Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Morning walk


I met these three gorgeous Shih-tzus walking along the promenade above Larvotto Beach in Monte Carlo. They were being walked by a really nice guy who works for their owner.

He gave me their names but stupidly I'd left my pen in the car and can only remember two of them - Valentina and Petrea.

You'll find 'The Butcher's Dog' today on Menton Daily Photo. Just click on the link.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Moving Day

April 25th is a big day in my life.

Last year, on April 25th, 2007, people came and put stuff in boxes and took me and all the dogs I knew off our chains and out of the dark and lonely woods. After that I spent a long time in custody, which was really scary and boring.

This year, right before April 25th, my people started putting stuff in boxes. I got really worried and stayed in my crate wondering if this meant the people would come and take me and Lulu away and put me in custody again. Then, on April 25th, my mom took me and Lulu for a car ride to a house in a quiet neighborhood where we had gone before to meet a "fan" that my people called "the Landlord".
Here we are watching some of the boxes during our car ride.

Soon a whole bunch of men showed up with all the boxes from our apartment. Lulu did a lot of talking to the men because she wanted to make sure everything went in the right place (she got in trouble for being too bossy and had to have a time out). My people told me that we had "moved" and this was our new house. I like this place a lot, there's lots of space and an interesting back yard just for me and Lulu, that we don't have to share with neighbors. There is also a special room called the "garage" just for my treadmill!

This April 25th was a lot better than last year.

Monaco Dog Show - Honey

The Kooikerhondje - or Kooiker Hound is a spaniel from Holland. Originally used as a working dog, particularly in duck hunting. This beautiful dog is called Honey.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Meme Monday

As you may know, I am very fond of food. So when Jimmy Joe tagged me for the Make A Wish Meme started by Linda, one of my first thoughts was that I hoped and wished that all kitties could live in their forever homes and always have enough good food to eat. I also want to apologize for taking so long to post my wish, as Jimmy Joe tagged me last March 31st but my Food Lady finally helped me to finish my wish today! I will look to see if I can find any kitties to tag.
These are the rules:

1. Think about what it is that you want more than anything, what your heart's desire and fondest wish is, and what it is that you would wish for if you were to see the above wishing star flame across the night sky.
2. Right click and SAVE the blank graphic below.
3. Use a graphics program of your choice and place your wish on this picture:
4. Post the Make A Wish Meme and your wishing star on your blog along with these rules.
5. Tag as many people as you like so that there can be wishing stars all across the Blogosphere and ask them to please link back to Linda so that we can see what wishes others have made and share those wishes with others.

Copy this graphic:

Monaco Dog Show - Moth Dog

There are two types of Papillon - the Papillon (Butterfly or prick-eared) and the Phalène (Moth or drop-eared). The American Kennel Club consider them to be one breed but in other countries they are two separate breeds. The lady who owned these dogs told me that the Phalène was the original Butterfly dog.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Easy like Sunday Morning in the Porch

