Dog of the Day: Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s Pit Bull

Okay, that’s not literally true, but she really does seem to display at least three of the five stages of grief amazingly well, if not in order.

Bluenose American Pit Bull Terrier Looking Sullen

An example of the reverse of yesterday. Making herself small, looking kind of cowed, a little bit of a scowl, but I was like, “Oh god you just want petting, don’t you?” Yes, she did. (Stage: anger.)

Bluenose American Pit Bull Terrier Looking Down

Pit bulls can give even bassets and bulldogs a run for their money in the ‘sad look’ department. (Stage: depression, obviously.)

Bluenose American Pit Bull Terrier Looking Sadly Over Her Shoulder At The Camera

One, two, three: AWWWW! (Stage: denial and isolation, of course.)

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Dog of the Day: Wary Doberman

I saw this guy tied up outside a dollar store in the not-quite-the-best-part-of-Alameda area. I got within maybe ten feet of him, and he didn’t growl or move or anything, but I watched him for a while and I thought, hmm, maybe not the best one to approach. I don’t really know why… he didn’t have his ears back, he didn’t have his tail-stump tucked down. He was definitely looking right at me, but lots of dogs do that. But still, something told me not to get too close. So I snapped a few pictures and went inside.

A guy passed me on the way out, and I hear from outside, “Oh, wow, what a AH! NO! HEY! STOP!” I poked my head back out but the drama was all over, and I didn’t think the guy in question would appreciate me snapping pictures of him. Still, it serves as an object lesson to me… if you have a gut feeling that says you might not want to get near a dog, and it isn’t just because you’re biased against the breed (I adore Dobermans!) it might be a good idea to listen to it.

Doberman Pinscher Tied To A Bollard

It looks like a dubious expression, but that may be hindsight talking.

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Dog of the Day: Caleb the Pug Puppy

I just thought I’d do a quick check to see how long it’s been since I posted a pug… ten months. This cannot stand! So meet Caleb, the 7-month-old pug puppy.

Black Pug Puppy With Curly Tongue

I do not have a single picture of Caleb where his tongue was inside his mouth.

Black Pug Puppy From Behind With Tongue

I love how you can’t see his face, but you can still see his tongue.

Black Pug Puppy Straining At End Of Leash

It’s no wonder the tongue stayed out: Caleb was a friend-making machine, giving sloppy kisses wherever he went.

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Sunday Switchup: Anna’s Humingbird

Anyway, Autumn and I were hiking last weekend and saw a little knot of people staring at something in a bush. As we got closer, we discovered that it was an Anna’s hummingbird, maybe five feet away from the closest person, just sitting there. I didn’t get quite that close, but with a 20x zoom lens (camera’s still working if I bang on it just right) who needs to?

(Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to go to McKinley DogFest, which was yesterday, because my brother was in town and I had to clean the apartment. As it was, I spent seven hours on it, and it’s still not done… although at this point the mess is confined to bedrooms, at least. Sorry, McKinley! Maybe next year.)

Closeup Of Male Anna's Hummingbird Perched On A Bush, Profile View, The Head Looks Black

The feathers are so amazing. He turns his head three degrees to the left, and they’re totally different.

Closeup Of Male Anna's Hummingbird Perched On A Bush, Three-Quarters View, The Head Looks Partly Red

He was quite an aggressive little guy… chattering and bobbing at the first couple of people that got there. He thought better of it when he was surrounded by FIVE beasties that outweighed him by a factor of 20,000. Two wasn’t a problem though.

Closeup Of Male Anna's Hummingbird Perched On A Bush, Full-Face View, The Head Looks Deep Red

I’m inclined to cut him some slack. It must be exhausting, eating your weight in nectar every day.

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Caturday Supplement: Macy’s Window Kitten

Somebody got up on the wrong side of the cat bed!

Grey And White Fluffy Kitten Meowing Viciously

So vicious.

Grey And White Fluffy Kitten Staring Intently

The intent ‘hunter’ look. I have never been able to tell if these guys can see anything outside or not.

Vicious-Wicious Grey And White Fluffy Kitten Viciously Meowing At Something Off-Camera

Obviously a very vocal kitty.

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Dog of the Day: Lulu the Boxer

Some brindling I can take or leave, but coloration like Lulu’s is just so gorgeous.

