Willy - the Scooter Dog

This is Willy, a Berger Pyrénées (Pyrenean Shepherd Dog). He rides around Menton on a scooter with his owner. Willy is 13 years old - you'd not know it, would you? See Willy on his bike on Menton Daily Photo today.

This small sheepdog of the Mountains of the Pyrénées is considered the oldest of the French herding dogs. They were used in concert with the large white sheep guardian dogs, the Great Pyrénées (Pyrenean Mountain Dog) of the region. The little dog herded the sheep. The big dog watched over them. The natural abilities of this shaggy shepherd are legend - flocks being entrusted to the two different dogs without a human handler. They were officially recognized by the French Kennel Club in 1921.

The breed is also called a Labrit in France. You see many in the south of France.

Lucky

This is Lucky. He's a Yorkie/Shih-tzu mix. Unusual coloured dog, I think - a beautiful grey. Lucky lives in Gorbio and is 8 years old. Cute 'mix' eh?

Jicky

Meet Jicky, a 14 year old Wire-Fox Terrier. In the smaller photograph (click to enlarge) you see the granddaughter of Jicky's owner. Lois loves Grandma's dog. She lives in Orleans, the daugher of a Scottish father and a French mother so she will grow up to be bi-lingual - not struggle like the rest of us. Grandma, granddaughter and Jicky were in Gorbio for the Blessing of the Animals.

Sissy

Sissy is a gorgeous 4 year old Irish Setter who lives near to Milan. On holiday in Menton, she was brought along to the recent Blessing of the Animals in Gorbio.

Canaille

Just a pup. 10 months old and adorable. Canaille lives on the Route de Gorbio in Menton. Seen here in Gorbio village, she was brought up for the Blessing of the Animals.

Canaille has several meanings but here it means 'rogue' or 'little devil' - in other words a term of endearment.

Baboo

This is Baboo - a male labrador, who lives in Gorbio village and had been down to the main square for the recent Blessing of the Animals. He's two and a half.

Venus

Venus, the German Shepherd Dog, lives on a boat in the port of Garavan in Menton. Actually, not on this boat - but on one a little further along. On the day I took the photo, she and her owner were visiting a friend on another boat, hence her being on the wrong boat. She seems quite at home tho, doesn't she? Venus is 4 years old.

Myrtille

The Papillon - or Butterfly Dog - so named because of the enormous ears with their fringes. If the ears are 'down' then they are known as Phaelene - or Moth Dogs.

Meet Myrtille - very much a Papillon - who lives in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. She's 9 years old and looking very well for her age, don't you think?

Vanille

Vanille is a pocket-sized Yorkshire terrier as you can see and what a pretty one. She's 4 years old, lives in Menton and her owner runs with Les Foulées Roquebrunoise - a running group you perhaps read about on Menton Daily Photo - remember Woolite, the sheep who swims in the sea and who is their mascot?

Teo

Teo is a Jacdterrier, a breed that originated in Germany. Click on the link to read more. He lives in Menton but in this photograph is in the square of Gorbio village, where he'd come with his owner - plus horses - for the Blessing on the Animals. You can see Teo with his horse friends by clicking on the second link.

Jimmy

Jimmy is a nearly 14 year old Parson Jack Russell terrier belonging to a super lady called Jilly - well she has to be super - same name as me! Jilly lives in Roquebrune-cap-Martin and she runs with a running group called Les Foulées Roquebrunois.

Remember the sheep on Menton Daily Photo - Woolite, the sheep, is the running club's mascot.

Fun in the Sun

This Jack Russell terrier was having the BEST time on the beach at Roquebrune-cap-Martin yesterday. Here he has just swum back to shore after retrieving the ball his master threw for him. You'll see another photo of this cute dog on Menton Daily Photo today - saying Bonjour to a sheep, who also swam in the sea.

Luna

Luna is a cross between a Dachshund and a Bassett Hound. See her tail wag - it's out of focus! She's nine years old and she is owned by Philippe's son. Who is Philippe you may say - well he is the owner of Woolite the sheep you see in the small photo. To read more about Woolite, who was filmed in Roquebrune today for 30 Million d'Amis, a French television programme about animals, please click on the link for Menton Daily Photo.

Aston

Aston (think racing cars) is a beautiful big Briard. The first Briard we've had on this blog. A Briard is a French Shepherd Dog, so really it's surprising we've not had one before. Did you know Napoleon owned one?

Aston was standing outside the fish stall in Carnoles market and lives in Menton. What a beautiful boy!

Basile

Photography is all about getting the light right - or rather hoping it's right when you take a photograph. I was walking up from the port of Monaco today - towards Casino Square - when I saw this little dog. I asked the owners if I could photograph her and wham, the light was right and I knew I only needed one shot.

Basile is a wire-haired dachshund on holiday in Monte Carlo from Belgium. She's 8 years old and isn't she gorgeous!

The Obama Dog

There's a little bit of a cheat here because this dog isn't a Riviera Dog - but he could well be. Blue, a nine-month old Old English Sheepdog puppy, lives with his owner, my best buddy Candy, in Ohio. Candy visits Menton often - so let's imagine she's put Blue on the plane with her!

