I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

I can't believe I've left this blog dormant for fifteen months (well, I can, but I choose to ignore all the reasons why). I've survived a move to Adelaide (where I'm currently based), spent many weekends traipsing across the country (Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne), and grown up a little in the process. But, dear reader, let's leave all aside for now and focus on the reason I'm back... I'm here to introduce you to the dog that inspired me to get back on board.

Meet Wendy.

I had the pleasure of encountering this sweetheart of a bulldog last Saturday while I was in Melbourne. I was outside having drinks with Laura at My Mexican Cousin (next to MTC's Southbank Theatre) when this hulk of a thing came waddling up to the counter very excitedly. I couldn't contain my excitement and asked her owner whether I could pat her, which she said I could. I called her over and she was as enthusiastic as I was, as she rubbed against me and turned her bum towards to me and wagged her little tail. I asked what her name was, and had to laugh when I was told it was Wendy - while it seemed like the least suitable name to give a dog that looks like her, it's absolutely perfect given her nature... And what an adorable little jacket she has on.

Trust me - she was much happier than how she looks here!

Zari, II

So the day before my phone experienced some technical difficulties (ie I dropped it and rendered it unusable for three weeks), I paid a visit to Salamander Bay to visit an old friend of mine - Zari. It was Easter Sunday and she was in a very festive mood. I had a lovely time seeing her, and she performed her usual trick of whimpering when she heard come inside the house and then stood beneath my feet when I tried to go outside to pat her. God, I love this dog so much - she's simply one of the loveliest and happiest I've ever met.

My return

A series of events and incidents (broken phone, meeting no dogs for some time, living/working in three cities, etc) have kept me away from this blog... But now I'm back with a vengeance! Over the next few days I'll be uploading the dogs I've met in the last two months.

Agnes

Well, wasn't yesterday's post well-timed? I was out and about today with Nel and El, and we found ourselves at the Collingwood Children's Farm (opposite Abbotsford Convent) for a very late brunch at the Farm Cafe there... all of this is a long way of saying that I bumped into an old friend of mine, Adrian, who I haven't seen in a few years... I looked down, and low and behold, he had a gorgeous one year old blue heeler x kelpie with him! Her name is Agnes, and Adrian found her at the Lost Dogs Home and brought her into his life.

Agnes was a very exuberant young pup, who was enjoying being out and about and amongst all the people at the farm. She had beautiful eyes and a cheeky energy - I can't wait to spend some more time with her one day soon!

Hesitation...

Today I was out and about in Fitzroy and saw two dogs that could have conceivably found their way onto this blog... But something stopped me from trying to meet them. I think because the next dog I meet and photograph will be the first 'real time' dog that goes on this blog - the rest are those I met prior to this starting. So there is some trepidation attached!

I spotted a black pug - he was quite young, and made me laugh as he walked along Smith Street... well, ran is more accurate, as due to the distance between his legs and the length of them from the ground, he had to run to keep up with the pace set by his owners... And to add to that, he also seemed to run with both his right legs hitting the ground, then both his left legs... which made his run seem very off-centre and very amusing. Then when his owners stopped to cross the road, he was absolutely exhausted. Heaving and making lots of noise while trying to catch his breath - and then they were off again!

The second dog was on Johnston Street - he was sitting at the front door of an antique shop. He looked very old and had little hair left. He didn't seem all that friendly, and really didn't want to respond when I said hello. I'm not quite sure what he was - perhaps a Jack Russell terrier crossed with something else?

The third and final dog was a small-ish brown haired monster that was full of life and energy. I said hello to him as he passed me outside the Malthouse - he really didn't pay attention, as he was too busy enjoying his stroll! His owner smiled, and I considered stopping to get his photo, but something told me to let this one go - but he was by far the most interesting dog and incredible photo candidate! Not sure of his breed though...

Dream Dog

Last night I dreamt that I met a large black and brown dog. I can't quite recall what breed he was, but he was very large. I was sitting on the ground and it was fairly dark - a few of his kind came towards me and my friends. This one particular dog, their leader, sat next to me and put his huge paw on leg. Then he started talking...

I cannot for the life of me remember what he was saying, but it was most definitely profound - and very soothing. His voice was deep and authoritative, but it had a pleasant sound. He was trying to calm me and make me feel at ease about something.

I woke up not long after, then fell back asleep... and you know how when you go back to sleep almost immediately after you wake up, if you stay in the same position, you can sometimes re-enter the dream? Well that didn't happen - at least, he was gone. Instead, I dreamt that I had to find him somehow and take a photo and write about him on this blog... But I couldn't find him anywhere and this really frustrated me. And then I woke up again, but this time it was morning and I couldn't fall asleep again... but for a few moments, I thought about how I was going to track down this gentle giant and record him for here... Then I realised it was a dream - and I was supremely disappointed.

