On guard!

This Shar-pei ran from one gate to another as he guarded his house by the sea in Cap Martin, but at no point did he bark at me. Perhaps he's used to people walking past him and is a bit blasé about the whole thing. The breed originated in China and has deep wrinkles and a blue-black tongue.

Carnival dog

This little dog, walking through the confetti, is dressed and ready to take his part in the Menton Fête du Citron (Lemon Festival) - along with all the school children of Menton. You can see more photographs of this renowned festival at the Menton Daily Photo blog - here.

One, two, three...

This English lady had travelled from Monaco with her husband to see the Fête du Citron in Menton. Dogs are not allowed inside the exhibition enclosure and so when I took these photographs, she was waiting with the dogs whilst her husband went in to the see the displays. All three of her Cavaliers come from England - two were, I believe, only eleven months old. I told her that I'd seen several dogs inside but then probably it takes a Frenchman to ignore rules or perhaps they do allow dogs in if they are carried. Three Cavaliers around would have been too heavy. She told me she'd not go in and leave her husband with the dogs as she felt, by then, the young dogs had tired. You can see some photographs of the Fête du Citron at this link.

Waiting for customers...

This lovely Chow belongs to the café you see in the following photograph. It's a couple of streets in from the sea in Menton. You can see his water bowl under the menu sign. He stood, four square, not moving, whilst I took half a dozen shots. I've no doubt when a customer arrives, he'll run in to inform his owner. The 'look out' dog!

Yorkies at the Fête du Citron

This couple live in Nice and had brought their two little Yorkies to Menton for the Fête du Citron. I love the colour of the husband's dog. Another man had his older Yorkie there and the three were chatting Yorkie-chat. A sign at the entrance clearly said No Dogs but perhaps if a dog is carried, it's OK. Rules are made to be broken... Click here if you would like to read more about the Fête du Citron.
.

Metropole Chien

This lab blinked in surprise when I took his photo. As you see, he's got his bowl of water whilst his owners partake of morning coffee and croissants. This was taken in the luxurious Metropole Centre in Monte Carlo and if you look carefully at the following photograph you can see our hero, asleep on the floor.

Waiting...

This beautiful dog stands waiting patiently for his owner to leave a bank in Roquebrune-cap-Martin. At one point, I made a sound to get his attention and he came running to me, wagging his tail - too close, in fact, to take a photo. I told him to go back and wait for his owner and he did. A dog with a beautiful temperament.

No dogs allowed!

Dogs are forbidden in supermarkets in France but as you can see, not everyone abides by the rules. Madame has to shop, after all, and so she walks the aisles with her petite chienne and fills her chariot with the week's food. This was taken in a supermarket in Carnoles, a suburb of Roquebrune-cap-Martin.

Pâtisserie

This beautiful dog, part Portuguese Water Dog, with his friendly Italian family are in a new pâtisserie in Carnoles, which is a suburb of Roquebrune-cap-Martin.

Have towel, will travel

This little Yorkie was sitting outside the bakery by Carrefour, the supermarket in Fontvieille, Monaco, sharing a table with a handsome, brawny young man. When I asked if I could take a photograph the young man got up so fast he nearly knocked his beer over. Perhaps a famous footballer? I didn't know who he was, but he was very keen not to be photographed. No matter, a cute dog. Note how he travels with his own yellow towel to cover wherever he sits. Very correct.

When I walked past later, the dog was still on the chair, but standing on his hind legs, his front feet on the table. I didn't like to ask if I could take another photo.

A flurry of Griffons

The owner of these dogs actually had five - the other two were running around off-lead. This was taken by the market in Carnoles, which is near to Menton and Roquebrune-cap-Martin. Five griffons would be quite a handful, I'd imagine, as they are quite a highly strung breed and barky, but also affectionate and charming which doubtless compensates. They always have an undershot jaw and a monkey-like expression.

Young Dobermann

This playful young Dobermann thinks chewing his lead is the best fun. This was taken in the walking street of Monaco - you can see the port of Monaco in the distance. Note the cropped ears, a practice forbidden in many countries now.

SDF dogs

Sans domicile fixe or SDF, as they are known - means people with no fixed address. Here are some Menton dogs.

Rhodesian Ridgeback in Monaco

This lovely Ridgeback was sitting and waiting for his owners to finish lunch overlooking the port of Monaco. They said he wanted a girlfriend...

Pretty Girl

This little shih-tzu is called Pretty Girl - which equally applies to her owner.

She'd called into Anubis, the Salon de Toilettage in Menton, to present her new puppy. She'd had a shih-tzu before and when she died, she said she'd never have another dog. And now - here's Pretty Girl.... we all need another dog...we owe it to the memory of our previous dog to give a loving home to a new one. We don't forget the first dog - our hearts simply expand to make room for another.

Organ Grinder's Dog

The organ grinder's dog in Cap d'Ail

...and his owner receiving small change

Market meeting

Saturday morning outside Menton market

Boston terrier - Monaco

An elegantly clad lady poses with her smart Boston terrier in the luxurious Metropole Centre, Monaco

Good citizens

They walk their little poodle along the seafront in Roquebrune-cap-Martin - a view of Menton before them. It's now against the law not to pick up after your dog in France...

The poodle has pooped....

...and good citizen, the lady picks it up.

Dogo Argentino

This Argentinian Mastiff has a great rapport with his young owner as he relaxes outside the l'Occitan restaurant in Menton.

The Dogo Argentino was developed in Argentina by Dr. Martinez in the 1920's. He wanted a dog that was a good pack hunter as well as good with a family. He started with a now extinct mastiff-type breed called the Dog of Cordoba. He added Great Dane, Boxer, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Great Pyrenees, Pointer, Irish Wolfhound and Dogue de Bordeaux. The resulting breed has been successful as a guide dog and in military and police work. However, it's not a breed for everyone and needs careful training. Unfortunately it is a breed that appealed to those who organise and enjoy dog fights and in Britain it appears in the banned list. Not so in France.