May 2010
6 posts
Black and White Dogs
Going through some of my dog albums I noticed that I had photographed quite a variety of black-and-white dogs, but fewer white dogs, and even fewer black dogs. (Of course, black dogs are very difficult to photograph.) But, thinking about it, I realized I find black-and-white dogs particularly pleasing from an aesthetic perspective — and am charmed by the black-and-white varieties of breeds that...
Doo Dah Parade Basset Hound Clowns
Great jollity and smiles on Saturday at the annual Pasadena Doo Dah Parade, which included a contingent of Basset Hound Clowns. The Doo Dah is a sort of People’s parade: a colorful, zany, carnival style fundraiser. The thirty-five or so Basset Hounds massed at eight-thirty AM for the parade starting at eleven AM — quite a stretch in the sun — and although these amiable, engaging dogs...
http://www.camerarennie.com →
You obtain Doo Dah Parade photographs of the Basset Hound clowns from the camerarennie Link above.
April 2010
8 posts
Herding the Heeler Way
This past Saturday took me down to the hills of Escondido to see herding trials sponsored by the Australian Cattledog Association of Greater Los Angeles. Other breeds were in the trials, but I focused principally on the little Heelers — as they are called in their native Australia. Their name comes from their action of nipping at the heels/hooves of cattle in order to drive them in the direction...
http://www.camerarennie.com →
You can obtain photographs in the Herding the Heeler Way from my photography website, CameraRennie (link below).
Tally Ho! A Day at the Chases
Saturday in Riverside, California where beautiful weather matched sensational canine athletics: lure coursing — which involves sight hounds competitively chasing an electronic lure (white plastic bags) zigzagging around a gigantic field. The dogs compete by breed in trios: e.g three Salukis, three Whippets etc. They are judged on: following (no short cuts on the winding chase), agility (turning...
http://www.camerarennie.com →
You can obtain the Tally Ho images from my website.
Basset Hound Easter Brunch
A few months ago, I became a volunteer for Southern California Basset Hound Rescue (my first dog as an adult had been a very special Basset Hound named Banjo).
My beginning assignment for the SCBHR was on Saturday: to photograph the Bassett Hound Easter Brunch. People could have their Hounds — most of them rescues — photographed with a big Easter Bunny, for a donation to the organization.
It...
March 2010
3 posts
Splash Dogs
Another tedious drive through the southern California suburban boonies — but worth it for the exhilarating dog display at the end of the journey. This time it was seeing the Splash Dogs bring their benefit show to a Corona shopping mall. There weren’t as many high-performing dogs as Dock Diving Dogs usually have, but it was fun-filled for the very reason that any dog could try to dive off...
http://www.camerarennie.com →
January 2010
4 posts
French Herding: the real thing
I’m sure some of us have had the experience of driving in rural Europe to be stopped suddenly by a flock of sheep being herded across or along a road. Herding trials in France require the shepherd and dog to demonstrate herding that approximates such real life conditions — unlike the Scottish tradition (dominant in the United States) where the trials involve the dog herding five sheep in an...
Bloodhounds on the Trail
This past Saturday I had another extraordinary exposure to the wonder of dogs. I observed and photographed a police Bloodhound training exercise northwest of Temecula.The dogs were seasoned working dogs, one each from the LAPD Bloodhound Unit (didn’t know they had one!), the Riverside County Sheriff’s unit, and the Salt Lake City PD.
In the first exercise the Bloodhound had to pick up...
December 2009
4 posts
Street Dogs
Actually, these are dogs who are companions to the homeless, living on the streets or in vehicles. All the dogs I have photographed seemed content and strongly bonded to their human companions. The humans appeared to care very much for their dogs; and I sensed that the dogs provided not just companionship, but an emotional grounding for people living on the edge.
Unfortunately, this is a series...
One of the Greatest (dog) Shows on Earth
A dog lover’s treat: the finest specimens from over two hundred breeds on show at the by- invitation-only AKC/Eukanuba annual championship at Long Beach December 12th and 13th. A canine bonanza extravaganza. Showing were dozens of the more popular dogs — Bassetts, Beagles, Australian Shepherds, Dobermans, American Staffordshire (pit bulls), Spaniels (twelve varieties), Retrievers (six...
