Black eyes

Waiting in the queue to buy some bread, I couldn't miss this little bichon staring at me with his big black eyes. I don't know his name, just he was happy to gaze at the camera with so much trust. Aren't dogs wonderful!

Ciappi

This handsome dog caught my eye. Look at him in the small photograph with his Italian family, sitting by the sea in Menton. What a fine looking dog. He is a mix of German Shepherd and Italian Spinone and he lives in Bordighera which is just beyond Ventimiglia across the border in Italy. I don't speak Italian so just as well this lovely family spoke perfect English.

I usually tell owners that they will find a photograph of their dog on 'Riviera Dogs' although sometimes, when I quickly grab a shot, it's not possible. In Ciappi's case, I did and received an email and some photos of Ciappi at home. I'm posting my favourite below - thank you, Stefano, Elena and Luca - and of course, Ciappi.

Gribouille

A hot day in Menton yesterday, and one hot pug. I didn't ask why his owner was carrying him but presumably cos he'd got hot - and pugs can have breathing problems if they get overheated. Look at that lovely lolling tongue! Gribouille, 4 years of age, lives in Castellar - a beautiful old village above Menton. Gribouille looks heavy for his nice owner to carry. Pugs are small but very solid little dogs. What wonderful characters they are.

I've not seen a dog lead like that before - have you?

Nain

This is a really tiny poodle - a toy. Called a caniche nain in France. I met her walking along the Corbusier walk between Cap Martin and Monaco. I was told her name, wrote it somewhere and can't find the piece of paper - very inefficient of me - but I did take this photograph in January - so forgive. If I find her name - and I remember it was a pretty name - of course I'll add it.

Macy

Macy, this lovely 8 year old Boxer, was patiently waiting (see side photo) for her owner to have her nails done in the prestigious Metropole Centre in Monte Carlo.

She's owned by a very nice English lady who lives in Monaco. I didn't trim the top photo just so you could see the beautiful ironwork and marble floors and walls in the shopping centre.

Hasn't Macy got the most beautiful eyes?

Canelle

Meet Canelle, a six-month old Yorkshire terrier. She was at the Corso in Menton yesterday. The Corso is the 'parade of floats' that takes place during the Lemon Festival. You'll be able to read about this, from tomorrow, on Menton Daily Photo.

Meanwhile, if you'd like to see 9 dogs, sitting absolutely still in a New York street, with no one holding their leads, please click on the link. The blog belongs to a great guy, Ming, who posts a photo of New York City every day.

Nutella

Time for Nutella to have a haircut. She's in the Salon de Toilettage of my friend, Carla, in Menton.

Nutella is 4 years old and is the mother of Carla's own shih-tzu, Billy - named after Billy Jean King, the tennis champion. Billy is in the pic on the left.

Nutella, by the way, is the name of a chocolate spread in France!

Shopi

This cute terrier cross, doing his very best to appear 'fierce,' was peering out from under a café table in Carnoles, part of Roquebrune-cap-Martin. He's six years old and called Shopi. Shopi is the name of a local supermarket, by the way. Don't you love the intensity of his expression?

Monsieur Spitz One-Ear?

Not a nice morning in Carnoles - a suburb of Roquebrune-cap-Martin. I noticed this cute and very independent little Spitz following his owner. I took about four photos following them - he, always off lead, even when crossing the road. They walked fast and I didn't think I'd get to take his photo. Suddenly Madame stopped and greeted a friend and from then on, quite oblivious to me, I could photograph this little boy. I don't know his name - I didn't like to interrupt their conversation - but I know he's a boy.

And yes, as you see, he does have two ears!

Olivia

Olivia, the little Yorkie, is the companion of Océane, whom we met yesterday in the medieval village of Roquebrune. She's 8 years old, same as her friend, and is sporting a short haircut which seems to be comfortable for a Yorkshire terrier and fairly easy for an owner to deal with.

Océane

Océane, a lovely 8-year old Hungarian Vizla, lives in the old village of Roquebrune with her owner Josie and a little Yorkie. You'll meet the Yorkie tomorrow. Hard to believe but it's got to be 9 years since Josie's beautiful Weimaraner died. I think she was only around 5. Josie felt she couldn't take another dog of the same breed, it would never be the same, and so she chose a Vizla. In the photo below, she moved her head, so it's just slightly out of focus, but I love her expression.

