Pippi Longstocking

Monaco Dog Show - Pippi Longstocking perhaps ... ?

Giving the eye ...

Here's looking at you, kid.  A Bearded Collie is giving the eye at the Monaco Dog Show.  Prior to going into the ring, her whiskers are tied in rubber bands so that she can drink without the fur getting wet.

Red and Black

Accessorized in red at yesterday's Monaco Dog Show. The dog pulling her along is a Giant Schnauzer.

Tokyo

A chihuahua puppy from Ventimiglia, Italy.  She's called Tokyo and is giving a 'don't mess with me' look!

Papillon?

Maybe a Papillon or a Papillon mix.  Cute anyway ...

Double Irish

Two gorgeous Irish Wolfhounds in my garden.  I took this photo in 2009 with the camera before the camera before the camera before .... so there's not a lot of definition but aren't they gorgeoous creatures!

Norfolk terriers

How cute are these two!  They are Norfolk Terriers. 

There are identical to a Norwich terrier except the Norwich has prick ears.  A good way of remembering the difference is to think of the spire of Norwich cathedral and then the 'up' ears of the Norwich terrier.

Prickle

Typical Jack Russell pose of waiting to pounce!  But in this case, Prickle will have no luck as the bantams are protected by wire-netting. Prickle (she's 15 years young) - and the bantams - live in the beautiful Clos du Peyronnet in Menton.

Pink Ribbon Chihuahua

This long-haired chihuahua is walking in Monaco's 'Pink Ribbon' parade in aid of breast cancer awareness.

Tea for two ...

Table for two ...

Attack Dog

An 'attack' dog is grabbed by his handler after stopping a 'baddie' and downing him - part of a display at Monaco's dog show last year. 

Black biker

Motor bike poodle!

Spirou

French Bulldogs melt my heart.  This is Spirou, he's 4 years old and lives in Gorbio. 

Unfortunately he has leishmaniosis, but with regular treatment he will continue to live a normal life, albeit sometimes with a bit of weakness. For anyone that doesn't know, leishmaniosis is caused by a bite from a phlebetome (a type of tiny mosquito) that puts parasites into the blood. There is no cure, but with drugs it is kept in remission.

Isn't he adorable!

Marie

This is Marie.  She's a black labrador or perhaps a lab mix - she's around 3 or 4 years old and lived in a refuge until she was given her forever home by a family in Gorbio. 

Well-travelled Daisy

Daisy, the Labrador, was born in England, lived in the south of France, moved to Australia and then moved back to the UK - where she now lives.  But one time, she was indeed a Riviera Dog.

Roxy and grass

Spring is here and with it comes tasty young grass.  Roxy, who lives in Monaco, likes it!

Sisters

Sisters - and a bag to match.

Pepper

A cool iron foot-scraper keeps Pepper cool on a hot day. Pepper is two years old and lives in Gorbio village with his young owners, Mary and Amy.

Teeth!

'My, what big teeth you have ...'   Jack Russell terriers in Ventimiglia, Italy.

'Ol Blue Eyes'

A bar in Ventimiglia and 'Ol blue eyes' the dog.

Dog and Cat

This cat thinks he's a dog and follows his Shetland Sheepdog family (there are four of them) around Gorbio village. Love that!

Sheltie and bench

This beautiful Shetland Sheepdog lives in Gorbio village with three other Shelties and a cat. 

Patrice and the shih-tzus

If you stay in Monte Carlo's prestigious Hotel Hermitage and you want your dogs walked, then Patrice is your man!

Wanna play?

Two pups who want to play.  Luna, Australian Shepherd and Biggi, Jack Russell terrier in Gorbio village. 

Blonde on Blonde

This lovely dog was lying outside a bar in Grottalgie, in Puglia, Italy.  Perhaps a stray or perhaps she belonged to the bar. Grottalgie is a village with many artisan ceramic factories.

Luna

How utterly gorgeous is this 3 month old Australian Shepherd!  She's called Luna and lives in Gorbio village - love her!

Wet bichon!

Wet bichon!

Lascar

He looks a bit like a strange dachshund, doesn't he but in fact he's a Bassett des Alpes (also called a Alpine Dachsbracke) The breed originates from Austria and is used to hunt wild boar and also to find wounded animals and this is exactly what he does in Gorbio with his owner.

Saphir

Goldens and little boys or girls go together, don't they?  This is Saphir and he belongs to a little boy in Gorbio village. He's outside the school and waiting for his young owner.

Dog Walker

Walking the dog ... this is Leonie, who lives in Menton and has her owner very well-trained.

Yachtie Dog

Waiting for the boat at Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Wiry

Who can resist a wire-haired terrier mix like this one?

Ice breaker on four legs

You're never lonely with a dog ... not only is he a great companion but he'll be an ice-breaker as you walk around your neighbourhood.  These three old man - and a Min Pin - are chatting in Beausoleil.

Pull ...

French bulldogs are strong...

Titouf

I met 'Titouf' in Menton yesterday.  She's a dignified older lady now - 13 years - and is named after a French cartoon character.  Isn't she adorable!

Colour match in Monaco!

Colour match in Monaco! 

Meeting in the Mist

Meeting in the mist ... at the Coulée Verte in Nice.  A French Bulldog and a Staffy mix perhaps - or is he an American Staff?

Frenchie

A cute - as always - French bulldog in Nice yesterday.

Bundles of fluff

Bundles of fluff.  These tiny Pomeranians are waiting to go into the ring at Monaco Dog Show.

Rottie

A Rottie pup walking in a park in Aix-en-Provence this morning.  Very friendly he was too.

Lula

 Meet Lula. I met this pup in a market in Aix-en-Provence today. She's a mix of a Border Collie (which you can see in those staring eyes) and a Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Too adorable!

Border stares

These two Border Collies were waiting to go into the showring at the last Monaco Dog show.  Border Collies have the most intense stare don't they? Such intelligent dogs.

Nina

This little bundle of love is called Nina.  She's two years old and was recently adopted by a lovely couple in Gorbio village, Muriel and Doudou - now the family is complete!

Comfy

A cute long-haired chihuahua looking very content in his owner's arms. Photographed on the streets of Nice.

And then there were four!

There's a fourth one hidden!

Balcony dog

A Brittany spaniel relaxing on his balcony in Castellar - an ancient village above Menton.

Best friends

Best friends ... all a dog wants is to be with his owner.

Cutie pie

This beyond cute Pomeranian was waiting patiently for her owner to take her home.  She's at Cap 3000, a massive shopping centre at Saint Laurent du Var, just beyond Nice.

Life-saver

Who doesn't love a Newfie?  This dog was one of many Newfoundlands in Menton demonstrating their life-saving skills in the sea.

Crufts 2016

For those of you interested, Crufts - the biggest dog show in the world - starts tomorrow in Birmingham.  This is what thousands and thousands of exhibitors will be doing in preparation and what I used to do for many years including judging there in 2006.  Good luck to all my friends who exhibit their dogs, and especially the Old English Sheepdogs!

(This is the tail of Sjaak Nelleke's dog when they visited the Monaco dog show one year).