November 2009
10 posts
A day at the races: Lure coursing at Prado Park
Lure coursing involves sight hounds competitively chasing an electronic lure (white plastic bags) around a gigantic field. The dogs compete by breed in trios: e.g three Salukis, three Whippets etc. They are judged on: following (no short cuts on the winding chase), agility (turning sharp corners), speed, endurance, and enthusiasm. I think every dog scored 100% in the last category. These dogs...
Athletic Dogs
At Agility Trials in Van Nuys over a hundred dogs joyfully, gleefully leaped over hurdles, tunnelled through tubes, balanced on teeter totters, jumped through hoops, weaved through poles, negotiated a-frames. Flights (!) were organized by weight and skill level. But it was abundantly clear, every dog had a great time. If there was any stress, it was the handlers who felt it, having to guide the...
Herding at Bel Canto
Following Saturday’s Cattle, Sheep, and Duck Herding at Pomona, I headed north on Sunday to the Bel Canto Ranch on the high desert near Lancaster. Here premium dogs showed their stuff, including renowned Border Collies, Nell and Lass, handled by Robin Elliot, herself an internationally famous breeder, trainer, handler of Border Collies (she’s the herder in the plum blouse). Dogs moving...
Herding (Cattle, Sheep, and Ducks)
This gallery has photographs taken on Saturday at the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) herding trials in Pomona. Open to all herding breeds, the dogs must herd cattle, sheep, and ducks. For each species the dog must herd the animals out of a small holding pen, through “gates,” through a narrow passage, and into an enclosed pen. The very large Black Angus cattle pose a robust challenge...
Dogs in Drag
Saturday was the Howl-o-ween Pooch Parade, a benefit for shelter dogs, featuring a dog costume competition. There were some conventional get-ups - dachshunds as wieners, quite a few pirates, red devils, lobsters — but several costumes were amusing and imaginative. My favorites were the Jack Russell as Dorothy, the big black Cane Corso as a ballerina, the Basset-Corgi mix as Cerberus the...
October 2009
6 posts
Sheep Herding Dogs at the Lucky Ewe Ranch (in the...
The dogs were mainly Border Collies, the aristocrats of herding, with a sprinkling of Corgis, German Shepherds, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Terveran, Shetland Sheepdog. It is absolutely breathtaking to watch the Border Collies work: utter intensity, intelligence, swiftness, all manifested in absolute silence moving the sheep with the famous Border Collie “stalk and...
More Salty Dogs
Boston Terriers, Chihuahuas, Jack Russell surfing in the Huntington Beach Dog Surf-athon. Joy, apprehension,resignation, endurance, and fun.
Saltwater Dogs Encore
Sunday at the Huntington Beach’s Dog Beach showcased more surfing dogs. In the small dog group Jack Russell and Boston Terriers dominated. But the thrill was seeing the big dogs — really big dogs! Rottweiler, Goldendoodle (black in this case), German Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, and, yes, a Newfoundland (a Landseer Newfie, black and white)! Bulldogs were also well represented — it’s...
September 2009
6 posts
Surfing Dogs
At the Dog Surf-a-Thon at Del Mar’s Dog Beach. The competitors would be pushed out on their surfboards to the breaking waves, and then catching the break the dogs would surf back to the beach. Surfing style varied: some in classic crouch, some surfing backwards, some sitting, some lying on their boards. There were Yorkies, Bulldogs, Jack Russells, Pugs, Spaniels, French Bulldogs,...
Dogs Behind Bars
The caged dogs in these photographs are bored, resigned, frustrated, patient — but they do enjoy good life circumstances. These are not the caged dogs in shelters — a project for the future when I have worked up the fortitude to tackle it.
Click on the image to see the photographs.
Best in Show
A selection of my favorite images from four major West Coast dog shows (including the Santa Barbara show (Aug 29th and 30th).
Click on the image to see the photographs.
August 2009
3 posts
Dock Diving Dogs
This newest gallery features dock diving dogs photographed on Saturday August 22nd at Upland California, where Nevada Dock Diving Dogs set up a large portable pool (25 x 15 feet?). The usual outstanding suspects were Border Collies, Aussies, Labs, Belgian Malinois, Goldens — but watch for the tiny dynamite Danish Farm Dog. The dogs leap from a diving ramp about four feet above water level to...
