Hermes

This lovely big boy is a Leonberger.  He's called Hermes and he's 14 months old.  He really didn't want to look at the camera!

I met Hermes at the Fete de la Branda in Gorbio village.

India

This is India a four month old American Black and Tan Hound (or Coon Hound).  She's owned by the man in the last photo and will be used to hunt wild boar when all grown up and trained.

Ricky

Meet Ricky who is 6 years old.  I met him at the Fete de la Branda in Gorbio.  In fact, you can see the beautiful old copper still behind him in which the 'branda' (eau de vie or marc) is distilled. 

He's a mixed breed and adorable.

Ipy and Itou

How adorable are these two Brittany Spaniel brothers!  I met them in Monaco walking along Avenue Princesse Grace although their owners told me they also have a place in La Turbie where they can enjoy the countryside.

They were nearly 8 and a half weeks old when I took this photos.  Their names: Ipy and Itou.

Eliot

This adorable Jack Russell Terrier was at the next table to me at the fabulous Beausejour Restaurant in Gorbio.  In the last photo, you can see how he managed to wind himself around the table leg when I wanted to take his photo, but he was soon untangled. He's called Eliot and he's 3 years old and lives in Nice.  Nice to meet you Eliot!

Praline

This cute little bundle was waiting for the priest to arrive for the 'Blessing of the Animals'  in Gorbio recently. She's called Praline and she's 10 years old.

A Lazy Sunday Walk

The shih-tzu in the distance is called Billy - even though she's a girl.  She was named for Billy Jean King.  The part-Husky is called Lucky and the Beagle is Caillou.  Billy belongs to my friend Carla and Lucky and Caillou are staying with her.

The Thirsty Dachshund

 

Sometimes, you've just got to have a drink but it's too high - and then it's scary because you might fall in!  I met this lovely wire-haired dachshund in Gorbio.  This is where the horses come to drink.

Iris

Meet Iris, my friend and neighbour Agnes' beautiful 5 month old Golden Retriever puppy.  She's having the best fun jumping for a stick.

Iris lives with her big brother, Shadow, who can you see in the last photo. More of Shadow another time.

Idylle

Isn't she beautiful! This is 5 month old Idylle who is a mix between a Golden Retriever and a Bernese Moutain Dog.  She was in the bar in Gorbio village waiting for the Blessing of the Animals.  She's on the left in the group photo.

The Blessing of the Animals in Gorbio

These photos have already been published on Menton Daily Photo but in case you've not seen them, here they are.  The Blessing of the Animals is an annual event and part of the Fete Patronale in the medieval village of Gorbio.  There were horses, dogs, a cat and note the sheep in the second photo!

Note also Bouchette - she's the Bassett Hound in the centre right of the main photo and she isn't on a lead. She belongs to the Beausejour restaurant in the village and she brings herself to be blessed every year.

Bijoux

She's a one year old Chihuahua called Bijoux.  I met her in the Bar Les Terrasses in Gorbio yesterday. She lives in Italy and in Menton. Cute, eh? Bijoux means jewel.

Domino and Nellie

Meet 5-year old Domino and Nellie.  Domino is wearing the collar, and Nellie, the harness.

The adorable Westies were having fun with a tennis ball near Larvotto Beach in Monaco.

Hot Dog!

What a good way to cool down a hot Labrador in a medieval hill village! 

Meet Heli, who is only 9 months old and lives at the top of Gorbio village.  He obviously appreciates the wet tea towel on his back. Of course, it eventually fell off but his vigilant owner kept putting it back again. Isn't he gorgeous - look at those kind trusting eyes.

Maggie

Isn't she gorgeous!  This is Maggie.  She's a Red and White Irish Setter who lives in Monaco.

Abby and Mia

Not the first time I've posted a photo of Abby, the Cavalier and Mia, the Bassett Ariegois, on my coffee table! Beautiful Abby comes to stay from time to time and Mia is one of my rescue dogs.

Ulka, the Briard

You don't see many Briards in the south of France. Perhaps because it's too hot. Surprising though because they are, after all, a French Shepherd Dog.

Meet Ulka. She's 10 years old and lives in Paris.  I met her in the medieval village of Gorbio.

Indignant Tess

This is Tess, part pointer - giving me the dirtiest look because she doesn't want her photo taken - thank you very much! 

We've met Tess before on Riviera Dogs - she was one of four puppies found in a plastic bag and thrown in a rubbish bin - aged one day!  A wonderful lady in the Var hand-reared them and eventually they all found great homes. 

Charlie, the Griffon Bruxellois

This is Charlie and he's one of the sweetest little dogs I've met. He's a Griffon Bruxellois or Brussels Griffon which is a breed of toy dog, named for their city of origin: Brussels, Belgium. The Griffon Bruxellois may refer to three different breeds, the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Belge and the Petit Brabançon. Identical in standard except for coat and colour differences, in some standards they are considered varieties of the same breed.  You can see two of them HERE - photographed at the Monaco Dog Show. Sometimes they are called 'monkey dogs' presumably because of their cute expressions.

The little wire-haired dog in the foreground of the Jan van Eyck painting The Arnolfini Marriage is thought to be an early form of this breed.

Charlie is 10 years old, although you'd never know it and he lives in Monaco. Absolutely adorable. 

Exuberance!

This squirming bundle of Jack Russell terrier was at the recent Mechoui in Gorbio village.  I don't know her name.

Here she has leapt into the arms of Fabrice, who was chatting to her owner who is out of the picture to the right and is holding her lead.