The beauty of an Irish Setter

What a beauty.  I don't know his or her name but we met at the Monaco Dog Show.

Xtase - Milou

The doggy love-of-my-life was an American cocker spaniel called Milou.  Of course, I loved all my wonderful Old English Sheepdogs, and all the rescue dogs since, but Milou shared my early years in France and we grew so close. I've never forgotten him. He lies under a rose bush in my garden with his ball near the roots.

This is Xtase, a girl, and bred by the same breeder as Milou - Laurent Pichard in Switzerland. She could be Milou - or at least his sister.The snood (I think it's called) is to protect her long ear before going into the showring at the Monaco Dog Show.

Malenka - the Russian Toy Terrier dog

This is a Russkiy toy terrier or Russian toy terrier at the Monaco Dog Show. She's nine and a half month and is called Malenka. 

Salukis - Peas in a Pod

Peas in a pod - two beautiful Salukis at the Monaco Dog Show.  Same expression, same stance, same piercing eyes.

Dachshunds

There were about five dachshunds in this pram at the Monaco dog show. Here are three!

Aston the Hanoverian Hound

This beautiful dog is a Hanoverian Hound (Hannoverscher Schweißhund) - a rare hound from Germany.

It is a hunting and tracking dog descended from bloodhounds of medieval times. It was first introduced into France in the 1980s and is still a very rare breed.

He's called Aston and he's only five months old. I met Aston and his father (see smaller photo) at the Monaco Dog Show.  As you can see in the other photo he's got fairly short legs. Too adorable but then I've a soft spot for hounds, especially a relation of the blood hound.

Roxanne

Roxanne is an 8 year old German Shepherd who lives in Eze village. Take a look at Monte Carlo Daily Photo today and you can meet her owner.

Bundles of Fluff

These two tiny bundles of fluff were at the recent Monaco Dog Show.  I thought they were Pomeranians but I think the owner told me they are German Spitz - sometimes called Miniature Spitz, I believe.

Monaco Dog Show - the Griffon Korthals

This is a breed I could easily give a home to.  He's a Griffon Korthals - called a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the UK.

Remember Peter Mayle's dog 'Boy' in 'A Year in Provence.'  He was a Griffon Korthals and that's when I first heard of the breed. Peter Mayle even wrote a book about him, called, unsurprisingly 'Boy.' I loved it and still do.

Monaco Dog Show - Shih-tzu

A shih-tzu being prepared for the Monaco Dog Show.

Lula the Borzoi

Lula is one of the dogs entered in the recent Monaco Dog Show.  Here she is with her young owner. She's 16 months old and lives along the coast in Frejus. They are standing in the street outside the circus tent where this annual champtionship show is always held.

Widget the Midget

Meet Widget.  He was originally purchased by a family in the Var for 2,500 euros but after a while they decided they didn't want him - saying someone in the family was allergic to him.

He now has a wonderful forever home in the hill village of Sainte Agnes with a friend of mine, Anita.  Happily she didn't have to pay anything like his original price.

I'm not always crazy about all Chihuahuas - so many I've met have been endlessly yappy and also aggressive. I suppose they are so small they feel they have to protect themselves. Little Widget isn't like that at all, he doesn't bark except when someone arrives and he's sweet and gentle and loves everyone.

He won me over! Totally adorable.

Xena - a new life in Monte Carlo

This is Xena the English bulldog.  Xena is six years old and now lives a life of luxury with her owner, Lorraine, in Monte Carlo, but her earlier life wasn't so good. She was used as a brood bitch in a kennel at Aix-en-Provence. Although you can't see it in this photo, her teats hang very low, evidence of too many litters.  Fortunately for her she got to the age when she was no more use to the breeder and now here she is on the terrace of the Cafe de Paris, receiving admiring glances from everyone. (see small photo)  Good for you, Lorraine. One happy dog now.

Boutchette and Galinette

Sometimes a girl just to have something large and warm to snuggle up to! 

Boutchette, the Basset Hound acts as a comfy pillow for her housemate, Galinette, the Shih-tzu. These two belong to the fabulous Restaurant Beausejour in Gorbio.

Idyll and Paloma

We've met Idyll before on Riviera Dogs before.   She is a cross between a Golden Retriever and a Bernese Mountain dog. Here she is today with her young owner, Paloma. They live in Gorbio village above Menton.

Toby and Ylan

This is Toby - a three month old Staffordshire bull terrier pup who lives in Gorbio village. In the third photo you see him running across the square with Ylan. Is there anything nicer than a young boy and a young dog happy together. 

Blu, the Clumber Spaniel

This beautiful Clumber Spaniel was walking through Menton's market with his owners. He lives in Menton and is a showdog - his next show will be in Monaco the first weekend of May.  Blue is just over two years old.

Nose to nose

You never know who you'll meet, up close and personal, in Monte Carlo.

Boy and Dog

This is a photo I put on Monte Carlo Daily Photo the other day.  Just a young man and his dog on Larvotto Beach in Monaco.  Summer's coming ...

Silent witness

There's a reception in the village square of Gorbio following a baptism at the church. Guests gather outside the restaurant for an aperitif.  Meanwhile, one of the village dogs sits quietly by the fountain.