Protection

Snapped at the Fête du Citron in Menton, this adorable dog is held in his owner's arms to protect him from the crowds - 25,000 this year at the Corso (parade of floats).

Charles-Henri

Basset Hounds always make me laugh with their big soulful eyes. My Mia, who is a Basset Ariegois, has a similar look - wins me over every time.

Meet Charles-Henri (what a grand name). He lives in Belgium, but was in Menton with his family for the Fête du Citron and posed on the sea wall near to Roquebrune-cap-Martin.

Ida - the SDF

I love this dog! See how patiently she sits by her owner in Menton. He told me she was a SDF, which means Sans Domicile Fixe (homeless) - well, it's obvious she now has a really good home, even if she has a rope lead - even that, seems to suit her adorable scruffy appearance.

Her name is Ida and she was rescued from the Antilles and now lives - obviously happily - in Nice. I've heard before of badly treated dogs being rescued from the island of Antilles. Ida was one of the lucky ones.

Baccarat

All you can see is her nose! This lovely Briard was walking at the Place du Cap in Menton, on holiday with her owners who live in the Piedmonte area of Italy.

There's an update today on Mia and Mistral on 'Postcards from Pension Milou.'

Cayenne and her orange ball

Walking along the Port of Monaco is Cayenne, a 16 month old female Cavalier King Charles. Cayenne played non-stop with her ball, continually bringing it back to her owner with a 'look' saying 'please throw it for me.'

She lives in Monte Carlo so I'm sure this is a regular game on the wide area of promenade above the luxury yachts.

The Foot Ball

Using his owner's foot as a ball, perhaps this dog is a little confused. He was near to the Botero sculpture of Adam & Eve in Monaco yesterday.

Thandie

Meet little Thandie who is a miniature wire-haired dachshund and too cute for words. Isn't she adorable? She's only a year and a bit and lives with a standard smooth haired dachsy called Coco, who we met in Menton last June. Click on the link to see her.

Both live with their South African owners in Monte Carlo - Thandie is a South African name. Here she poses at Pension Milou. See her tail wagging in the smaller photo.

Sethi

This little Sheltie was a long way from his home in Luxembourg. Here with his owner for the Lemon Festival of Menton, he's 8 years old. Like many Shelties he was a little nervous at being photographed, but in the end we got there - he wouldn't look at me though - you can see in every photo he's anxiously looking at his Mama. Isn't he gorgeous.

Maya

Maya was waiting for her owner outside the veggie shop in Carnoles. She's old and he is too. When he came out I had a chat and he confirmed her breed - a Pyrenean Shepherd Dog, sometimes called a Labrit here. He said she is 12 years old and his second dog of this breed. They obviously adore each other. Dogs are good for all of us but so good for an older person living alone.

See how patiently she waits for him.

In step

Snapped last summer - hence the shorts. Actually it's pouring with rain at the moment and cold and yesterday we had hail too. This little dog is obviously enjoying his walk along the seafront of Menton.

'All animals except man know that the ultimate of life is to enjoy it'

Samuel Butler (1835-1902)

Benediction of the Animals

This is a pic I took in October at the Benediction of the Animals in Menton. (It's not t-shirt weather at the moment!) No details on the dogs but isn't this a gorgeous Golden Retriever.

Update on Mama Mia and Mistral on Postcards today.

The Performing Dogs at the Monte Carlo Circus - 4

This little Papillon or Papillon-mix is sitting at the back of the enclosure, not at all interested in the people looking in. Papillons are, by nature, a little wary of strangers so perhaps that accounts for it although a circus dog must have to meet all sorts, one would think.

The Performing Dogs at the Monte Carlo Circus - 3

Another circus dog - this time a pretty little Shetland Sheepdog mix - I think?

There's a labrador on Monte Carlo Daily Photo today waiting to steal popcorn from a child...as if!

The Performing Dogs at the Monte Carlo Circus - 2

This little dog really looks like a circus dog, doesn't he? Can't you just see him doing tricks to make the audience laugh? Perhaps he's the one that turns somersaults?

The main photo fades on his left because that was shadow from one of the bars.

The Performing Dogs at the Monte Carlo Circus - 1

Each year Monaco holds holds the Festival of Circus which is one of the most prestigious events in the circus world. This year, the 33rd year, one of the acts was 'Wolfgang Laurenburger and his Performing Dogs,' They won one of the special prizes.

There were three exercise areas along by the sea, not far from the main tent and over the next few days we'll take a look at more dogs.

You can see a beautiful little black dog and also a a photo of all of them performing on Monte Carlo Daily Photo today.

Pepito

A really cute little Papillon in Fontvieille, Monaco but he wouldn't keep still, wouldn't look at the camera, so this is the best I could do. Papillons, by nature and breeding, are wary of strangers, so it's not a surprise.

The owner of Pepito - who is 10 years old, by the way - said he's not a pure-bred Papillon but is a cross between a Papillon and a Chihuahua is, apparently, known as a Chihuahua Irlandais (Irish). I can find no reference to this breed anywhere so have listed him here as a Papillon as he looks like one.

I've often found dogs in France called something that doesn't exist - sold to owners as a specific breed when there is no such thing.