We have a couch out in my screened-in porch. China Cat likes to lay on it a lot - especially in the afternoon when the sun comes streaming in. I usually lay on the rug or up on the whirlpool spa cover in the shade. But acting quite out of character, I jumped up on the couch and my Food Lady found me all stretched out and sleeping on the couch! It was really comfortable! Maybe I'll try napping up there again some day - we'll see!
Here's the Weekend Cat Events:
~~~~~
Weekend Cat Blogging #151 is being hosted by Katie & Puddy
at A Byootaful Life.
~~~~~
Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos is at Pet's Garden Blog.
~~~~~
Carnival of the Cats #215 is being hosted by Diamond Emerald-Eyes
at House Panthers.

Monaco Dog Show - Ready to go Home...


A gorgeous Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Great Pyrenees) at the show. Does he want to be there? I wonder?

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - Pimpy



Meet Pimpy the Pumi, who lives in Padua in Italy. I wrote about Pimpy's owner, Aurora in an earlier posting. Click on the link to read about this lovely young lady who adores dogs and shows them so well.

Or click on Aurora's Pumi website - a rare Hungarian breed. Isn't she gorgeous.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - Cacharel


This puppy, at 4 months, was too young to be exhibited but nevertheless was walking around the exhibition space, naturally close to where the American cockers were being shown. He is related to the beautiful American we saw yesterday. He lives in the Bouches-du-Rhone. How cute is he?!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Outside

Outside is one of my favorite words.
It can mean outside in the backyard. I like the backyard.



It can mean a walk in the park. I also like the park. When I go to places outside, I try and say hello to everyone I see. Hey, Mister Gopher, How's it going down there in your little cave ?


Whenever I hear the word " outside ", It puts a smile on my face.

Ahhhhh........Outside.


Hector-

Monaco Dog Show - Best-in-Show

I always have a very soft spot for American cocker spaniels. My Milou was an American cocker bred by the La Vigie kennel in Switzerland, which is where this lovely dog comes from. Milou was black tho. Look at the way this dog swishes his head - he knows how gorgeous he is. And look how beautifully presented he is too.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - Pipo


Meet Pipo, a lovely chocolate Labrador who lives in Peille, a hill village above Monaco. Pipo is two years old. What a love!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Earth Day is here...

I went over to visit Opus and Roscoe in Italy and they were giving out tips for Earth Day. I thought about what I could do and decided that recycling was an excellent idea. Therefore, I will keep my red box top and re-use it multiple times as a place to stand in, lay down in and... and sit in whenever I want to do that! I would like to thank Opus and Roscoe for the absolutely terrific Earth Day graphic, which they generously gave to everyone today!l-r: Karl, Ruis, Opus, Momo, Sassy & Roscoe

Monday, April 21, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - Lowchen


I don't know the name of this dog - just snapped him or her at the show. The Lowchen is a member of the Bichon family. and shares, with the Pekinese, the name of Little Lion Dog. This is because it's always shown in a 'lion clip' complete with mane and fluffed tail, giving it the appearance of a lion in miniature. It is an affectionate, happy, healthy little dog, known in Europe for several centuries.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - Ally & Vzan

Two Shar-peis at the show. Above you see Ally - she's the girl. And with her below, is Vzan, the male. Just look at Ally's wrinkles. Enough to make you look in the mirror and feel your own skin is perfect! These two come from Toulouse in south-western France.

Look What I Found

It's 68 degrees today - Hooray for my porch!
As soon as my Food Lady opened the door, I ran right out to look for bunnies. I like to watch them through the screen. I saw that there was a baby bunny under one of the bushes.
My Food Lady tried to take a picture for me
but pictures don't work very well through the screen.
~~~~~
Anyway, I jumped up on the whirlpool tub to get a better view of the yard and much to my surprise, my red box top was there! I like to be in the red box but it's never been out in the porch before.
And look, my Food Lady put our blue blanket in it!
This will be a good day. For me, Life is Good!
For more Weekend Cat Events, check out the following:
~~~~~
Weekend Cat Blogging is being hosted by Mog and Meowza
at
Mind of Mog
~~~~~
The Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos is at the
Cat Blogosphere.
~~~~~
Carnival of the Cats #214 is being hosted by Aloyisius at
Catymology.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - the Borzois