Calipet

Calipet lives in Fontvieille, right by the small port of Monaco. She's a mix of Fox Terrier and Golden Retriever or Labrador and is two and half years old. Her owner was SO nice. She saw me photographing sculptures for Monte Carlo Daily Photo and asked if I'd seen a specific new and modern sculpture in Fontvieille. I hadn't. So she insisted I went and saw it and indeed took me there. As we walked along she told she was born in Monte Carlo and as a child used to fish off the port - she'll have seen many changes over the years. Calipet met several dogs as we walked along - she knows these streets - a lovely dog and great rapport between her and her nice owner.

'Dogs encourage us humans to become humane' - Jo Winter

Bully at the Fête du Citron

I met Bully outside the Jardin Biovès in Menton, where work was in preparation for the Fête du Citron. Click on the link. When I asked his name -I wrote down Billy but his owner corrected me!- and then told Bully to do his party trick, which you see in the photo below.

Clipper - Tintin's dog?

This little 5 month bundle of trouble is called Clipper and belongs to friends who live in south western France and in Monaco. He is a replacement for Scupper, who died far too young. You can read Scupper's story by clicking on the link.

To me, Clipper looks so much like Tintin's dog, Milou - called Snowy in England. His ears don't stick up but he has that look - probably because he hasn't yet got full pigmentation around his eyes. If you don't know Hergé's famous Tintin stories, do click on the link.

This last photograph - below - is out of focus, but I'm using it cos in this he really is Milou/Snowy! I wonder if he'll have as many adventures in his life as Tintin's dog. I sure hope so.

Crocus, the Florist's dog

Good name for a Flower Shop Dog. Crocus is two years old and belongs to the owner of my favourite flower shop in Carnoles, which is part of Roquebrune-cap-Martin.

Below you see him standing in the window. He's always happy to see me because I smell of dogs - so he spends the whole of my visit sniffing my jeans, much to the dismay of his owner. I'm used to dogs sniffing my jeans...so no big deal.

The Château Dog

This lovely old Wire Fox Terrier belongs to the lady who sells the entrance tickets at the castle in Roquebrune village. Here you see her lying in the sunshine, half asleep - and in the photo below she's eating a snack alongside her owner at one of the village restaurants. You can see the castle of Roquebrune by clicking on the link.

Joey, the Grotte dog

Joey belongs to La Grotte - or rather to Eric, who runs this great Italian/pizza place in Roquebrune village. The restaurant is carved out of the pudding rock of the village. Click on the link to see a different view. They serve truly great pizzas, the thinest crispest crust with fab fresh fillings and served with that wonderful piquant Ligurian olive oil. Joey has great fun walking around the tables, sitting and putting on his best 'I'm starving' look in the hope of being given a taster. He doesn't look too starved to me! In fact, he's in great condition for his 11 years - he doesn't look it, does he?

If you'd like to see more of Roquebrune village please click on the Menton Daily Photo link.

Prickle

This is little Prickle, at home and being stroked by her owner - my friend, William. Prickle has a wonderful life running around her garden - one of the most famous gardens of Menton - the Clos du Peyronnet. 

'My little dog ~ a heartbeat at my feet.' Edith Wharton (1862-1937)

Gigi

Meet Gigi. I met him whilst having a haircut in Menton the other day. He sat patiently by his owner's chair. I thought he was a Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen but his owner tells me he is a cross between a PBGV and a Griffon Vendeen. Nevertheless, considering his size, I've listed him as the former - as I had to make the choice between one or the other. Gigi is 3 years old and lives in Menton.

I lay on the floor to get this shot and when Isabelle, who cuts my hair, went to help me up, Gigi snapped at her (missed!) - not because he is nasty but because he mistakenly thought she was attacking me. We all need to be dog psychiatrists, don't we?

'The world was conquered through the understanding of dogs; the world exists through the understanding of dogs.' Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

Jackye

This is Jackye, a 3 year old Min Pin who lives in Monaco with her Italian owners. Named after Jackie Kennedy, she's sitting on her owner's lap on a bench just down from the casino area of Monte Carlo.