DOGS!

I love taking photos of animals. It seems like everyone owns a dog here is Australia, so I have ample opportunity to practice taking pictures of dogs.

Here is a collection of my favourite doggie pics from my vacation so far:

MAX 

Max is a Maltese Shitzue. He is 9 years old and is my brothers best friend. He would benefit from a set of braces to fix his crazy teeth, but we love him anyway.

 CONAN

We think Conan is a German Shepherd/Doberman/trained serial killer cross. 

It is my uncle's dog, but my grandparents look after him full-time.

Do not be fooled by his sweet expression. He will kill on attack, kind of like my uncle.

 DIESEL the BEAGLE

Diesel is my dad's family dog. 

He is fat, but is a good guard dog for the family home.

 SAMANTHA

 Sam is a classic Heinz 57 variety bitzer. 

She was found at the RSPCA and is a friendly addition to my Aunty's household.
She is very camera shy.

ANGUS
Steve and Paul's feisty little puppy.

RANDOM DOG ON BEACH

I used to have a Red Setter when I was a kid. 

Seeing this puppy brought back lovely memories.

 Max might not be around much longer, so I try to get as many cuddles as I can.

Horsing About

Lucky for us, we have relatives here in Edmonton that have helped to make the transition to our little Prairie town easy. Chad's cousins live in Leduc/Calmar area, just south of Edmonton. It takes about 45 minutes to get to Jacklyn's farm. I jumped at the opportunity to go out to visit Jacklyn and to take photos of her beautiful horses, cats and dog.

Gonzo, the larger of the two brown horses was the friendlier of the two. He gallantly posed and held very still while I snapped super close-ups. At one point, he looked down the barrel of the camera and just moved his head up and down as if the spirit of Tyra Banks was whispering in his ear, "Give the photographer something to work with. Up, down, left right...think and emote with your eyes". As a result, I have many cliche eye shots, but when I was so close to him, it was like I could see into his soul. How could I resist taking shot after shot of his gorgeous eyes? His lashes were long and delicate. His nose soft and velvety. I'm going a bit 'Secretariat: Diane Lane' on you, but it was a special moment to be so close to such a massively powerful animal. This animal was the top of his class. He appears in rodeos all over the country. I couldn't help but be entranced by his almighty presence.