Dog Training - A-l-t

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This adorable little Spitz looks in magnificent condition, doesn't he? Altaïr is 4 years old and lives in Contes, which is beyond Nice - he perhaps travelled the furthest to be at the Roquebrune Dog Training class.

I really should have asked owners to clean their dogs' eyes before I took the photographs. The sun was so bright I didn't notice until the pics came up on the screen and probably the sun made the dogs' eyes a bit runny.

We had to keep making noises to get him to put his ears up - you can see in the middle photo where they are not up. Too cute - wot no ears!

Note: I've changed his name in the heading as for some odd reason it has been bringing in tons of spam for weeks now.

Capsule and Carnage - the Street Dogs who have been Stolen

As is obvious, these are street dogs - meaning they belong to an 'sdf' (which stands for sans domicile fixe = no fixed abode) Unfortunately, since I met these dogs, they've been stolen. But let's start at the beginning....

I met them outside Marche U, a supermarket in Roquebrune. The one on the left is Capsule - she's a Dobermann crossed with a German Short-haired Pointer and she's 18 months old. She came from the refuge in Ventimiglia, just across the Italian border.

The big boy is Carnage and he's three and a half and he's a mix of a Dogue de Bordeaux and Bull Mastiff.

I took the photos on the 25th June and hadn't yet got around to putting them on Riviera Dogs but a couple of days ago had an email from a friend of the owner to say, they'd been stolen from him in Nice and could I send her the photographs to use in trying to get them back.


Some people I know won't be happy to see any dog living in the street but you can at least see they are not thin and have a blanket to sleep on. Are they happy? Well, I leave that up to you. At the moment, no one knows where they are. Let's hope they've been picked up by someone who will find them a good home. If I hear, I'll let you know. Probably they've been stolen by another 'sdf' as begging with dogs apparently brings better rewards.

Dog Training - Chiva, the dog with the biggest grin

Isn't this the biggest grin you've ever seen?! Meet 2 year old Chiva, the French bulldog. She was late at Dog Training (don't think she minded) so she happily posed and made me laugh. Chiva lives in Beausoleil, which adjoins Monaco.

The Market Dog

This little Jack Russell wants for nothing. Soft blanket, water bowl and a few croquettes spread around should he be hungry and best of all, his owner nearby. Far better than being left at home.

It's market day in Menton.

The Dog with the Plastic Bottle

Well, it's not the greatest photo in the world but don't you just love this French bulldog with an empty water bottle in its mouth?

Apologies for lack of posts. I've had a lousy bout of bronchitis and it was as much as I could do to post my Menton and Monte Carlo blogs. Amazing how weak you get. Anyway antibiotics started yesterday and feeling much more human today.

Dog Training - Auption

Auption is a three year old, owned by one of the ladies who trains the dogs. They live in Sospel, a hill village above Menton. There are several varieties of Belgian Shepherd Dog. Auption - look at those gentle eyes - is a Tervuren.

Dog Training - Brian

Brian lives in Cap d'ail, which adjoins the far side of Monaco. He's two years old and as you can see, is a beautiful Dalmatian.

In the middle photo, he is doing his sit/stay at the Dog Training class.

In the last photo, he's hot!

Dog Training - Zion, the Police Lady's Dog

Zion is an American Staffordshire Terrier, which I gather is not as the same as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier in the UK.

Zion is 5 years old and lives in Castellar, a hill village about Menton, with his owner, a very pretty policewoman. What is it about policemen and women - they get younger as we get older? And better looking.

Dog Training - Easie

We're back at Dog Training today and here is Easie, who is a Bernese Mountain Dog X German Shepherd Dog. Lovely mix, eh? I forgot to ask how old he is but he looks very young, doesn't he? Just a puppy and adorable.

Easie lives in La Turbie, the village above Monaco.

Nina, the Art Gallery Dog

Meet Nina, a Monte Carlo dog in the arms of a Monte Carlo lady - owner of the G.A.M Galerie d'Art in Monaco.

Nina is a long haired Chihuahua and nearly one year old - still only a puppy.