Roy

This fine looking labrador was walking past the tigers, currently installed in an enclosure outside the circus tent. I was surprised that all the dogs walking by just ignored the tigers - and vice versa. There are several barriers, of course, between the public and the tigers, but even so you'd think the dogs would be intrigued by interesting smells and sounds.

Roy is 7 years old and lives in Monaco.

Didji

This photograph wasn't supposed to turn out like this. I was at the vet's office collecting one of the dogs and saw this adorable French bulldog with the bandaged paw. I turned the camera to the pet setting and snapped - then thought perhaps I needed flash and took a couple more. Well the ones with flash didn't turn out at all because, I suppose, the flash didn't fire. And this one, as you see, has picked out the luminous quality of the harness and lead, leaving the dog rather dark. Still I quite like it, and adore the dog.

So Didji is obviously a dog who shows up in the dark. Isn't she adorable? She's only a pup - 8 months old, and lives near to Monaco in Beausoleil.

Lila and Topis

These two little black bundles of energy didn't want to be photographed but we sort of got there. Not an ideal place - part of the walking street of Menton that has a rather grubby surface and with my freezer bag in the background - not good photography, Jilly!

They are mother and daughter. Lila is 10 (she's the one with the shorter coat) and her daughter is Topis (wiry haired). Lila is 10 and Topis is 9. They were with their charming owners on a visit to Menton from Milan, where they live.

Update on Mama Mia and Mistral - please click on the link.

Cali

Meet Cali - she is a mix: a Pyrenean Mountain Dog and a Newfoundland and she is enormous! Isn't she gorgeous. She is 19 months old and lives in Monaco and she is adorable, so obedient and so gentle, which is just as well considering her size!

This was taken here, at Pension Milou - not exactly a dog I met walking along the beach but I wanted you to see her. She's fallen in love with a Golden Retriever since arriving a couple of days ago and they play non-stop.

Ubaldo

Eyes slightly closed against the sun, Ubaldo poses for the camera. He's 12 years old, a mix, and lives in Milan. He and his family had come to Menton over the weekend. A very handsome dog, don't you think?


For an update on Mama Mia and Mistral please click on Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

To see a saint of a woman who cars for 250 dogs please click on Bibi in Belgrade.

Picasso

Meet Picasso. He's the first Grand Bassett Griffon Vendeen to appear on this blog. We've had the smaller version - the Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen. This is the large version!

And isn't he gorgeous. He's standing here with his owners who are watching the skating at the ice rink by the Bastion in Menton. They were on holiday in Menton from Turin in Italy. You can read about both sizes of this breed by clicking on the link.

If you'd like to see a couple of great dog photos on Sydney Daily Photo, taken by my friend, Sally - please click on the link. They are really super.

Blue Dog

You'd not think these two photos are of the same dog, would you? The first was taken when he was undercover and so less light. I actually prefer the smaller photo - you see the beauty of his expression but it's out of focus - it also shows his true colour.

Focus on the eyes, and the nose is out of focus - focus on the nose and the eyes are - and I'm still learning about Depth of Field...don't ask!

He's a two -year old mix of Weimaraner and Dobermann and lives in Sospel. You can see both parts of the mix, can't you? He's so big though, I thought he had Great Dane in him.

I met him at the market in Carnoles where his owner has a stall selling linens. Can't believe it (yes I can!) I either forgot to ask his name or more likely forgot to write it down, so he's Blue Dog!

For an update on Mama Mia and Mistral please go to Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

Mama Mia

She's only been a Riviera Dog for about 15 hours, but she is one! This is one of the two just-adopted dogs now living at Pension Milou - for EVER. Exhausted and in terrible condition she sleeps in her new home.

For an update on Mistral and Mama Mia, the Hell Hole dogs who arrived at Pension Milou yesterday - please click on the link.

Who are you?

My neighbour has a Berger Pyrénées (Labrit) so maybe that is what this dog is - although I think the legs are too short. Perhaps she's a Tibetan Terrier? Perhaps SHE is a HE? I wish now I'd asked but it was just a quick shot and on we went. Snapped in a Menton square.

Today is a BIG DAY at Pension Milou as we are adopting two dogs rescued from a Hell Hole. Shut in a roughly 2 metre square run for 8 years, never let out and never cleaned out. Yes, living on 8 years of excrement. They were lifted out of there yesterday and are currently en route to me from the Languedoc - should be here in a few hours! Obviously, I've not met them - the first dogs given a home by email! If you want to follow the excitement please read more on Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

Davinci, the Dogue de Bordeaux

This is the first Dogue de Bordeaux we've seen on Riviera Dogs. Davinci is a 3 and a half month old puppy having fun at the Christmas Fair in Monaco. He lives in Beausoleil, which is the French town adjoining the north of Monaco.

The Dogue de Bordeaux, a Mastiff type of dog, is apparently one of the oldest breeds in France. You can read more by clicking on the link.

Shiny wet nose

Hot on the heels of a long-haired dachshund (see last post) we now have a wire-haired. I know nothing about him tho. His owner was busy shopping at the Menton Christmas Fair but he seemed happy to smile at the camera with his beautiful wet nose, shining in the sunshine.

Tatu

You can see this dog is old by his lovely white face, yet look how bright his eyes are and how his coat gleams. He's a very young 13 year old.

Tatu lives in Perinaldo, a village just across the border in Italy but I met him in Menton at the Christmas market.

Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for your support and visits to Riviera Dogs. Woof woof!