Such beautiful creatures waiting patiently for their turn at the dog show. I always find it fascinating why we choose the breed of dog we do. Somehow the small lady sitting in the chair and her Borzoi don't seem to go together - which is nonsense of course, because obviously they are more than happy. I also got the impression (could be wrong) this lady is very much a 'doyen' of the breed as people kept coming up and talking to her.

Monaco Dog Show - Cuddled up


Lots of exhibitors keep their dogs in cages when they are not preparing them for the ring or showing them. The dogs are used to it and it's a sanctuary from the chaos of the exhibition hall and the owners know their dogs are safe.

Here you see two Old English Sheepdogs. These made the long journey from Holland - one a champion and one a puppy - both girls. How's this for togetherness?!

Friday, April 18, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - Austin


Sitting with a friend who has a Springer Spaniel, I looked to my left and saw this face under the chair next to me. He's a two and a half year old English Setter - just look at that expression!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - 'And God Created Dog'

Perhaps they are fed up with all that brushing? These two shih-tzus are taking a rest from the exhausting business of looking beautiful. The one on the left - see below - has a hairstyle I've never seen in the showring before, but perhaps I've not looked at Shihtzus in the ring lately - true. Sure she must think she's Brigitte Bardot and we've gone back to the sixties. Have you ever seen the 1956 film - And God Created Woman?

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - Arak


Sitting in the sunshine, waiting for his class, this is Arak, a beautiful Sloughi. Arak lives in Nice.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Monaco Dog Show: a Campervan Dog




This lovely soft-coated Wheaten was staying in a campervan for the duration of the show. Anyone who comes to the Monaco Dog Show in a campervan will have a million-dollar view as they are allowed to park just along from the Heliport, right on the sea and looking over to the lovely port of Fontvieille.

The Dog who loved Carrots



Taco, a Welsh terrier mix, was a regular client at Pension Milou and proudly shared his birthday, March 14th, with Prince Albert of Monaco. Prince Albert celebrated his 50th this year but Taco missed the day by three months - on December the 7th, three months short of his 17th birthday, off he went to doggy heaven.

Taco had Cushing’s disease and he had a tumour but he was a game little dog and you’d really not have known anything was wrong with him. When he stayed at Pension Milou, he’d play like a puppy, flirt with the lady dogs and roll on his back with the simple joy of life. He always told me what he wanted with a very definite bark. Every day, at 4 p.m. for instance, he had a raw carrot and perish the thought that I might forget. If I did, I soon got to know about it – woof woof.

Taco was Xavier and Sheila’s first dog, although Sheila had had childhood dogs. When Taco died they were devastated. For Xavier, Taco was the dog of his life and he’d never have another one. Sheila thought – perhaps, one day?

As often happens when our dogs leave us, we eventually start to make surreptitious little enquiries. In January, Sheila started browsing the Internet looking for Welsh terrier breeders - a rarity in France. One day she found an advertisement for Welsh terrier puppies in the Pyrenees. The pups’ photographs were displayed and of course, they were adorable. Xavier, though, wasn’t interested but he did take a look. Suddenly he said, ‘Look, these puppies were born the day Taco died.’


Gucci & Peggy, the pug, at Pension Milou

No further mention was made of the pups and soon Sheila and Xavier went off to Ireland on holiday. When they got back, Xavier said to Sheila,’ Well, when are we ordering the puppy then?’ At first, Sheila didn’t know what he was talking about. ‘What puppy?’ she asked. ‘The puppy that was born on the day Taco died.’

So, the decision was made. Taco was re-incarnated! They would get a puppy. Taco would come home. Sheila called the breeder and found there were two boys available. They booked one and when the puppies were old enough, off they went on the long journey from their home almost on the Italian border to the Pyrénées, way over on the Spanish side of southern France.

Once there, they booked into a hotel for the night and then drove to the farm to see the puppies. They’d make their choice that evening and then pick up their new puppy next morning.

All the puppies were in pens. There were Welsh Terriers, Airedales and Jack Russell terriers. He let out the two available Welsh terrier puppies and their mother, a beautiful gentle creature with a superb temperament. The pups though came out of the pen like bats out of hell. One instantly came running to Sheila – jumped on her lap and starting licking her face. The other puppy was more aloof.

After spending time with them, Xavier and Sheila made their choice. They chose the puppy they considered to have the better head and foreface – he had the look they were after and he was a stronger puppy than his brother - the one who’d jumped on Sheila’s lap and given her little kisses.


