that space.

Watch out for those yellow ribbons!

Find out a bit more about the project here:
www.theyellowdogproject.com

Dog of the Day - 16th Feb 2013

Today's Dog of the Day is another of Henry's playmates, Bailey, a 7-month-old Rhodesian Ridgeback. Bailey has very quickly overtaken Henry in size and strength, but they still play nicely together. She has a great furrowed brow.

Dog of the Day - 15th Feb 2013

The sun was out again today and it was feeling positively spring-like, and the park was full of interesting dogs. If ever there was a strange breed of dog, it's the Borzoi. It's also known as the Russian Wolfhound and is a member of the Sighthound family of dogs (so now you know). Just the weirdest-looking thing! This is actually a cross between a Borzoi and an Afghan Hound, and her name is Jaz; she's ten. She has the most amazingly soft fur, especially on her throat.

Dog of the Day - 14th Feb 2013

The crocuses are coming out and so is the sun! - feels very spring-like today.

Today's Dog of the Day is Barney, an 8-year-old collie-cross - didn't want to pose, but a biscuit from his owner got his attention.

Dog of the Day - 13th Feb 2013

The weather looked promising this morning, but soon clouded over :(

The local parks are so muddy at the moment. This little girl started off so clean and pretty. She's still pretty, but not exactly clean, after half an hour running around playing with Henry. Her name is Abby and she's an 8 month-old cavapoo (King Charles Cavalier Spaniel crossed with a Toy Poodle). She's been Henry's best friend since they met when they were both very small.

Dog of the Day - 12th Feb 2013

Another miserable, muddy grey day today. When is this weather going to improve?! So, another dog photo from sunnier days.

This is Max the Dalmatian, who sadly moved to Germany in December - he was a very fine looking chap, and you don't see many of them around. This was taken last autumn on a lovely day. Max was quite obsessed with balls.

Dog of the Day - 11th Feb 2013

No dog of the day yesterday or today - weather just too nasty to take the camera out. So here's a doggie shot from a few days ago, during sunnier times!

This is the lovely little Mojo, a year-old border terrier, playing with a ball in the sun last week. His sister, Molly, was injured in an accident with a truck a few days earlier, so he was a little bereft and lonely (Molly's had some bed-rest, and thankfully is recovering well).

Dogs in Action!

One of my dog's favourite activities is playing with other dogs. Sometimes I think he could just go on forever. There are lots of the other dogs in the neighbourhood that are very playful too - many are also puppies, so I've collated some recent photos of their games. They love jumping, boxing, rolling, fighting over balls, tug-of-war with sticks, or just chasing after each other, often round and round in circles. Sometimes they just like to potter about sniffing things or chewing sticks together. Sometimes they just need to catch their breath and just lie on the muddy ground, panting, hanging out together. I particularly like the way cocker spaniels' ears fly all over the place - they look like such mad things. I'm hoping for more snow, as they all loved playing in it!

Dog of the Day - 9th Feb 2013

This is the adorable 4-month-old working cocker spaniel puppy Pip - she had a great little play with Henry and the spotty ball, in spite of the light rain!

Dog of the Day - 8th Feb 2013

Today's dog of the day is my very own little chap - Henry, who has just turned 9 months old! He often stops in the park, looking a bit pensive (or maybe vacant!).

Dog of the Day - 7th Feb 2013

Actually two dogs today (and a human)! These are Liesl, a 7-month-old golden cocker spaniel and Sweetheart, a 1-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel, together with Sweetheart's owner. All out enjoying the glorious sunshine.

Dog of the Day - 6th Feb 2013

This is Poppy, a 3-year-old Wirehaired Vizsla (a breed originating from Hungary).

More dog photos can be seen on my website and are available for sale as prints, personal downloads and for commercial usage!

Dog of the Day - 5th Feb 2013

This is Hamish, a 4-month-old West Highland White Terrier (westie).