I was walking through the Gallery of the Winter Sporting in Casino Square and noticed a vernissage taking place in this beautiful art gallery. One of the owner's assistants kindly invited me in and put a glass of vin rosé in my hand. The vernissage was for two talented artists, one a sculptor and the other a photographer - yes, I know I should have taken note of names but put a glass of wine in my hand and give me a dog to photograph and that's it!


You'll see another photograph of Nina on Monte Carlo Daily Photo today (second photo).

Gino and Sante in Monaco

Walking along the port of Monaco I couldn't resist these two. Gino is the bigger one and is 8 years old and Sante is the smaller one - he's 4 - looks a puppy, doesn't he? They were visiting Monte Carlo from their home near to Dortmund in Germany.

Dog Training - Bandit takes a nap

Of course, I'm kidding. Bandit, the Border Collie, isn't napping but closing his eyes to the sun.

Border Collies are so intelligent, but they do need training. They need to feel they are working.

This lovely boy is 3 years old and lives in the hill village of Sospel which is 20 kilometres above Menton.

Dog Training - Pepsi

Pepsi is an intelligent little dog, bright as a button and enjoying his training class - you could see how he wanted to please his owner. You can see him in the Sit/Stay a couple of postings ago.

He's 2 years old and is a mix of a Pinscher and an Australian Terrier. He lives in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

Dog Training - Vickie

This beautiful German Shepherd was so well-behaved and look at those intelligent, kind eyes.

Vickie is 5 years old and lives in Menton. You can see her in the Sit/Stay exercise on the previous posting.

Dog Training - Myle

The other evening I popped along to watch the dog training class in Roquebrune. It's called Amicale du Chien and is run by a really nice lady called Miriam.

Meet a 13 month old Newfoundland called Myle. And see how good she is in the smaller photograph where she and three others are practicing their 'stays.' Myle lives in La Turbie. Isn't she gorgeous? - like a big cuddly black bear.

We'll meet these other three dogs another day and several more too.

Khalie, who loves the Sea

I met Khalie walking along the seafront in Menton and took a few photos but she wasn't settled and her owner told me she was anxious to get to one of the dog beaches, so a little later I caught up with them.

Here you see this gorgeous 5 year old Labrador, who lives in Menton, waiting for the ball to be thrown into the sea. 'Throw it, throw it!'

In the last photo she's bringing the ball back for MORE.

Labs just love water, don't they?

The Dog who Guards the Heliport in Monaco

Meet Rocky the Rottweiler. A working dog, he guards the Heliport in Monaco. And when he's not working? He lives in the Medieval village of Gorbio which is where we see him today.

He is a beautifully behaved, well-trained, eight year old dog with a lovely temperament. His owner told him to jump up on the stone bench and he did - he told him to turn his head towards the sun, he did. Super dog.

Riviera Dogs has been honoured by being mentioned in Owen's fascinating blog of great B and W photographs and much more. Go to The Magic Lantern Show or...Mr. Toad's Travel Diary.

Tony, the Drathaar

This large bundle of energy is a German Wire-haired Pointer, sometimes known as a Drathaar.

He didn't want to keep still for his photograph - he's only one year old, after all - so I'm sorry but his nose is out of focus in the smaller pic.

Tony lives in Megève in the Haute-Savoie region of France and was enjoying a holiday in Menton.

Update on Mia on Postcards from Pension Milou today.

Kaila

Kaila was resting in the shade with her owner - just around the corner from the market building. English Bulldogs have such gorgeous temperaments but if they are naughty and you have to get hold of them, goodness, they are strong. I've had one or two at Pension Milou who have thought it great fun to eat a door frame!

Kaila is three and lives in Milan - on holiday here in Menton.

Bijou

This little poodle has the most wonderful eyes and expression, doesn't she? So direct, so trusting, so interested.

She was on holiday in Menton from Belgium - she's two and a half years old and her name - Bijou - means jewel. She is well-named.

Kâlî

This lovely Miniature Bull Terrier is called Kâlî, which means Indian goddess. She's only 15 months of age and lives in Roquebrune-cap-Martin.

The Dog in the Car

This lovely dog stared at me as I walked along the promenade in Menton. His car was stuck in traffic so it was an easy shot. Isn't he or she lovely? I adore that direct gaze with soft gentle eyes.