Black retriever supports St Kilda on Glen Huntly Road

This beautiful black curly-haired retriever is backing St Kilda to win Saturday's Grand Final. He is outside Blights Shoe Repair and getting many pats from other supporters - there are a lot of St Kilda supporters on Glen Huntly Road.

I saw him a couple of times and when he was just displaying the colours and not responding to pats and conversation he was zoned out.

A Border Collie enjoying the magic of an Autumn low tide at St Kidla Beach.

We have suddenly got some hot weather back after a wintry spell. Low tide at the off-leash beach at St Kilda was a paradise for dogs this morning.

Two small black dogs walking in the puddles of sea water left by the receding tide.

This black dog is keen for an early morning swim. With the temperature in the late 20s it is a great time to play in the sea

There is a small heat wave in Melbourne with the temperatures rising to about 35 degrees some days. This energetic black dog was eager to play games and cool off in the sea at St Kilda. It was a great morning for a swim.

Miniature Jack Russell breakfasting in Greville Street, Prahran

This elderly Jack Russell greets friends every morning from a sunny Prahran cafe. He sits in the leafy courtyard; often on his own chair - the concrete can be cold even on a sunny morning.

His anxious look is because he has to wait while the bill is paid. It happens this way every day but still it is an anxious time for a miniature Jack Russell to be left alone. He wasn't keen to be photographed either. I think he is telling me that.

Where do dogs eat out in Melbourne? My Dog Café Dismantled

I ask that question because My Dog Cafe on the Station Pier, Port Melbourne, has closed.

I still get a number of hits to 'My Dog Cafe - Dogs Eating Out' I wrote this post back in March last year. It is time to up-date. The cafe has gone.

This is how the area and the cute building looks now - not a sign that it was once a cafe.

This is what it looked like in March 2008 -an interesting place to visit.

I have enjoyed many a coffee and snack there in the company of various dogs. I loved being on the water and I always admired the drink bowl fountain. Sadly that has gone too.



So where do dogs eat out in Melbourne? If you know please tell.

It's a fun way to end an outing with your dog - calling into a cafe that is set up for your dog to enjoy the experience as well as you and you can both get a snack before heading home.

2009 Million Paws Walk – RSPCA

Were there a million paws? There was a sea of people and dogs in Melbourne walking around Albert Park Lake. There were certainly thousands. I was moved and a little choked up when I saw the stream of legs and feet making their way around the Park.

At the same time, throughout the country, dogs and people were doing similar walks. It is an awe inspiring vision to get your head around





















A million paws is 250,000 dogs and that is a lot of dog. I would say it was unlikely there were 250,000 dogs in the Melbourne event. But standing watching them go past it looked like a 250,000 . There were dogs upon dogs as far as the eye could see moving around the lake.

What makes the event so moving is the relaxed and easy way people interact with each other and, chat and team up and perhaps make lasting friends.
















Melbourne dogs must be the most socialized dogs in the world. They interact and sniff and eye-ball each other. They never seem to feel the need to have a little snap or a growl. They trot along wagging their tails and I am sure they are passing pleasant friendly comments to their canine companions.

They are cosmopolitan dogs who live in a sophisticated and cultural city. They rise to the occasion













There was every breed of dog, tiny dogs to enormous dogs, slim delicate dogs to hefty muscular dogs all walking together and not irritating one another. They knew, I bet they knew that it was all for a cause - the RSPCA.

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.

Camberwell Market - Part Two

The Camberwell Market is held every Sunday and many people take their dogs as they browse the stalls.

These are some of the dogs that were there two Sundays ago. It was a cold and rather bleak day but the sun did peep out occasionally.


Lots of Melbournians rent a stall and sell off the clothing they have become tired of. There are some great bargains

Dogs at the Camberwell Market - Part One

The Camberwell Market is a great place to be when you’re in Melbourne on a Sunday morning. It’s always crowded and there are great bargains.

Some people leave their dogs outside. This beautiful Labradoodle is going to get plenty of attention - there are very few rubbish bins to use.

There's a lot to get caught up with when you are inside.

Anything and everything is for sale.



But it can get pretty boring when you are a boxer tucked away under a chair.

Out walking in St Kilda

These two photos are of a couple of things that caught my camera’s eye as I walked during the lovely long summer evenings.

The first one is definitely someone’s whimsy. It is in Alma Park. I thought it was drinking trough. One of those old fashioned ones. Unlikely, as there is no tap near and there is not enough rain for the skies to take on the job of filling it. The other curious thing about it, is the little padlocked section. The dog cut-out is cute and it is this you see as you stroll around the park.

