Lots of Dogs Today! - 26th February 2014

What a glorious day again! It feels as if spring is here, but who knows when winter will be back.... Lots of the neighbourhood dogs were out and about and for once I was armed with the SLR rather than just the rather useless iPhone. I barely recognised all the owners without hats!

Here's some of Henry's friends: Ernie the golden cocker, Alfie the ball-stealing terrier mix, Mac the westie, Quinn the regal springer, Lazlo the Coton de Tulear and a new little chap called Archie, who's a schnauzer (miniature schnauzer crossed with a poodle!). Lots of white and orange dogs around today!

 

 

And here's a shot of Henry keeping my company this morning while I was working from home, looking a bit serious:

Dog of the Day - 16th February 2014

Haven't posted on here for a while, as sadly I'm no longer out and about with the dog every day (what with having a day job). The weather's been pretty awful in London for the last couple of months too - plenty of rain resulting in very unpleasant muddy parks!

Today was the first glorious day in what seemed like months! Sunny, with a few picturesque clouds, pretty mild and little wind. The crocuses are even out already. So we took the dog for a nice walk along the Thames, from Putney Bridge to Hammersmith Bridge and back again. In Bishop's Park we met two boundy, barky standard poodles. I'm so used to seeing cavapoos or cockerpoos or labradoodles that I forget that pure poodles actually exist! I didn't find out the name of this chap, as the owner was on the phone and not remotely interested in engaging with anyone else, but I didn't manage to get a snap of him!

A Few of the Local Dogs

I've been a bit busy of late, with a new day-job keeping me away. The photography and the dog-walking are now reserved for weekends only, for the time-being. When I do get out with Henry, he's still obsessed with the ball. His catching skills are coming along very well!

I took the camera out today, armed with the 50mm f/1.2 lens, hoping the rain would hold off. There were a couple of light showers, but generally it stayed dry, so I was able to snap a few shots of Henry playing with his ball and some of the neighbourhood dogs - some regulars, others new.

This is the adorable little Alfie, the pug. He's been on a diet recently and looks great. He likes to play with Henry, but most of his time is spent being ravaged by Myrtle.

Myrtle is an affenpinscher, and extremely hard to photograph as she's a cute little blob of black fluff. She is smitten with Alfie.

This is male chihuahua, whose name I can't remember. He may be small, but it doesn't stop him trying to hump much, much bigger dogs!

These two are Roxy the Airedale and Sonny the French Bulldog. I've only met Roxy a couple of times - she makes Henry look tiny. Henry and Sonny have played together since they were pups. Sonny is also very keen on Henry's favourite green ball.

 

I hadn't met this dog before - her name is Dora and she's a wheaten terrier - also made Henry look tiny!

I'm hoping the weather will have enough dry spells tomorrow so I can take the camera out and about again.

Please avoid Hurlingham Park at the moment - gastroenteritis breakout!

Just been sent a message on twitter by Molly & Max vets in Parsons Green, SW6, about a break-out of gastroentiritis in the area, possibly from contaminated grass cuttings in Hurlingham Park. So, if you walk your dog in that area and see this, please avoid! Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhoea :(

Here's the link to the Molly & Max Facebook page where they report this.

Best Poo Poster Ever!

Been away... Cornwall for 12 days, and started a day job too, so been a bit busy :(

During our time away I did manage to see the best ever poster to try to encourage bad dog owners to pick up their dog's poo and bin it - just loved this! It was tied to a lamp-post in Lynton, north Devon, where we stopped over for a night on the way home (which I'll write about on my photography blog one of these days - wonderful little spot!).

Dog of the Day - 22nd August 2013

Today's Dog of the Day is the gorgeous Archie again. He's a miniature poodle crossed with a Powderpuff Chinese Crested dog - not the hairless one - and is just over a year old now. He's got a lot less shy and sometimes I even get kisses from him! He won't let anyone else throw the ball for him other than his mummy though. What a smiley little chap he is!

 

Dog of the Day - 14th August 2013

Today's Dog of the Day is one that I'll never see again :(

Katy is now on her way to the States, where her family is relocating back to. She's a sometimes-feisty little Scottie (Scottish Terrier) who's given the other dog owners some entertainment in the last year, chasing other dogs with balls one minute and flirting outrageously with others the next. She and her family will be missed around here. These pictures were taken last December, hence the frosty grass and fallen leaves.

Good luck Katy on your Stateside adventures.