I just couldn't resist showing you Blue's new collar - photo taken by Candy, of course, and no prizes for guessing her politics. This gorgeous collar (click to enlarge smaller photograph) was designed by Candy's oh-so-talented, artist friend, Laura R. Joseph. You can see more of Laura's beautiful work by clicking on her website.

Belle, the gentle old lady

Belle is a cross between a Pyrenean Shepherd Dog and an English Setter. She certainly has the English Setter colours. In all three photos I took of her, she screws up her eyes, puts her head back and woofs. Yes, she's somewhat overweight but she's an old lady after all - 12 years old. Neverthelss, Belle lives in Menton in the Old Town so she must still be in pretty good form to walk up the steep hill each time she's going home from a walk.

Maximus

Maximus - big name for a little dog! We met in the pedestrian area of Menton. He's a smooth-coat chihuahua, 2 years old and comes from Vicenza in Italy.

Many of the dogs I've been showing lately come from Italy. Menton is on the Italian border.

You'll find a dog in the sand on Menton Daily Photo today.

Didi

A chair for the owner and a chair for the lady dog too. Meet Didi, the 3 year old dachshund. Didi and her charming owner live at Lake Garda in Italy.

Vodka

Sitting at her owner's feet in a bar at the Place du Cap in Menton - this is Vokda, a three year old Labrador. She lives with her owner in Marseille.

Smigle

Smigle, as you see, has long worked out how to look cute. Head on one side - 'hey, look at me!' I met two year old Smigle and his own owners in the pedestrian area of Menton. They live in Modena - famous for Ferrari and also where they make the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Smigle is an interesting mix - perhaps a bit of Miniature Pinscher? Some Papillon perhaps?

The Wet Dogs

The little Jack Russell so wants to play with the big dog but, no chance, he's on a lead. Two wet dogs having a day on the beach in Menton.

Asleep in the shade

I know nothing about this dog - name, where he's from - nothing. He was asleep in the shade on a Menton beach (one of the dog beaches). His owner was asleep too. I didn't like to disturb. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Giorgio

This is Giorgio - 4 years old and on holiday in Menton from Milan. I snapped this photo just a second before the one shown yesterday on Menton Daily Photo. Click on the link to see him try and catch a stone.

To the left, he's with his friend of the day, Astuss, who you saw yesterday. Dogs sure know how to make instant friendships, don't they? And having dogs - well that enables us to make friendships too. Is there a better way to meet someone than through your dog?

Astuss

This beautiful dog is Astuss, a Golden Retriever/Pyrenean Mountain Dog mix. Three years old and on holiday in Menton.

He had the best time playing with a Labrador he'd met on the beach (there are two dog beaches in Menton) - click on the link to see his friend, Giorgio and to see Astuss swimming with him in the sea.

Tomorrow Giorgio will feature on this blog.

Bach

Meet Bach - a beautiful but rather hot English setter. He's 8 years old and was abandoned so he's one lucky dog to be with his caring owner, a lovely young lady from Bergamo, which is near to Milan in Italy. They were on holiday in Menton.

Summertime Fun

Another beach dog. I don't have a name, nor that of the little Jack Russell in the smaller photo. Just dogs having fun on one of the Menton dog beaches.

Ciska

This Jack Russell was tiny. I thought she was about 4 months but apparently she is 10 months old. She was in the pedestrian street of Menton - licking the pavement at one point (something must have smelled good!) - Ciska lives Paris.

Chou-chou

There's are two or three beaches in Menton that allow dogs - so it's a great place to go and find them. Over the next few days we'll meet some of the beach dogs to be seen on one of the beaches yesterday.

This is Chou-chou - he's 5 years old and lives in Menton. He's a cross between a bichon and a poodle, which you can see in the amount of coat he has. He's probably due for a haircut.

Waiting for her owner...

This dog has been tied up outside a very small supermarket in the pedestrian street of Menton. She was only left a short time, so, whilst she doesn't look happy - she was fine. She wagged her tail when I talked to her but being tied up, she probably felt rather vulnerable. I didn't bother her for long. I don't know what breed she is. If anyone knows, please let me know. Meanwhile I've marked her down as a mix.

Gill, the Guide Dog

Many of us think of a Guide Dog for the Blind as being a labrador, and indeed they are the most common breed used, but other breeds are Guide Dogs too. Meet a beautiful long-haired German Shepherd Dog called Gill. She is the Guide Dog for her handsome young owner who you see in the smaller photograph. They are from Holland and are sitting here under the olive tree in the Place des Deux Frères, in Roquebrune village.

Doesn't she have a beautiful face and such an intelligent expression? I have so much admiration for Guide Dogs. I used to own a labrador, Flavia, who was a Guide Dog for the Blind until she was six when sadly her owner died. She had several homes after that, until I adopted her at 9 and a half and then she lived with me till she died aged 15. A lovely dog, she was.

Glinka

Glinka is an eleven year old Siberian Husky who lives in Menton with Ramses, the Shih-tzu we met yesterday. Here you see her sitting on the sea wall. Don't you love that blue eye against the blue sky?