High Five

(smack)

(smack)

Oops

(smack)

Dog Blog Post #2252

This is one of Zachary's favorite tricks.

It's easy, it's fast, the hand signal is clear, and it's obvious when we (and I do mean "we") do it right.

If I extend my left hand, he'll use his right paw. If I extend my right hand, he'll use his left paw.

And these aren't wish-washy high/low fives. These are confident hand/paw smacking good high/low fives.

Yup, he's a pro at earning Cookies this way.

Henry can also do this trick, and he'll also match your hand.

But he gives you a slow, gentle tap and then looks up at you with those big, round, "once is enough, right Momma?" eyes.

Yup, he's a pro at earning Cookies, too.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 31, 2016 - "Up In The Air"

Daily Dog Challenge 1766. "End of the..."

August 19

I believe this finishes off the saved-up Olympics shots...

Mr. Zachary

The Boys

Life is good :)

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Sing For Joy

Henry: "Arrroooooooo"

Dog Blog Post #2251

"May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young"

-- from "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 30, 2016 - "Forever Young"

- A picture inspired by the lyrics to Bob Dylan's song.

Daily Dog Challenge 1765. "Poetic"

A howl can be a poetic thing, don't you think?

Perhaps in Black and White?

Henry - still Arrrrooo-ing

... or not.

Zachary warming up?

Truth in Advertising: Alas, all my Goldens have refused to howl, despite having ample encouragement from the entire family.

At least when awake.

Henry will occasionally howl in his sleep - a long, low, mournful sound that makes me think he's dreaming he's lost his pack.

But when awake? Not a peep.

They'll dance around and get all excited when WE howl, and they are curious if I play howls on the computer or they hear some on TV, but they staunchly remain mute on the subject.

Blooper Shot starting Henry

But hey, I think he actually caught the Cookie!

Henry: "Am I good or what?"

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Found Art

Good grief... another day of the boys (mostly Henry) on the Love Seat.

Fingers crossed that tomorrow's challenges will prompt something... else.

Henry Tail and Blanket

Blanket and Henry

Henry and Blanket

You get the idea

Zachary: "Pfthththththth"

Dog Blog Post #2250

I love the way this blanket embraces light. I can toss it anywhere, put any kind of light on it, and it will be beautiful.

If you ignore the odd dog hair or two.

Today, while straightening up, I tossed the blanket on Henry, who was lying in one of his favorite spots. Silly dog just laid there, not about to abandon his favorite spot. I pushed the edge back so his head wasn't covered and darned if it didn't look lovely.

At least to me.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 26, 2016 - "Found Art"

Daily Dog Challenge 1764. "Texture"

August 17

Zachary dozing during the Olympics

Zachary, hoping for a Cookie because he was a good boy and got off the bed when asked

He wasn't disappointed.

The fuzzy lump on the left is Henry.

He (eventually) got off the bed as well... at Henry Speed... and got a Cookie as well.

Yeah - we're a bit lax around here.

Henry dozing during the Olympics

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Slice Of Life

What do super models do when not working?

Henry... zoning out

Zachary... sleeping through the football game

Henry... worried he isn't going to get paid (i.e. Cookies) for this non-shoot

Zachary... confident he will

Dog Blog Post #2249

Apparently, not much.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 26, 2016 - "Show The World As It Is"

Daily Dog Challenge 1763. "Slice Of Life"

And a couple more Olympics catch-up shots...

August 14

Henry... hoping I don't put him in tights

August 15

Henry with Paper Bag

Henry... rip shred rip shred

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Catching Up

The challenges didn't really work for me today, so I took a few (expensive camera) happy-snappy shots...

Melancholy Mr. Henry?

Henry Paw

Henry's squish face

Mr. Henry

... and spent the rest of my time processing a stack of images taken during the Olympics but never dealt with.

Dog Blog Post #2248

You'll find a few at the bottom of this post, and hopefully at the bottom of the next few day's posts.

Since I can only post three images a day to the "366 Pictures in 2016" group, I'll be "releasing" two backlogged shots a day - plus whatever the day's picture is - until I get caught up.

August 13

A Boy and his Dog (Zachary... I think)

A happy-snappy iPhone shot as they watched the Olympics on the TV.

Whoever said "dog's don't like hugs" never met my dogs!

August 18

King Zachary and the Midas Paw

This was actually taken for a challenge (Starts with M) but I didn't get it uploaded in time to use it.

(I typically had enough time to get the pictures before the evening coverage started, but not enough to also process the shots.)

