Waiting to get in the Water

Today - one of the many Newfoundlands who took part in the demonstration - here he is waiting for the demonstration to begin. I don't know his name but isn't he absolutely beautiful.

The Life Saving Dogs at Menton

Newfoundlands showing their skills as life-savers at sea. This demonstration was given by the dogs and owners of 'Terre-Neuve 06' in Menton last weekend. Terre-Neuve is French for Newfoundland. They were brilliant and so funny at times when they didn't get it quite right!

You can read about this and see more photographs by clicking on Menton Daily Photo.

Dachshunds Rule - of course!

These two charmers have long names. The wire-haired is called Donnawetter and she is 2. And the smooth-haired is called Alpenliebe and she is 7. They live in Milan but were in Menton where I met them at a three-day festival held in the Old Port, promoting careers relating to the sea.

Dunya

Meet Dunya. She's a 7 year old mix of labrador and German Short-haired Pointer. She was re-homed from a Belgian refuge 6 years ago and now lives between her homes in Brussels and in Menton. Here she is outside the church in Gorbio village.

Black dogs are so difficult to photograph but the light was just right today - I must bottle this light and treasure it!

Isn't she gorgeous.

You can find another photograph of Dunya on Menton Daily Photo.

Jasmine, the Berger de Picardie

This lovely Berger de Picardie ended up in the SPA of Monaco when she was one year old, which is when her owners gave her a home. She's now 10 years old, lives in Monaco and we met whilst she was running about the area below the Casino.

All Jasmine wanted to do was please her owners. Look how wonderfully attentive she is. Such a lovely dog and the first of this breed for Riviera Dogs.

Stoppit, the Lurcher at the Monaco Yacht Show

'Stoppit' stopped the traffic at the Monaco Yacht Show. Stoppit is a 5-year old Lurcher who travelled from the UK on his owner's yacht. Bet there aren't many lurchers who do that! In fact, I've never seen a lurcher before in Monaco or anywhere on the Riviera, come to that. A gorgeous dog. Look at that face!

Zappy visits the Monaco Yacht Show

Zappy, an adorable little Yorkie - only one year old - lives in Monaco, so naturally he visited the Monaco Yacht Show and looks quite the part on the blue carpet. For photos of the yacht show please click on Monte Carlo Daily Photo to see the first day of a series on this fabulous event.

Thierry, the Leonberger

This beautiful big dog - a Leonberger - came along to the Blessing of the Animals in Gorbio. He's 9 years old and lives above the village.

The breed's name derives from the city of Leonberg in south-west Germany. According to legend, the Leonberger was ostensibly bred as a 'symbolic dog' that would mimic the lion in the town crest.

Paloma at the Café de Paris in Monaco

Am I imagining it or are we seeing more and more Chihuahuas? I seem to see them a lot these days or perhaps I just notice their cute little faces more than I used to.

Meet Paloma an adorable 4 year old sitting on her owner's lap on the terrace of the Café de Paris.

Nager

This lovely dog is a mix of a collie, a hunting dog and a setter. He was rescued from an SPA in the Pyrénées and now lives in Monaco. Some dogs have all the luck!

Nager is 4 years old and I met him at the recent garden fair in Menton. In the smaller photo you see him amongst the water lilies!

You might note the rather smart silver bone hanging from his collar. This is a container for small plastic bags that his owner uses to pick up his poop should he happen to 'go' in public.

Siena, the Maremma Sheepdog

A new breed for Riviera Dogs. A Maremma sheepdog or more correctly, a Pastore Maremano Abruzzese from the Maremma region of Italy. They are guardians of a flock - independent-thinking dogs and incredibly intelligent. You can probably see that this breed was probably related to the Pyrenean Mountain Dog. Click on link to read more.

This is Siena, who is only 5 months old. She was born in Italy and now lives in Vence.

Dolly ... again

At the Blessing of the Animals in Gorbio village I snapped this English setter but forgot to ask her name - but when I looked at the shot on the computer, suddenly I remembered who she is. Almost two years ago I took a photograph of her as a puppy and looking at her markings she identical.

In the smaller photo you see the robes of the priest who conducted the ceremony.

Take a look at Dolly aged 2 months. She was adorable then and adorable now.

The Jack Russell and the Razor

It's not often a car interests me as much as a dog! This sexy little number is called a Ranger RZR and is made by Polaris. You can read all about it on Monte Carlo Daily Photo today.

The little Jack Russell was waiting for his owner who was lunching at Stars n Bars on the port of Monaco.

Cheyenne

These shots don't do justice to this beautiful dog. We are in the veterinarian's waiting room and I wish we'd been outside in the sunlight. No matter - Cheyenne, a two and a half year old Bi-color Standard Poodle is gorgeous regardless.

In the smaller photo she is standing near to Camille, the veterinary assistant, and I've included the last photo where she is shaking her head as the only thing in focus is her eye - her expression makes me laugh.

Cheyenne's owner, Valerie - a well-known 'dog lady' in Monaco - for years she trained guide dogs for the blind - told me that the Caniche Royale Bicolore (the French name) is not recognised in the show ring in France but is in certain other countries. Valerie is the President of the ACBF (Association des Caniches Bicolores en France).

Isn't Cheyenne fabulous!

Biagio, the Aussie

A new breed for Riviera Dogs - I'm always chuffed when we can add a new breed!

Biagio is an Australian Shepherd Dog - only a puppy - 5 months old. He was walking around the Old Town of Menton where his owners have a holiday home. His main home is in Italy.

Baby Bijoux

Isn't she just too adorable! Bijoux is a 5 month old Chihuahua who lives in Switzerland. She was walking (whoops, being carried!) in the pedestrian street of Menton.

Half, the Drooly Newfie of Gorbio

Well, of course, all Newfoundlands drool but this lovely dog had an excuse - it was a very hot day in Gorbio last Sunday and he was waiting for the priest and the Blessing of the Animals. As you can see in the smaller photo, he eventually cooled down in the shade.

'Half' lives just above the village of Gorbio and is 7 years old.

There's a Caption Competition, with a prize, on Menton Daily Photo that features a scene from the Fête Patronale de Saint Barthélémy, of which the Blessing of the Animals was just the beginning. Click on the link to see the chicken on a pole and the Golden Apple!

Moustique

Moustique = mosquito! Don't you love it! This little boy is one and a half years old and was found in the Refuge in La Brigue, which is in the mountains above Menton. I met him today at the Blessing of the Animals in Gorbio village.

Moustique lives in Menton with another dog we've met here before - Willy, who drives around with his owner on her scooter.

The Flower Dog

More flowers than dogs today!

A hot day at Monaco's market in Place d'Armes and none of the dogs were interested in posing.

This one is doubtless wondering why on earth his owner is taking so long at the flower stall. I've a feeling he might have perked up had it been at the meat counter.

Romeo's Dreams

Romeo is ten and is paralysed so any thoughts of being a Romeo again will be in his dreams. Presumably, because he's an old sick dog he can't have a 'calmant' so that his teeth can be cleaned.

He's a much-loved dog though who lives in Grenoble and was with his owner in Gorbio village for the Flamenco Festival yesterday.