Back at the hotel after a nice dinner, doubts set in. Had they chosen the right puppy? Surely the puppy who’d licked Sheila’s face was Taco saying, ‘I’m back, I’m back – choose me!’ She didn’t sleep all night.

Next morning, they collected their puppy, who’d been bathed and was ready for the long journey. Now called Gucci, it was not an easy trip for him, as he threw up endlessly on the 69 kilometres of windy roads, until they got to the motorway.

Eventually, they got home and Sheila, who’d been worrying if they’d made the right choice, if perhaps it was Taco who’d licked her the night before, decided to test Gucci. You’ll remember that Taco adored raw carrots and had one every day at 4 p.m. She took a carrot out of the vegetable rack and handed it to Gucci. Sheila says puppies don’t normally like raw carrots. Personally I don’t know, as I don’t recall ever giving a carrot to a puppy.

And what happened? Gucci ate it immediately.

Taco/Gucci was home.

Taco

Monaco Dog Show - Appaloose


This beautiful St. Bernard, Appaloose, comes from Aix-en-Provence and is two and a half years old.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

I helped my Food Lady today!

I had planned on maybe going out to my porch, but discovered that it was only 37 degrees outside. So, I thought I would play thundering herds of elephants with China Cat but she was back in bed, under the blankets. I looked for my Food Lady - perhaps some treats for me?!?! But then I found what I really needed to do today... My Food Lady needed my help with those tax papers!
~~~~~
I had almost forgotten about them!
I have helped her with them every year since I've lived here.
I know she couldn't finish them without me.
I even brought her this newspaper clipping.
~~~~~
She says I am really good at keeping the papers in one place and in order! Next I get some extra treats for being so very helpful!
Weekend Cat Blogging #149 has a Special Edition with
A Byootaful Life, HotMBC, and Kashim and Othello
at the Cat Blogosphere.
~~~~~
Bad Kitty Cats Festival of Chaos Edition 40 is being hosted by
Astrid, Kashim & Othello at The Catboys Realm.
~~~~~
The Carnival of the Cats #213 is being hosted by
Mr. Tigger at the M-Cats Club.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - a gaggle of dogs


Whilst at the dog show I had the good fortune to meet such a nice Italian young lady, Aurora. How pretty is that name! She's a professional handler from Italy, spoke perfect English, and she kept bringing more and more dogs into an empty ring for me to photograph - rare breeds such as a Pumi and a Kooikerhundje - you'll meet these dogs over the next days. In this photograph, whilst walking to the carpark I saw her with these five dogs - two Pugs, a French bulldog, A Griffon Bruxellois (that's the little furry one - front left) and a Petit Brabancon (also a type of Griffon - front right).

Do click on the link to see a photograph of Aurora on Monte Carlo Daily Photo today. And for Aurora's own website, please click on the link in the next paragraph.

As I wrote on Monte Carlo Daily Photo, Aurora is the best sort of dog handler, enthusiastic, loves the dogs yet handles them in a calm and professional manner. Hardly surprising as she's won an enormous amount of Junior Handling Awards. She also speaks perfect English.

Remembering Miral

More sad news - Miral has gone to the Rainbow Bridge today.
Please keep her family at Kattenpraat's Catwalk in your prayers.

Purring for Lilly Lu, Mu Shue, Iris and Mom Laura

We have had very sad news in the Blogosphere today. There was a terrible fire at the building where Mom Laura lives with Lilly Lu, Mu Shue and Iris on Friday. Mom Laura was at work but doesn't know where the kitties are. There is more information at the Cat Blogosphere. Please keep them in your prayers.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Monaco Dog Show - Bundle of love

Look at this great big baby! And look at the size of his water bowl. This is yet another mastiff - this time the Neopolitan Mastiff. Last year's photos of the breed were probably better, although not so soppy and adorable (!) so please click on the link to take a look. Possibly the same dog.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

ASPCA Day


Graphics from
ASPCA Volume 2 Charity Fundraiser Digital Kit
which you can get here.

Monaco Dog Show: Jinng


Here's another mastiff, this time a Tibetan Mastiff called Jinng. Too much sun on her face to really see those eyes but she's a beauty, as you can see. Jinng lives in Italy. Tomorrow a Neopolitan Mastiff, then a smaller breed.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Monaco Dog Show -Tundra


Tundra is a Spanish Mastiff who lives in Italy and came to Monaco to compete at the dog show. Just look at that amazing, massive head. I was allowed to approach - but not too close. They were bred to herd, but also to guard, after all. There are many different types of mastiff and I'll feature another seen at the Monaco Dog Show in a few days. Valázquez featured a Spanish mastiff in his famous painting, Las Meninas. Click on the link.