Maltese and Bitzer out and about - High Street Armadale

It was a lovely sunny day on Saturday and as we wandered along High Street, Armadale we found these two dogs waiting. The owners were nowhere in sight and as we stopped to admire, we wondered about the little black one. A couple of people passing announced she was a Bitzer.

She is a beautiful Bitzer! It would be interesting to know what bits have created her - does anyone know or feel they can hazzard a guess?

Beautifully clipped Maltese Terrier at Cafe Racer

I photographed this darling Maltese in the doorway of Cafe Racer in St Kilda on Sunday morning. She is beautifully clipped and coated for the winter weather but she appears to be wondering why she is there. And no wonder. In the weekend Cafe Racer is the hang-out of all the Lycra clad cyclists who ride the beach road.

She didn't arrive on a bike and she is being stepped over by many of the people who did.
She may be a regular visitor although I haven't seen her before.

Her presence would seem unremarkable during the week when the clientele becomes more varied and it is quieter. The locals wander in and sit for hours often with their laptops or reading the papers.

Gold and white Maltese X

Beautifully groomed and no where to go

"I'm far too clean for this grubby pavement and I'm getting fed-up." I thought this could be what this cute little dog was saying to himself.

Dede - the travelling dog - Poodle X Maltese

Deliah, her Mum and I joined many other dogs at Gasworks Park last weekend. Melbourne is a dog friendly city and Gasworks Park is an ideal place to see just how dog-friendly it is.

At 11am Sunday morning large dogs race around while their owners stand and talk.
There are smaller dogs at that time, too, but the big dogs bound over most of the open space while the smaller dogs potter around the edges.

It never ceases to surprise me how so many dogs can enjoy each other’s company without any agro. If there is any agro it usually between dogs that are still on their lease. Do those dogs need to prove something? A sort of “I know I’m tethered but I can still beat you!” I can only guess but it does appear to change their attitude to their doggy mates.

Waiting to be served.


The indoor/outdoor cafe

Gas works Park is a park of sculptures for other statues check HERE

There are many off-leash parks and reserves and Melbourne. To find one near you and let your dog enjoy the freedom of these wonderful spaces - check with your local council or on the Internet.

Dede the beautiful Maltese/Poodle on the move

Gasworks Park is a 'doggie park' in Port Melbourne so it was the right place to meet up with Dede again. Her full name is Delilah and she looks just like a glamerous Delilah especfially with her hair white and fuffly and her ears combed. We meet her a month or so ago. VIEW HERE.

This time I was able to catch her on the move with her ‘Mum’ before she stopped for peppermint tea.



It was a clear cold winter morning and Dede was well rugged up for the bike ride.





More on Gas Works Park and Dede relaxing with the other 'cafe' dogs in my next posting.


My thanks to Dede's Mum for allowing the photos.

Spending time out and about in Melbourne's East

I understand that these dogs are related to a Maltese but not the same Maltese. They are both very cute and live together and it is nice to think they both had a Maltese as an ancestor.

Delilah - a Maltese/Poodle cross

Dede, as she is known to her family, is 12 and a half years old and lives in Port Melbourne. She rides around Melbourne as a pillion passenger and obviously loves sitting behind her ‘Mum’ with the wind blowing her ears and hair.

Her ‘Mum’ says she weighs 7 to 8 kilos so she gets a good workout with Dede on the back. When I met them they had stopped at the Peanut Farm in St Kilda for a run around on the grass.

Dede

Jack Russell crossed with other breeds

When I wrote about the Whippet/ Jack Russell cross in my last blog I was reminded of the wonderful dogs I have written about that have been Jack Russell crosses. A cross with a Jack Russell is a good cross. If you want proof have a look at these dogs.

Olivia is a Daschund/Jack Russell X – SEE HER STORY HERE

Rex a Pomeranian/ Jack Russell cross is old now - you can see his grey hair. READ HIS STORY HERE

Leopold is a Maltese/Jack Russell cross. He spends some of his time outside his owners shop smiling at the passers-by. FIND OUT LEOPOLDS HISTORY HERE

This Jack Russell X stopped off in Elwood. He is bursting with energy. His owners are sure of the cross . SEE MORE HERE

It surprises me that they are so different and many of them don't look anything like a Jack Russell.

I'd be very interested if anyone knows any crosses with a Jack Russell that have turned out well.

Let me know and we can share what we know.

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I have posted this twice now and I still can't get it to look right. I am finding that the layout the preview shows isn't the same as it is when I actually post it. Is anyone else finding this? If so do you know what to do about it? It's frustrating when you think you have got everything as you want it then you check out the blog and find it is all over the place.

Guide Dog statues and Maltese Terrier

When I was out and about photographing the statues of dogs around Melbourne (Check out these blogs CLICK HERE and HERE) I began to notice the statues of dogs used for collecting money for Guide Dogs. They come in all sorts of sizes and conditions but essentially they are all the same.

This one, in my local supermarket, is in good condition. As you can see it has many uses and is serving a useful hitching post to this friendly Maltese Terrier.


I would be interested to know how successful they are as money boxes for the guide dogs. It is my opinion that they fade into the background and need to be painted bright noticeable colours.

The one above is a little shabby and sits in the entrance isle of a very busy supermarket. He or she tends to disappear into the wall.

They do reflect the image of the most usual breed of guide dogs – golden Labradors. I believe the first guides dogs were Labradors and there are many in training at the moment . There one learning these important skills in my blogs Dogs at the Lavender Harvest Festival CLICK HERE

If anyone knows how successful they are as collection boxes do let me know.

Leopold the Maltese/Jack Russell cross

Leopold at Work

It’s late summer here in Melbourne but over the last week the weather turned cold and we had some rain.

The day I saw Leopold was a day to get out the wet weather gear. Leopold was sitting outside his owner’s shop, Arbor Redux, dressed in his oil skin coat for the cold and the wet day.

He is so cute he was stopping the passing foot traffic.

Leopold is a 15 monh old Jack Russell/ Maltese X. His ‘Mum’ Greta owns Shop 12 Sparta Place, which is at 459 Sydney Road, Brunswick. It's a charming shop that sells creative local and imported designer jewelry at very affordable prices.

Leopold is not a designer dog. Greta said she wanted a “a mongrelly-looking dog” . For a while she searched through dog shelters but didn’t find a dog that actually ‘spoke’ to her.

One day she saw a picture of Leopold on Trading Post and knew he was the dog she wanted. Leopold is the runt and not as fluffy as the other Maltese/Jack Russell pups in the litter but he was just what Greta was looking for.

Every day is not a work day for Leopold. Some days he stays home with the other resident dog at his house. Greta’s house-mate has an eight year old Staffy X who is very patient with the younger and more playful Leopold.

I’m sure when he’s at work, in the front of the shop, he draws the crowd and he is very happy to pose for photos.

If you are passing Sparta Place at 459 Sydney Street turn in there and see if you can see him taking the sun or watching from the people as they come into the shop.

It's very easy to nod off for a little nap when the sun's out.