While Henry absolutely refused to put his paw anywhere near the cups, Zachary would at least "hover" near it for me. Close enough. Click!

... and yes, Solo Cups actually does make gold cups. These were picked up one year around Christmas time. I rinsed a few out after usage and saved them in the Miscellaneous Prop Box.


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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

A Spoonful of...

Zachary (thinking): "Just a little bit closer..."

Zachary (thinking): "Touchdown!"

Zachary: (slurp slurp slurp)

Zachary - a silent prayer of thanks

Dog Blog Post #2247

What better way to celebrate National Dog Day than a Spoonful of Peanut Butter?

Photography Assignment

Daily Dog Challenge 1761. "National Dog Day"

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 26, 2016 - "Spoonful"

But Where's Henry?

Yes, Henry got his spoonful of Peanut Butter, too...

Henry: "Oh woe is me."

Alas, the autofocus decided it wasn't worth capturing. At least not clearly.


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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Parts is Parts

Presenting (parts of) Henry...

Whiskers In The Dark

The Nose Knows

Prickly Little Whiskers

Paw's Down

Dog Blog Post #2246

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 25, 2016 - "Repetition"

Daily Dog Challenge 1760. "Repetition"

Mr. Henry

But Where's Zachary?

About three feet to my right.

But Henry was perfectly positioned under the floor lamp.

And he holds still so beautifully.

And Zachary was didn't mind one bit because he was matching Henry Cookie for Cookie.


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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Wonderful Goldens

Tigger Zachary

Dog Blog Post #2255

"The wonderful thing about..." Goldens?

Well, they definitely are wonderful things! At least in my book. :)

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 24, 2016 - "Stripes"

Daily Dog Challenge 1759. "A Portrait Tells A Story"

Henry: "Does this pose make me look fat?"

Um... well... it WOULDN'T if you would stop slouching.

Henry: "Pfthththththth"

Don't they say stripes make you look thinner?

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Days Gone By

Zachary: "Around..."

Zachary: "... sit..."

Zachary: "Cookie!"

Dog Blog Post #2244

I Used To to do Rally Obedience with my first Golden Retriever, Beau.

Rally is a numbered course, marked by cones, which dog and handler pairs would walk briskly through, performing the indicated exercise at each station (e.g. sit, down, turns, etc.)

Done correctly, Rally felt like a dance.

And while Beau was completely indifferent to the activity itself, he loved being at the shows. People, dogs, noise, bustling activity - none of it phased him in the slightest. He greeted everyone, sniffed everything, and in return for several hours of socializing he granted me two minutes of his (mostly) undivided attention to finish a course.

We went to a grand total of five shows, failed once (my bad), earned Beau's Rally Novice title and generally had a wonderful time.

I started Zachary down the Rally path when he was old enough, and he was much more excited about both the training (ANY training) and the activity.

Alas, he clearly didn't enjoy being at the show one bit. I think it was all too overwhelming for a dog who wants to understand everything that's going on. I walked him around some, but ultimately didn't compete that day.

And thus ended his Rally career.

Henry... well.. Henry is Henry. He might well have been the best of all three, as he's smart enough to learn what he would need to learn, hungry enough to be motivated to learn it, and social enough to enjoy being at the shows.

But by the time he came around my interested had turned to photography, which is MUCH less work for me and way more rewarding for the boys.

Photography Assignment

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 23, 2016 - "I Used To"


Daily Dog Challenge 1758. "Days Gone By"

Henry: "?"

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© 2016 BZ Dogs - All Rights Reserved

Complementary Colors

Zachary (thinking) : "This is much more like it."

Henry (thinking) : "I sure hope I get Cookies for this outfit, too."

Henry (still thinking) : "Well?"

Yes, Henry, you'll get Cookies - the really REALLY good Cookies - for today's Easy Outfit, too.

Dog Blog Post #2243

Blue and Orange - a pair of colors I rarely use singularly, let alone together.

Photography Assignment

Daily Dog Challenge 1757. "Spin The Color Wheel"

Our Daily Challenge - Aug 22, 2016 - "Complementary Colors"

The backdrop is a sheer, red tag fabric (50% off) purchased specifically to broaden my color options. I draped it over my usual black velvet backdrop else you would be able see right through it.

The blue drape is a relatively new end-of-bolt (50% off) purchase that I wish was longer as it's gorgeous. I was thinking I could make it into a deep V-collar, but, as usual, I can't bring myself to cut it.

The boys seem to approve, but then just about anything would be an improvement over yesterday's outfit. :)

Henry... thinking deep thoughts?

Zachary: "He he he... don't bet on it."

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