It’s another double-dog-day here at DoSF, and this one comes with a built-in photobomb! In the first picture, this fine gentleman, who may be some kind of black German Shepherd mix, is relaxing in the grass with his favorite toy… when suddenly, his photo shoot is rudely interrupted!
Our centerfold loves long walks on the beach...
We saw this guy outside a cafe on Polk Street and were bowled over by his sheer awesomeness. Is he a dog? A bear? A Scottish Highland cow? A Scottish Highland dogbearcow? We asked his owner, and it turns out that he’s an Alaskan Malamute. He didn’t look like any Malamute we’d ever seen in our lives, and initially, I didn’t think he could be purebred. Turns out, he *is* a Malamute, but has a particular genetic mutation that causes extra floofliness.
Just look at the amount of fluff on this fine specimen. Imagine combing him out. Think of how many kitschy, ugly Christmas sweaters your Great Aunt Mary could knit from that. Then imagine the smell whenever you go out in the rain wearing one.
An awesome dog, indeed. Second picture after the break.
Edit: His mom found our little blog, and his name is Mishka! Which is a name that tends to get attached to cute little teddy bears in Russia. How appropriate! (Now ask how I know this: I took Russian in high school, and it’s one of the very few things that stuck in my head.)
Here we see the elusive Wooly Mala-Mammoth in its native habitat.
Confession time: I really don’t like poodles that are cut in the ‘poodle cut’. (I know, I know, not exactly a brave observation, since lots of people don’t. But I’m supposed to like dogs, right?) But I have to say, poodles are nice, smart, and generally happy dogs, and when I see one with a haircut that doesn’t make them look like topiary that was picked on as a kid, I am happy.
A sidelong glance in passing.
This guy was found right outside a favorite coffee shop, the Chameleon Cafe. Have you ever seen a dog this obviously happy with life?
Two more pictures, below the break. You’ll love them, I promise. (Oh, by the way, if you haven’t discovered this yet, if you hover your cursor over the pictures, you get even more smartassed commentary from yours truly. Some of it is even funny!)
A gorgeous golden grin!
I liked this guy a lot. He’s older, but he’s got style. And was very obedient, and calm, and yet cuddly as all get-out. Not shown: a picture of him attempting to insert his nose into my jacket when I was petting him.
Waiting for mom outside of Walgreens
Well, actually, it’s not a baby carriage… it’s a pug carriage. You can tell by the little paw on the side.
Apparently this pug is something of a neighborhood icon in the Embarcadero area of SOMA. He (she) has a spinal problem that causes him to drag his hind legs when he gets tired. So when he goes walking, it’s in a pair of boots, and when he gets tired there’s a ‘coach’ waiting to take him home.
I am delighted to meet you. Can't you tell by my expression?
There he goes, just a-schnauzing down the street, singing bark bark bark, … er, yeah. Anyway, I like these guys. I want to have eyebrows like that when I’m 80, and I’m well on my way there already. Plus, awesome dog shadow, no?
I'm being followed by a dogshadow, dog shadow dog shadow! -- Dog Stevens
I spent a good five minutes with this gal. About thirty seconds of photo-taking, about four minutes and thirty seconds of belly rubs, back-skritches, and nose-to-nose communing. I love Malamutes, Huskies, and all those other arctic fuzzybutts. They’re friendly, they’re lovely to pet, and they warm you up as much as any three wool sweaters. Plus they give kisses.
Four pictures this time, three of them after the break.
Malamute, mute, yet hopeful.
This fine young lady was part of the puppies & kittens display in the window of Macy’s on Union Square this Christmas. She was snapped up pretty quickly, as were all the dogs. There were a lot more cats, and though a lot of them were adopted, there were (I believe) quite a few more who weren’t.
A sound sleeper, to sleep right through all the squealing outside the window.
This old guy showed up not half a block from my apartment. And he was clearly an awesome dog: the woman who was walking him said he was 14, if I recall correctly. And still going strong; he gave me a smooch and immediately went sniffing at my backpack. Which is where I keep my dog treats, natch.
The Grand Old Man of SF's Black German Shepherd community