Brindle And White Boxer Licking Her Nose

Today I inaugurate a new tag on my blog: dog tongue. For pictures with significant usage of dog tongues. Congrats, Lulu, on being the first representative!

Brindle And White Boxer Glancing Sidelong At The Camera

Despite a minute or so of trying, Lulu was unwilling to give me more than the barest hint of side-eye. Dad was snapping and waving his hands and so forth, and I walked back and forth, and she kept turning her head away.

Brindle And White Boxer Looking Plaintively At The Camera

And then, when I turned to go and looked back, she was giving me the ‘hey, weren’t you going to pet me some more?’ look.

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Dog of the Day: Dozer the German Shepherd Mix

Saw this from the street and just had to wander in for some pictures. Dozer (2, male) is the pub dog of the Fireside Lounge in Alameda. Or, at least, that’s what the human in the pictures told me.

German Shepherd Mix Standing On Man's Lap At Bar

This is exactly what I saw from the street as I walked by.

German Shepherd Mix Sitting On Man's Lap In Pub

Settling into a comfier position. For both of them, I suspect.

German Shepherd Mix Sitting On Man's Lap In Pub

He’s a handsome devil.

SF Giants Fan German Shepherd Mix In Bar

He’s got a golden retriever style head-bump, but I doubt he’s half golden. Could be a quarter, I guess.

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Dog of the Day: Lucky the Pit Bull Puppy

Lucky is lucky, but I’m not: I ran into him at the wrong time, and all my pictures came out too contrasty to see him well. But this one was too funny not to post.

Blue American Pit Bull Terrier Puppy Looking At Camera Upside Down Over His Shoulder

Another vicious pit bull. I was terrified, I tell you, terrified.

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Live Tweet Tomorrow, 10 AM

I’ll be live-tweeting (I can’t believe I said that) tomorrow at 10 AM, with @TheHipmunk and @DogVacay, about taking your pets on vacation. Now all I need is a vacation, and a pet to take on it!

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Dog of the Day: Pickles the Labradoodle Puppy

This is from the same day that Autumn and I saw the puppy social. We went to brunch at a local watering hole (Town’s End Restaurant and Bakery, which is totally awesome though it’s a bit of a pain in the butt for us to get to for brunch so we don’t go often). Out front at one of the tables we caught sight of a cat carrier, and I thought, ‘ooh, I wonder if I can get a caturday supplement if I ask nicely?’

Nope. It wasn’t a cat. It was an 11-week-old labradoodle puppy, who couldn’t come out and romp around because he hadn’t gotten all his shots yet. Fortunately his people took him out to meet us, and we made all the appropriate squealing noises, some so high-pitched that only Pickles could hear them.

Incidentally, this is not the first Pickles I’ve met. And that one was a puppy too.

Man Holding 11-Week-Old Yellow Labradoodle Puppy

As soon as he came out of the carrier I knew we were going to have a star on our hands.

11-Week-Old Yellow Labrador Retriever Poodle Mix Puppy With Puppydog Eyes

*melt*

11-Week-Old Yellow Labrador Retriever Poodle Mix Puppy Biting Man's Hand

Pickles was amazingly gentle for such a young pup: super sharp teeth but he never bit down hard enough to make me the slightest bit uncomfortable.

11-Week-Old Yellow Labradoodle Puppy Biting Man's Hand

I could’ve played with him all day. Don’t think he would have minded either.

11-Week-Old Yellow Labrador Retriever Poodle Mix Puppy With Puppydog Eyes Playing With Man's Hand

If you even look like you going to START to take your hand away he gives you that look.

Man Holding The Ear Of A 11-Week-Old Yellow Labradoodle Puppy

Those ears. They totally look knitted.

11-Week-Old Yellow Labradoodle Puppy Sprawled In Man's Lap

He’s big for 11 weeks. Bet he grows up to be one of those huge-mongous labradoodles.

11-Week-Old Yellow Labradoodle Puppy Reaching Out His Paws To Hold A Man's Hand

He would make such an awesome muppet.

11-Week-Old Yellow Labradoodle Puppy Resting His Head On A Man's Shoulder

I really hope I run into Pickles again. I want to see what he looks like as he grows up.

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