The Performing Dogs at the Monte Carlo Circus - 1

Each year Monaco holds holds the Festival of Circus which is one of the most prestigious events in the circus world. This year, the 33rd year, one of the acts was 'Wolfgang Laurenburger and his Performing Dogs,' They won one of the special prizes.

There were three exercise areas along by the sea, not far from the main tent and over the next few days we'll take a look at more dogs.

You can see a beautiful little black dog and also a a photo of all of them performing on Monte Carlo Daily Photo today.

Pepito

A really cute little Papillon in Fontvieille, Monaco but he wouldn't keep still, wouldn't look at the camera, so this is the best I could do. Papillons, by nature and breeding, are wary of strangers, so it's not a surprise.

The owner of Pepito - who is 10 years old, by the way - said he's not a pure-bred Papillon but is a cross between a Papillon and a Chihuahua is, apparently, known as a Chihuahua Irlandais (Irish). I can find no reference to this breed anywhere so have listed him here as a Papillon as he looks like one.

I've often found dogs in France called something that doesn't exist - sold to owners as a specific breed when there is no such thing.

Roy

This fine looking labrador was walking past the tigers, currently installed in an enclosure outside the circus tent. I was surprised that all the dogs walking by just ignored the tigers - and vice versa. There are several barriers, of course, between the public and the tigers, but even so you'd think the dogs would be intrigued by interesting smells and sounds.

Roy is 7 years old and lives in Monaco.

Didji

This photograph wasn't supposed to turn out like this. I was at the vet's office collecting one of the dogs and saw this adorable French bulldog with the bandaged paw. I turned the camera to the pet setting and snapped - then thought perhaps I needed flash and took a couple more. Well the ones with flash didn't turn out at all because, I suppose, the flash didn't fire. And this one, as you see, has picked out the luminous quality of the harness and lead, leaving the dog rather dark. Still I quite like it, and adore the dog.

So Didji is obviously a dog who shows up in the dark. Isn't she adorable? She's only a pup - 8 months old, and lives near to Monaco in Beausoleil.

Lila and Topis

These two little black bundles of energy didn't want to be photographed but we sort of got there. Not an ideal place - part of the walking street of Menton that has a rather grubby surface and with my freezer bag in the background - not good photography, Jilly!

They are mother and daughter. Lila is 10 (she's the one with the shorter coat) and her daughter is Topis (wiry haired). Lila is 10 and Topis is 9. They were with their charming owners on a visit to Menton from Milan, where they live.

Update on Mama Mia and Mistral - please click on the link.

Cali

Meet Cali - she is a mix: a Pyrenean Mountain Dog and a Newfoundland and she is enormous! Isn't she gorgeous. She is 19 months old and lives in Monaco and she is adorable, so obedient and so gentle, which is just as well considering her size!

This was taken here, at Pension Milou - not exactly a dog I met walking along the beach but I wanted you to see her. She's fallen in love with a Golden Retriever since arriving a couple of days ago and they play non-stop.

Ubaldo

Eyes slightly closed against the sun, Ubaldo poses for the camera. He's 12 years old, a mix, and lives in Milan. He and his family had come to Menton over the weekend. A very handsome dog, don't you think?


For an update on Mama Mia and Mistral please click on Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

To see a saint of a woman who cars for 250 dogs please click on Bibi in Belgrade.

Picasso

Meet Picasso. He's the first Grand Bassett Griffon Vendeen to appear on this blog. We've had the smaller version - the Petit Bassett Griffon Vendeen. This is the large version!

And isn't he gorgeous. He's standing here with his owners who are watching the skating at the ice rink by the Bastion in Menton. They were on holiday in Menton from Turin in Italy. You can read about both sizes of this breed by clicking on the link.

If you'd like to see a couple of great dog photos on Sydney Daily Photo, taken by my friend, Sally - please click on the link. They are really super.

Blue Dog

You'd not think these two photos are of the same dog, would you? The first was taken when he was undercover and so less light. I actually prefer the smaller photo - you see the beauty of his expression but it's out of focus - it also shows his true colour.

Focus on the eyes, and the nose is out of focus - focus on the nose and the eyes are - and I'm still learning about Depth of Field...don't ask!

He's a two -year old mix of Weimaraner and Dobermann and lives in Sospel. You can see both parts of the mix, can't you? He's so big though, I thought he had Great Dane in him.

I met him at the market in Carnoles where his owner has a stall selling linens. Can't believe it (yes I can!) I either forgot to ask his name or more likely forgot to write it down, so he's Blue Dog!

