Gill, the Guide Dog

Many of us think of a Guide Dog for the Blind as being a labrador, and indeed they are the most common breed used, but other breeds are Guide Dogs too. Meet a beautiful long-haired German Shepherd Dog called Gill. She is the Guide Dog for her handsome young owner who you see in the smaller photograph. They are from Holland and are sitting here under the olive tree in the Place des Deux Frères, in Roquebrune village.

Doesn't she have a beautiful face and such an intelligent expression? I have so much admiration for Guide Dogs. I used to own a labrador, Flavia, who was a Guide Dog for the Blind until she was six when sadly her owner died. She had several homes after that, until I adopted her at 9 and a half and then she lived with me till she died aged 15. A lovely dog, she was.

Glinka

Glinka is an eleven year old Siberian Husky who lives in Menton with Ramses, the Shih-tzu we met yesterday. Here you see her sitting on the sea wall. Don't you love that blue eye against the blue sky?

Ramses

Meet Ramses, sitting on the sea wall in Menton. His nice owners reminded me that I'd photographed 3 year old Ramses before but that he'd never appeared on the blog. I simply couldn't remember what happened but, of course, I remembered the name and the dog. When I got home I realised that he was in the first batch I'd taken with my new camera (this camera) and after I uploaded them, I wiped the card before they'd been copied to the hard drive. Duh! So apologies to Ramses' owners but here he is at last! They commented last night that he needs grooming - well I think he's just gorgeous and rather dignified, don't you think, 'King of the Seawall.'

Tomorrow, meet Ramses' friend, Glinka.

The Island of Réunion dog

This little bundle of love is called Noella - just a pup. She was born in the French Island of Réunion, where tragically live and dead dogs are used as shark bait. A wonderful lady in Villeneuve-Loubet brings dogs and puppies into France to rehome them. Noella was never in danger of being used as shark bait, but she came along anyway, via the lady, and now lives happily in Menton. Her wonderful 87-year old owner told me she is a Royal Bourbon Papillon. I can't find any reference to this breed, as such, except that the Papillon is featured in many old masters. A papillon is supposed to have been carried by Marie-Antoinette as she walked to the gallows and the older Papillons perhaps resemble Noella more than the modern ones.

Diego

Blame the failing light, blame a pup who only kept still for one second - no, blame the photographer for chopping off the top of his ears! This gorgeous 4 month old German Shepherd Dog was irresistible. Walking along the promenade of Menton - squashed can in his mouth - he's called Diego and lives in Menton.

Dad

Meet Dad, a beautiful Tibetan Terrier I met along the seafront in Menton. He is immaculate, the white so white, the black so black - he's 3 years old and is visiting Menton from Turin.

Bobby - me and my shadow

The sun is low, a walk along the beachfront of Menton. Bobby poses for a photograph but the sun is too bright, so what would any self-respecting poodle mix do, but squint. Bobby is 12 years old and is on holiday from Brussels.

Boogie

Meet Boogie, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. He lives in the medieval village of Gorbio, which is near to Menton. My village, in fact. His young owner picked him up for the photo. He looks awkward, doesn't he, but he is a much-loved dog who follows his owner everywhere. Isn't that a beautiful Cavalier head?

I think he's saying 'put me down' or 'who is that lady photographing me?'

Yappa

This is Yappa - on a wall near to the beach at Roquebrune-cap-Martin. Yappa was a nervous little dog - very wary of strangers so you see her here, tail down, not too happy at having her photograph taken. Her owner, one of the characters of Roquebrune, can be seen on Menton Daily Photo today - and you'll find her there too, much happier alongside her owner.

Apologies for lack of posts recently. I've been in America for three weeks. Was very tempted to post some of the lovely dogs I found in Ohio and Utah but decided, however beautiful, they weren't Riviera Dogs. Normal service has now been resumed. Woof-woof.

Old boy

This old Miniature Schnauzer looked up at me in the market area of Carnoles - this is part of Roquebrune and adjoins Menton. His owner told me he's 15 and doesn't see too well. Like all Miniature Schnauzers tho, he has plenty of spirit.

Teeny

A little Min Pin in Menton. With his little willy sticking out! His harness looks almost too heavy for him, doesn't it? I'm sure tho it's hard to get just the right size collars or harnesses for such a little dog.

The Menton Yorkie

This gorgeous little Yorkie has been featured on Menton Daily Photo before but always with his elegant owner. You see the owner in the small photo which was taken at the display of antique cars in Menton a few months ago. The lady normally dresses completely in white so it was unusual to see her in colours on this day. She walks with a stick, always with her Yorkie, of course, and always so friendly and happy.

On the day I took these photographs, I asked the name of the little dog but I'm in America at the moment and the note of his name is in Menton. Duh!

Coco - Dachshunds Rule!

Photographed in Menton, Coco lives in Monte Carlo. She knows she's beautiful, doesn't she?

Bouba

Bouba, most Yorkie as you can see, is three years old. Photographed here in the walking street of Menton, just outside the Maison du Patrimoine.

Raymond

Outside Le Balico in Menton, a beautiful French bulldog: Raymond, aged 9. He lives in Sospel, which is a beautiful village 20 ks above Menton in the mountains.

Clara

This is Clara, one year old and bright as a button. She is sitting at a restaurant in Rue Princesse Caroline, the walking street - in Monaco. Water provided by the management. Cotons are lovely little dogs - originally from Madagascar.

Bon Bon and Marco

We've gone back to the Monaco Dog Show for this photo. Meet Bon Bon, a beautiful female Chow Chow, aged two and half and her owner, Marco, who is 8 years old. He'll have all the girls sighing one day, won't he? Marco and Bon Bon come from Varese, in Northern Italy.

Street dogs

Tied to a tree, these dogs belong to street people - or at least people I often see hanging around Menton who appear to be street guys They were sitting on a nearby bench and spoke very proudly of their dogs. These pups appear to be well-fed and have smart collars.

Nose to ground

A smart beagle, doing what it does best, sniffing...searching for a scent.

Landseer

One hot pup here. It was on Brocante Day in Menton. Hot afternoon sun and this little (what am I saying?) boy is only 4 months of age. A beautiful Newfoundland. When they are black and white like this they are called Landseer.