Faces of Dog

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 the two-foot high platform into the thirty-foot pool to retrieve its toy — even if this was a first time dive. Most all the newbie dogs were very keen to fetch their toys tossed into the pool, but many were not so eager jump off a platform to get it. They needed massive cajoling from wranglers and spectators to make the leap. (A few decided to skip the jump, hurrying off the dock to slip into the water via the exit ramp, then triumphantly swimming out to their toy.) But there were brilliant competitive jumpers among Labs, Golden Retrievers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, a Belgian Malinois, a Pit Bull, and a Chihuhaua.

Fun was had by all, including a number of spectator dogs — some of whom howled to join the game.

If you are interested in obtaining one of the photographs, please on the CameraRennie link below.

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 enclosed area. On Saturday I had the opportunity to see a rather rare French herding trial here in southern California.

The trial required a dog to herd a flock of sixty sheep out of a pen into a large enclosed field, over a bridge, through a gate onto a road, through a second gate out into the open, where the sheep were herded onto a small grazing area near a crossroads, to hold them there for a specified time, and then herd the flock back to the original pen passing a moving car on the way.

Curiously, in an activity (five sheep herding) dominated by Border Collies, there was only one Border Collie in action. The upside was the presence of European breeds not seen as often in regular trials: a Tervuren (a beautiful brown and black longhaired Belgian dog), an uncommon sable (black overcoated) German Shepherd, a golden Briard, a marvelous ten year old black Australian Shepherd, a Belgian Sheepdog, and an Australian Kelpie. The photographs in the gallery show the herding dogs in that order — with the exception, alas, of the Kelpie, who I missed.

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 a trail made by someone the day before and track down that person (now hiding in the pinewoods), after being given a sniff of an article with the “lost” person’s scent. In the second, the dog was taken to a vehicle on the side of a road, asked to smell the driver’s seat — which had been vacated minutes earlier — and then track down that person. I was allowed to trail behind to take photographs. “Trailing” is the operative word, since these dogs moved so fast I was practically running to keep up them. With astonishing precision the dogs zig-zagged through high grass, bushes, thickets, pine woods right to the end of the trail, where they proceeded to lunge at the discovered person planting them with wet slobbery kisses. The dogs move silently — baying is a Hollywood myth — noses to the ground, tails held in a high C. As a handler pointed out to me, the dogs’ tails lower and wag furiously as they believe they are close to their scent person, and they point their noses up into the air for the first time — trying to pinpoint the origin of the “cloud scent” surrounding the person for whom they are searching. You will see this in the photographs.

What work do these Bloodhounds do in real life? Representative is LAPD’s Sage  — the beautiful big red Bloodhound — who in 2009 undertook 60 missions searching for lost children, Alzheimer’s patients, criminal suspects.

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 in progress, the numbers of homeless — certainly in Venice, where I live — grows daily.

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 varieties) — as well as exotic breeds such as the Black Russian Terrier (a giant dog whose only “quarry” would surely be the bad guys); Spinoni Italiani (large, elegant, casually soignee gun dogs); Swedish Vallhunds (an ancient herding breed who travelled with the Vikings — herding?); Tree Walking Coonhounds (graceful hunters definitely not trailer trash); the enormous lion-like Tibetan Mastiff (don’t even think apartment); and the amazing Xoloitzcuital (a Boxer size Mexican hairless). Entries included dogs from forty-three different counties and six continents. (Tip for Westminister watchers: Sadie, the gorgeous Scottie bitch who won Best in Show.)

As you can see from the images I chose as my favorites, there were three principal areas of interest for me: the grooming areas, filled with the appurtenances and sounds of dog beautification for human gratification; the spectator areas filled with dogs and owners off-duty; and the show rings, filled with a breathtaking demonstration of the variety of dogs.

Note the last image of GoGo, the number two Bull Terrier in the country, who had just won her second Eukanuba Best of breed (which could take her to the top).

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 howled and strained to be let loose for the chase. I have grouped the dogs in the order of their competing: Whippets (Whippets rule lure coursing — the fastest and the most entries), Salukis, Basenjis, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Irish Wolfhounds, Russian Wolfhounds (Borzois), Ibizan Hounds, and Pharoah Hounds. (Alas, no Afghans or Greyhounds at this trial.

Of particular note is the Saluki, Reya (a lure coursing queen), who is a rescued dog now a champion. She is the black and white Saluki.

Also, see the high speed collision between two Pharoah Hounds pink and turquoise vests) and their immediate rebound. Note that the Pharoah Hounds run with mouths wide open because they bark all the way through the course — the only sight hounds to do so.

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 dog at a fast pace around a complex course. Breeds varied from featherweight Chinese Crested to Labs and Goldens, King Charles Spaniels to Bearded Collies. Lots of Aussies and Border Collies, who excel at canine athletics.

The last image is of Lucy, who gained her Championship in Agility, after being rescued from a pound and serving as a service dog.