It is unlikely that The Dog Bar is in use but it adds something to a walk along St Kilda Beach.
Wacky, strange and amusing things can be few and far between. It’s good to see some around. If you want to contribute something please do. We need a good grin from time to time.

Choosing a Dog, - Percy the Pug

PERCY

“We want a dog but we don’t know what to get!”

I’ve heard people say that so many times.

The choice is easier when the dog ‘speaks to us’.

*Sometimes it is breed that speaks to us.

*Sometimes we just want to replace beloved dog that has died - we want another Spot or Rover.

*Some people read books and check Internet sites to bone-up on various breeds.

*Sometimes we have no preference and head to the Lost Dogs Home and listen to what the people there tell us about the dogs they have. That’s how I have always chosen my dogs. I chose one because it said "good with cats!" We had two at the time. Thye've been great dogs.

Whatever method you choose I believe the dog does have to speak to you – a message passes between you.

The Pug breed spoke to Percy’s owner. She knew that was her breed and she seriously set about locating a Pug.

She began with the yellow pages

She rang breeder after breeder. All the puppies had been booked in advance and some Mums-to-be had their puppies booked for new homes before the pregnancy had been confirmed.

This new owner wanted a dog now.

Twenty phone calls and her dog was no nearer. In fact further away because the task was becoming disheartening.

Some people may have seen this as a sign that she wasn’t meant to have a Pug. But not this owner she kept searching. On the twenty fifth phone call she struck gold.

“Oh I’ve got just the dog,” said the cheerful voice at the other end

Percy was the dog. He had been returned to the breeder because his lovely owner was posted overseas and couldn’t take Percy. A meeting was arranged and Percy and his new owner fell in love and have been inseparable ever since.

PUGS are small, easy to groom and to look after. They are intelligent and alert and are interested in everything – look at Percy’s bright lively face. They love to be part of the family and need lots of affection. They are quite lazy so don’t need a lot of exercise.

A pug may be the dog for you.

On guard in Middle Park, Melbourne

This dog looks more like a hunting dog than one that is suppose to be guarding his owner’s bike.

I’m sure he is a German Pointer but there was no one around to ask. If I’m wrong please tell me. If he is a Pointer he's more in his element when he's tracking down something or putting up birds for a shoot.

He was friendly and sort of grinned at me as I studied him. I waited to see who came to collect him but he was obviously in ‘waiting mode’ without any expectations of a quick release.

He was tied to the bike stand while the bike that could have been standing against it was dropped on the ground. I’m sure he guarded it well and would have barked furiously if anyone had tried to take off on it. Guarding is an easy job on a quite week-day afternoon in Middle Park so no wonder he looked rather sleepy.

He did look more alert when he saw me with my camera. I think he enjoyed the attention. I don't think he judged me a threat to the bike.

Rescue Dog

Cody is one of the first dogs I got to know in Melbourne. He was rescued as a fully grown dog from the dog shelter at Save-A-Dog Scheme. I met him after he had been in his new home for only a few days. He was rather flighty and nervous and a little anxious.

Time has past and he is now part of his new environment, an apartment near Gasworks Park where he can be found exercising most days. He has proved to be an ideal choice.

He bonded quickly and well with his new owner. So much so that if they are walking and she is out of his sight he immediately becomes anxious. We don’t know his history and perhaps she is the only person who has given him security.

Cody put the animal shelter far behind him when he agreed to become a photographic model for a brand of canine fashions.

He has given a great deal of joy, love and entertainment. We’re all richer for him coming into our lives.

The pictures show Cody asking for his dinner and leaving his bed for somewhere cooler on a hot Melbourne night.

For a further up-date on Cody see my post from January 2008

Dogs on the Move in Melbourne

To be eye-balled by these two was a bit disconcerting. I swept out of Johnstone Street into Hoddle Street and there they were pulling away from the curb and positioning themselves in front of me. They stared at me. Then, with their body language showing distain and making it clear I wasn’t worth bothering with they looked away.

They took up positions of watching from each side of their vehicle. Did they see their job as that of outriders on a motorcade – keeping watch for any trouble brewing on either side?

The usual delays in Hoddle Street meant that I could get my camera out. They continued to ignore me in their superior and comical way while I snapped them and captured the look I enjoyed so much. Of course they could see my camera was no threat to them. They had bigger things on their minds.

We welcome dogs from other cities and places to this site. If you have a dog and a story you would like to share please e-mail it to dogsofmelbourne@gmail.com.