huga

Ruth - Angel looks like a different dog! I love the blue against her coat. Rocco has been here taking some fantastic photos again this morning. I am so inspired, but so frustrated that I lack that certain something to make my shots brilliant. Boo

Hey, I recognise both those cuties! Nice work, Ruth!

Aww, thanks It was for one of the challenges.

I don't really think it's the size of the dog e.g. greyhounds make perfect apartment dogs, but I think you're on the money about working breeds. That said though, I'm sure there are some happy working breeds in apartments, but I personally wouldn't try it. I think yards are a different story though. We have a massive yard, yet neither of my dogs will take themselves for a run around it. They still need me to provide the activity.

10 Facts about Lola 1. Lola is a man's lady. Lola attracts men, I have no idea what it is about her, but far more men will come over for a pat than women. 2. Lola needs a hanky. She will almost always sneeze on new people when they pick her up. It never fails to disgust. 3. Lola keeps me up at night. Both dogs sleep crated together in the loungeroom. If our bedroom door is open, she keeps me awake with her snoring - all the way down the other end of the house. There is no way she could sleep in our room. 4. Lola is naughty. She won't let me clip her nails, she is a shocker. She will grunt, snort, cry, wiggle, scratch, hyperventilate and drop out all her coat. She's nuts. 5. Lola has a dodgy hip. When she was six months old, she was diagnosed with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, which is essentially a dying femoral head (top of the femur where it sits into the hip socket). She had surgery to remove the femoral head and now she skips and limps a bit when she has been running around. She is on Ester C, fish oil, glucosamine and cartrophen. 6. Lola is a nigel too. Harry is her bestest and only bud. She annoys they crap out of him by chasing him and chewing on his ankles when he chases the ball. But they have curled up together every night since she was a puppy. She has no time for other dogs, and if they annoy her, they will feel the wrath of her bark. Scary stuff. 7. Lola is a lazy cow. Some days I literally have to drag her out of the crate and make her go outside to pee. She would sleep the day away otherwise. 8. Lola swims like a brick. She loves a swim, so bolts into the water. Slowly, her back end drops down, she becomes vertical, egg beaters away for a while and then that head goes under and it's all over. I have to go in and rescue her. Recently, we bought her a life jacket and although she feels embarrassed by it for 7 seconds, she soon gets over it and stays afloat in the water. I have a much nicer time at the beach now. 9. Lola thrives on a raw diet. She gets right into salmon heads, lamb flaps and chicken frames. Even with a mouth like a wobbygong shark, she quite expertly handles meat on bone. 10. Lola takes after her mother. We really have to watch her food intake. Just like me, she has the ability to put on 3kgs from walking past a bakery. Luckily I'm harder on her diet than my own and she is quite a lean little monster.

Fantastic thread Ruth! 10 Facts About Harry 1. Harry was an accident. Harry is the result of an amorous encounter between a Pug and a German Shepherd. His father got to his mother via human error. To answer your next question - his mother was the pug, she birthed 8 puppies naturally and his father was 6 months old at the time of conception. 2. Harry has serious dental problems. Harry's jaw is overshot, which means his bottom jaw sticks out a good 2cms further than his top jaw. No doubt his mixed heritage can be thanked for that. Walking him can be interesting, as often people think he is baring his teeth at them. 3. Harry should be bald. He loses so much coat that I swear he shouldn't have any left. His double coat is short, but very thick and drops out all year round. The undercoat is so fine that it drifts around the place like a mist, occassionally ending up in eyes or mouths. 4. Harry has an addiction. To balls mostly, but any toy will do. In fact, the dead skin of a tennis ball will do if there is nothing else around. He will constantly drop the ball at your feet, hoping, waiting, praying that you will throw it for him. And if you do, then you will be stuck with him forever and ever and ever... 5. Harry has serious dental problems (part 2). Not only is he terribly undershot, he has also worn down his canines to the same level as his incisors, due to his ball addiction. This doesn't seem to inhibit his bone consumption. 6. Harry is a dream to train. He has the drive, he has the smarts and can learn tricks so quickly, if only I had the time and energy to do some sort of sport with him. One day... 7. Harry has no off-switch. The dog is seven years old and isn't showing any signs of slowing down. He will come back from a 5km run, get a drink and then go grab a ball for you to throw. He is a nutter. 8. Harry is 'the voice'. He now wears a zappy bark collar when we aren't home, because he gets over protective of the house and yard. He is a completely different dog when we are at home. 9. Harry is a nigel. He has no friends (except Lola). He is a doggy snob and while out, would much prefer to chase a toy, than play nice with others. 10. Harry takes after my husband. Just like my husband, he leans towards the skinny side and can be difficult to keep weight on, even though he is a bottomless pit with food. We put this down to his boundless energy and being constantly on the go.

That's ok Bec - thanks

Go for it Bec

Thanks guys I just wish it was a bit lighter and clearer. Whenever I post pics on here, they always seem to look a bit pixely.

Ok, more playing. Eddie is my only immobile subject, so he will have to do for now. I know it's too dark, but I like the way that one end of the couch is lighter because of the window:

Gah, still can't get it, but I am actually learning about ISO and shutter speed (well, what limited things I can play with on my camera). So here is a very naughty pug, sleeping on my son's couch (and his ted). ISO 400 Aperture F3.4 Exposure time 1/8s

yep, that's Shell. Has she popped yet? I'm doing a newborn shoot with her once she has the bubba. And Alex wasn't sad, we are just tired. We are in sleep deficit mode at the moment (and just very thankful that Angus slept all night last night.) Shell is going in for a caesar on Tuesday, if she doesn't go before. She was having some pains last friday when I was talking to her. No news yet though. I know she was super happy with her photos Ah, yes - tired. Mine both sleep through but I still can't remember what it feels like to be well rested.

Hey - that's Shell Alex looks sad ;)

Hehe, I already suggested you Aww, thanks for thinking of me

I'd be happy to help you out Rocco, but I'm pretty normal *snort*

Don't use the flash?

Ugh, I took over 100 photos yesterday afternoon and don't like any of them. What was that about working with kids and animals?

Ok, well I just discovered I can set the ISO and the shutter speed on my camera (within reason). I think I might challenge myself to figure out how to use it.

Huga - just set your camera to portrait mode for portraits. Alternatively I do have the old pentax DSLR sitting here gathering dust if you'd like to play with that? Seriously, it doesn't get used otherwise. Hmmmm... maybe next time we cross paths? I would love to have a go :p

I'm lost, do I need a proper camera this month?

Oh no So sorry to hear about Mega - she was beautiful.

Fantastic Ruthless!

I second (third?) the RB calendars. They are such fantastic quality and they are huge. Also, it will tell you if the photo you upload isn't high enough resolution. I made one for the grandparents last year, they went over very well (there were tears - good ones ).

He does too! Love it! I have a photo of Harry in his bandana that I must send to Ralphdog. He gets lots of comments on it

More lovely photos guys :D I've been quite slack, but just haven't been able to get out and about much lately. But I did have this thread in mind when I was at a wedding yesterday: