Iris

Meet Iris, my friend and neighbour Agnes' beautiful 5 month old Golden Retriever puppy.  She's having the best fun jumping for a stick.

Iris lives with her big brother, Shadow, who can you see in the last photo. More of Shadow another time.

Idylle

Isn't she beautiful! This is 5 month old Idylle who is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Bernese Moutain Dog.  She was in the bar in Gorbio village waiting for the Blessing of the Animals.  She's on the left in the group photo.

The Blessing of the Animals in Gorbio

These photos have already been published on Menton Daily Photo but in case you've not seen them, here they are.  The Blessing of the Animals is an annual event and part of the Fete Patronale in the medieval village of Gorbio.  There were horses, dogs, a cat and note the sheep in the second photo!

Note also Bouchette - she's the Bassett Hound in the centre right of the main photo and she isn't on a lead. She belongs to the Beausejour restaurant in the village and she brings herself to be blessed every year.

Bijoux

She's a one year old Chihuahua called Bijoux.  I met her in the Bar Les Terrasses in Gorbio yesterday. She lives in Italy and in Menton. Cute, eh? Bijoux means jewel.

Domino and Nellie

Meet 5-year old Domino and Nellie.  Domino is wearing the collar, and Nellie, the harness.

The adorable Westies were having fun with a tennis ball near Larvotto Beach in Monaco.

Hot Dog!

What a good way to cool down a hot Labrador in a medieval hill village! 

Meet Heli, who is only 9 months old and lives at the top of Gorbio village.  He obviously appreciates the wet tea towel on his back. Of course, it eventually fell off but his vigilant owner kept putting it back again. Isn't he gorgeous - look at those kind trusting eyes.

Maggie

Isn't she gorgeous!  This is Maggie.  She's a Red and White Irish Setter who lives in Monaco.

Abby and Mia

Not the first time I've posted a photo of Abby, the Cavalier and Mia, the Bassett Ariegois, on my coffee table! Beautiful Abby comes to stay from time to time and Mia is one of my rescue dogs.

Ulka, the Briard

You don't see many Briards in the south of France. Perhaps because it's too hot. Surprising though because they are, after all, a French Shepherd Dog.

Meet Ulka. She's 10 years old and lives in Paris.  I met her in the medieval village of Gorbio.

Indignant Tess

This is Tess, part pointer - giving me the dirtiest look because she doesn't want her photo taken - thank you very much! 

We've met Tess before on Riviera Dogs - she was one of four puppies found in a plastic bag and thrown in a rubbish bin - aged one day!  A wonderful lady in the Var hand-reared them and eventually they all found great homes. 

Charlie, the Griffon Bruxellois

This is Charlie and he's one of the sweetest little dogs I've met. He's a Griffon Bruxellois or Brussels Griffon which is a breed of toy dog, named for their city of origin: Brussels, Belgium. The Griffon Bruxellois may refer to three different breeds, the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Belge and the Petit Brabançon. Identical in standard except for coat and colour differences, in some standards they are considered varieties of the same breed.  You can see two of them HERE - photographed at the Monaco Dog Show. Sometimes they are called 'monkey dogs' presumably because of their cute expressions.

The little wire-haired dog in the foreground of the Jan van Eyck painting The Arnolfini Marriage is thought to be an early form of this breed.

Charlie is 10 years old, although you'd never know it and he lives in Monaco. Absolutely adorable. 

Exuberance!

This squirming bundle of Jack Russell terrier was at the recent Mechoui in Gorbio village.  I don't know her name.

Here she has leapt into the arms of Fabrice, who was chatting to her owner who is out of the picture to the right and is holding her lead.

Lola - the White Miniature Schnauzer

This lovely white Miniature Schnauzer is called Lola and lives in Monaco.  She was being groomed in a poodle parlour in Menton.Lola is 4 years old.

Miniature schnauzers come in four colours - black, salt-and-pepper, black-and-silver, and white.  I've never seen a white one before - have you?

Thaina - the Lucky Dog from Thailand

Meet Thaina.  She is a Thai dog and was run over by a car on the streets of Thailand when she was only a few months old.  Happily for her, she was taken to the vet by a young couple who arranged for her to be treated and eventually tatooed and vaccinated and then brought to France. She now lives in Menton. I photographed her in Gorbio where she was visiting her owner's mother who lives in the village.

Doreen or Uggie?

You'd think this little dog is a puppy, wouldn't you? In fact, Doreen is 5 years old.

She reminds me a bit of Uggie in 'The Artist' - slightly different markings but that same adorable face. Doreen lives in Monaco - I met her yesterday in the veterinary surgery in Cap d'Ail.

Tessa

 This is Tessa, a 4 month old Boxer puppy, playing near the beach in Garavan, Menton.  She lives in Grasse.

Gunja - and bone

Gunja is a cross between a Boxer and a Golden Retriever. She's the sweetest, gentlest dog and lives in the village of Gorbio.  Here you see her chewing a bone at the recent Méchoui (sheep roast picnic) - yes, the dogs eat as well as the people: there was a large dish of lamb and lamb bones, just for the dogs!


Gunja, is very polite -  here she greets friends at one of the tables. And with her owner and new baby, she says Hello to Gunilla and Alice.