Dream dog, wherever you are - please visit again soon.

EDIT: Well I've just completed some extensive searching (courtesy of Google Images) and I think the dog in my dream was a cane corso mastiff. I also came across the Bernese mountain dog, which I quite like the look of! Anyway, here is the closest approximation to what I saw last night. He was larger in the dream (though I was sitting down!), and his colouring was more black and tan... his ears were smaller and his mouth area was less... droopy. But still - the closest I could find.

Please note that this image does not belong to me.

Zari

Meet Zari - the most adorable small-ish dog ever! I first met this gorgeous canine just under four years ago, and I've had many happy times with her (except for when she spread her fleas like a wildfire!). She belongs to my beautiful friend Rox, and currently lives with her mother Vovo in sunny Port Stephens.

Every time I see Zari she still behaves like she hasn't seen me in years. It doesn't matter whether it's been a few months or a matter of an hour, Zari will start whimpering and shaking as soon as she knows I'm nearby, and then when she sees me is uncontrollable. The routine usually goes like this: I'll open the door and try to step outside to say hello, but then she immediately lays on her back beneath the foot I am placing on the ground (one time I stood on her because she slipped under me so quickly!). I'll then stumble over the top of her and find some ground to stand on that she isn't laying on, and then I rub her on the belly and behind her ears. She'll then jump up as soon I stop, and find the nearest ball or toy that I can throw for her - and so begins a session of throw and retrieve in her small backyard that sees her leap into the air and almost run into fences and get down very low to the ground... She is amazing! I remember when we would take her for walks to the park near her last house, and she was so fast at catching even the furthest thrown balls... She also loved running up the slippery dip, and wouldn't stop even if she was exhausted and heaving... Zari is one in a million!

Zari is an eight year old blue cattle dog x King Charles Cavalier and something else... in the words of her family, "she's a mutt". She comes from Queensland, and was driven from the sunshine state to New South Wales when she was a pup. She had mange at the time, which wasn't great news for Rox who nursed her the entire trip - and subsequently contracted mange herself. Delightful.

For those interested, mange (according to that fountain of reliable scholastic knowledge, Wikipedia) is "a class of persistent contagious skin diseases caused by parasitic mites. The term is sometimes reserved for the infestation of domestic animals... These mites embed themselves either in hair follices or skin... They generally infect... dogs and cats and also other canines, livestock, wild animals and even humans (such as scabies)." This intense research also helped me learn that scabies is colloquially referred to as "the seven year itch". Fun facts all round!

Tao

This is Tao - one of the most beautiful souls I have ever met. He lives with the gorgeous Sal and spends many of his days at Salawi, a fantastic Fair Trade shop/gallery/cafe in Newcastle. He is very attentive, and enjoys chasing his tennis ball around the shop. I would always schedule meetings to take place in Salawi just so I could spend more time with Tao - those meetings were always the least productive though! The first time I met Tao was when I was crossing at the lights directly in front of Salawi. I saw this stunning young dog standing in the doorway looking at me, and I wondered why he was so drawn to me... When I crossed the road I realised he was actually staring at his tennis ball that had rolled into the gutter, but he couldn't collect it himself because he knew he wasn't allowed to leave the shop. So I scooped it up for him, which caused him to give me a huge grin, and I returned it to him... and we've been the best of friends since!

Here Tao is patiently waiting for me to throw his ball. Much of his time at Salawi is spent on the ground, waiting! One day I offered to take Tao for a walk, so Sal fixed me a makeshift lead of rope and off we went! We ran through Civic Park and he chased his ball through the grass and leaves and bark... the only problem was that I had failed to realise how dirty the ground was due to the recent rain, so by the time we'd finished playing, nearly all of Tao's white fur was brown and filthy... I hung my head in shame as I returned him to Sal, the remnants of our putrid fun showing all over him - and found out that he had only been bathed that morning! Tsk tsk tsk. Let's just say I never took Tao for another walk...


Tao would often follow me to the door when I left, ball in mouth, hoping for more fun. He would drop his ball, and wait for me to turn around and throw it again. So many times I would cross the road and walk back to the office, and whenever I turned back I would see Tao standing in the doorway watching me walk back to work. So sweet!

I miss Tao very much, and when I'm back in Newcastle I'll be dropping in to Salawi to spend some time with him. I highly recommend you drop in to this great shop/gallery/cafe whenever you can - fantastic coffee, wonderful items for sale, lovely owner, and one of the most amazing dogs you will ever meet.