Dog of the Day: Verna the Repeat Customer

It’s Verna! We first met her when she was just a (hilariously cute) puppy close to four years ago, and then when she was all grown up (but still hilariously cute) two years ago. Her dad says he thinks she’s part Nova Scotia duck-tolling retriever, both because she kind of has that look and because she loves swimming and attracts all the ducks. (Which, after all, is what duck tollers were bred for. AKA ‘My toller brings all the ducks to the yard, and they’re like, ‘quack quack quack quack quack’.) I can totally see it… the fur looks quite similar, including the white patch on the chest. He suspects she’s mixed with chow, and/or possibly some kind of shepherd, so we’ll just say that. Because I like having two obscure chow mixes in a row, so why not?

Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever/Chow Mix Scratching Herself

Funny, I caught her doing this when she was a puppy too. She must be an itchy dog.

Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever/Chow Mix Investigating The Photographer

Verna has blossomed into a self-confident, playful, happy, and very curious dog.

Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever/Chow Mix With A Bushy Lovely Fox Tail

Look at that glorious tail.

Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever/Chow Mix Smiling At The Camera

There’s that amazing smile.

Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever/Chow Mix Smiling At The Camera

Verna runs alongside dad’s bike. No leash to get caught, she’s just incredibly well-trained and obedient.

Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever/Chow Mix Face With Giant Grin

I would totally follow Verna home.

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Dog of the Day: Gus the Belgian Shepherd Chow Mix

I just ran into Gus today, but I absolutely adored him, and so, when I found myself offloading the pictures from my phone for an unrelated reason, I decided that I just had to post him.

He’s 13 years old, he’s an utter sweetheart, and he loves everybody (and two other people stopped to pet him while I was standing there, so it looks like everybody loves him, too). Plus, the pictures don’t quite do him justice… what he looks like is nothing so much as a perfect photographic negative of a samoyed. (And I ran one of my samoyed pictures through a negative-creator, so I know whereof I speak.)

Black Fluffy Chow Belgian Shepherd Mix

He has a very, very dark blue tongue.

Black Fluffy Chow Belgian Shepherd Mix Looking Very Happy Indeed

Really unusual combo. I’ve only ever met one Belgian shepherd cross before.

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Dog of the Day: Sweet Pea the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

I probably shouldn’t use up all my corgi pictures in one go, but these pictures caught my imagination, so oh well.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Sitting Next To A Bowl Of Water

Look at that patient expression. She must’ve been out there for quite a while.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Looking Serious

The little white stripe up the nose makes a little heart on the forehead. So cute.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi Looking Sidelong At The Camera

Got a little side-eye going on there.

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Dog of the Day: Gorgeous Golden Retriever

This one could be a model. So pretty!

Golden Retriever With Ridiculously Fluffy Butt

Look at that fluffy butt.

Golden Retriever Lounging In The Grass

Super-photogenic dog.

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Sunday Switchup: Red-Shouldered Hawk?

Another guessing game. The eyes are really throwing me off, because red-shouldered hawks are supposed to have brown eyes, but I think the pupils are just huge in the dim light.

Red-Shouldered Hawk Staring Threateningly At Camera

I’m pretty sure he (she?) was not entirely happy with me.

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Caturday Supplement: Tiger Tabby Kitten

I like these two.

Little Girl Holding Tiger Tabby Kitten

She’s got a very good grip. Cat looked very comfy, but was definitely not going to get away.

Adorable Little Girl Kissing A Tiger Tabby Kitten

She’s going for the axis of snorgulation!

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Dog of the Day: Pipa the Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pipa took some time out of her busy day to come say hello to me.

Red And White Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pipa looks a surprising amount like Tidus. Including the amazing haunches.

Red And White Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Gentle leaders really do look like muzzles sometimes. Weird.

Red And White Pembroke Welsh Corgi With Her Ears Sticking Out Straight To The Sides

Another thing that looks like Tidus: the hilariously expressive ears.

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Dog of the Day: Jeviz the Schnauzer Puppy

Distinctive coloration. I think this one is going to schnauze most excellently.

Salt And Pepper Schnauzer Puppy

Not quite five months old in these pictures.

Salt And Pepper Schnauzer Puppy Looking Serious

I really think he’d make a great spokesman for Bay Area Bike Share. He totally seems into it.

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Dog of the Day: Madison the Jack Russell Terrier Puppy

Madison! Madison was four months old in these pictures, and she was an amazing bundle of energy and inquisitiveness. Alas, almost all my pictures ended up completely blown out (her white fur just looks like a blank hole in the picture), which is what happens when you take pictures of white dogs in the sun in July. But I don’t care, because the TWO nose shots came out great.

Edit: Madison is actually a girl, because of course she is. Because it says ‘female’ right next to her name in my notes. And I am a silly person who does not read his notes!

Jack Russell Terrier Puppy

Madison was totally into the photography. But really, I think she’s up for just about anything.

Jack Russell Terrier Puppy Examining The Camera

She was certainly fascinated by the camera.

Jack Russell Terrier Puppy Sniffing The Camera

I’ve been tempted to put peanut oil on my camera to get more nose shots.

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Dog of the Day: My Friend Tidus

The last we heard of Tidus, he was recovering from ruptured disc surgery. Well, he’s made an almost full recovery… he’s still a little shaky on one of his back legs, especially when he’s running around on a slippery wooden floor, but he’s able to get around just fine and seems like a very happy dog again. And he’s eleven… seventy-seven in dog years! If I have a ruptured disc when I’m seventy-seven I sure hope I make as good a recovery as he has.

Anyway, he was happy to see Autumn and me, and it was great seeing him again. We fed him carrots (which he adores) and petted him and just generally spoiled him rotten.

EDIT: OH MY GOD I TOTALLY FORGOT TIDUS HAS A TUMBLR PAGE THIS IS IMPORTANT YOU MUST VISIT IT RIGHT NOW THIS POST WILL STAY AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE FOR ONE MORE DAY SO EVERYONE WILL GET A CHANCE TO SEE TIDUS IN ALL HIS GLORY.

Red And White Pembroke Welsh Corgi Making Puppydog Eyes

Tidus has always had a really good ‘please pet me now’ face. It has only improved with recent practice.

Red And White Pembroke Welsh Corgi Making Puppydog Eyes

See? That’s a master at work.

Red And White Pembroke Welsh Corgi Sticking Out His Tongue At Me

Then once you’re petting him he totally sasses up.

Red And White Pembroke Welsh Corgi Showing Off His Pendulous Flews

Look at those flews. I bet Tidus could make glorious elephant noises, if his house had carpets for him to blow through.

Ridiculous Red And White Pembroke Welsh Corgi Selfie

Autumn is responsible for this and the previous picture. And they are AWESOME.

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