For an update on Mama Mia and Mistral please go to Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

Mama Mia

She's only been a Riviera Dog for about 15 hours, but she is one! This is one of the two just-adopted dogs now living at Pension Milou - for EVER. Exhausted and in terrible condition she sleeps in her new home.

For an update on Mistral and Mama Mia, the Hell Hole dogs who arrived at Pension Milou yesterday - please click on the link.

Who are you?

My neighbour has a Berger Pyrénées (Labrit) so maybe that is what this dog is - although I think the legs are too short. Perhaps she's a Tibetan Terrier? Perhaps SHE is a HE? I wish now I'd asked but it was just a quick shot and on we went. Snapped in a Menton square.

Today is a BIG DAY at Pension Milou as we are adopting two dogs rescued from a Hell Hole. Shut in a roughly 2 metre square run for 8 years, never let out and never cleaned out. Yes, living on 8 years of excrement. They were lifted out of there yesterday and are currently en route to me from the Languedoc - should be here in a few hours! Obviously, I've not met them - the first dogs given a home by email! If you want to follow the excitement please read more on Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

Davinci, the Dogue de Bordeaux

This is the first Dogue de Bordeaux we've seen on Riviera Dogs. Davinci is a 3 and a half month old puppy having fun at the Christmas Fair in Monaco. He lives in Beausoleil, which is the French town adjoining the north of Monaco.

The Dogue de Bordeaux, a Mastiff type of dog, is apparently one of the oldest breeds in France. You can read more by clicking on the link.

Shiny wet nose

Hot on the heels of a long-haired dachshund (see last post) we now have a wire-haired. I know nothing about him tho. His owner was busy shopping at the Menton Christmas Fair but he seemed happy to smile at the camera with his beautiful wet nose, shining in the sunshine.

Tatu

You can see this dog is old by his lovely white face, yet look how bright his eyes are and how his coat gleams. He's a very young 13 year old.

Tatu lives in Perinaldo, a village just across the border in Italy but I met him in Menton at the Christmas market.

Merry Christmas everyone and thank you for your support and visits to Riviera Dogs. Woof woof!

Tequila

The larger photo looks as if it's simply a cropped version of the small one, doesn't it? But it's not. This adorable 7 year old American cocker spaniel didn't move - she was a scaredy cat as you see. Her owner, who lives in Menton, told me she's a very nervous dog.

The love of my life was an American cocker spaniel - Milou - so I've a very soft spot for this breed.

In Europe, we call English cocker spaniels simply 'cocker spaniels.' And so, in Europe, Tequila is called an 'American cocker spaniel.'

In America, it's the other way around. Tequila would be called a 'cocker spaniel' and the others are called English cocker spaniels. Confused?

Texan - the dog with half a blue eye

This gorgeous dog has the look of a German Shepherd but in fact she is half Wolf and half Alaskan Malamute. You can really see the Malamute part when you look at her right eye - clearer probably in the smaller photograph.

Texan is 4 years old and lives in Roquebrune Cap Martin. You see her here posing in front of the book stall in Carnoles market.

Boncy

Boncy didn't want to keep still and even more, he didn't want to look at the camera. Still, at 16 years of age, I think he's got the right to do what he wants!

He's such a pretty dog, don't you think - and very active for his age.

Ophelia

This little bundle of joy is only 5 months old. Unfortunately she is half blind but she seemed to be doing very well.

Don't you just love her little winter coat. She's posing here in Menton's Christmas market.

Wannie - the book dog

If Wannie can't read, then it's not for lack of inspiration. Her owner, Lily, has a large bookstall in Menton market.

Wannie is a refuge dog (a Border Collie/German Shepherd mix) - she came from the SPA and is 13 years old. In the photo, Lily is giving her a drink in a little tin - the water comes from the fountain in the Place des Herbes, in Menton.

Lily loves dogs and so does her twin sister, who used to be a veterinary nurse but now runs a collection and delivery service for dogs in this area.

Melhu - amongst the paintings

Melhu lives in Sospel, which is a mountain village about 20 ks above Menton. Her owner sells antiques in the Friday market in Menton which is where she is in these pics.

In the first photograph, she's quite natural - then in the small one, her owner was trying to get her to keep still and of course he had her attention, so she didn't look at the camera. I often have to tell owners, 'Please don't talk to the dog' else he or she won't look at the camera. In the last one, she is sitting, doing what she is told but I prefer her expression in the first one, before she was being posed for the photograph.

Melhu is a mixture of a Border Collie, a Newfoundland and a Labrador. She's 4 years old and adorable - a dog who adores her owner.