"Hi, My Name Is Spur"

Spur will be a wise ole cowdog before you know it. Time flies much too fast, I'm afraid. This is a nice photo Susan. The composition is excellent with the DOF on Smokey Joe and the youngster up front gettin' the limelight. And I like how Spur is ready for service. (and puzzled by the camera)

 

Stay warm. I'm freezin' at 25. Brrrr, 2 degrees... my blood has gotten too thick. Must be time for intervention.

 

Having a good New Year, I trust? Spring will be here before you know it. Take care. ~Sky

Unfortunately the dogs aren't getting much opportunity to work cows right now, hopefully we'll be trailing a big bunch to the Musselshell river one of these days, the weather keeps getting really nasty and postponing our two day adventure, and the dogs will get to come along. Some of the outfits I've worked for don't like dogs around their stock and I'm not too keen on working for them. Ol' Smokey has helped me work cattle for many a year now. Spur still has only two gears....fast and faster. Life is good.

Yes. "Pooch Portraits" indeed. Love the composition here, in this ... ah ... spur of the moment shot. Very dynamic and intimate.

I just couldn't resist those teddy bear ears, his chestnut eyes and that pink tongue, he was so obliging. They were both standing on the tailgate of my pickup waiting for an "OK" so they could get down.

Our dogs are very, very lucky. I found this quiet fellow behind a fence in a back alley, skinny and filthy. I came back a week later took this picture and got a sheriff's deputy to speak to the owner, ordering him to feed the dog. That was last August. This last weekend I checked up. The dog is STILL on the chain, he had no food and no water. He's actually very nice and quiet and loves attention. Obviously in a small artsy fartsy town, animal treatment is no better than anywhere else.

I've never understood why anyone would want a dog that's not part of the family, why have a dog just to keep it chained and neglected in the backyard?! Both of my dogs live in the house and go with me almost everywhere, when they do have to stay home they're in a large fenced yard with a straw filled shed they can get into for shelter. Dogs give so much loyalty and love, the least we can do is take good care of them. Good for you John for caring enough to do something about this dogs plight.

How sad... My Callie is a rescued Aussie and I can't stand to see a dog just sitting there like that. If I lived up there I would be probably arrested for stealing a dog. Good for you for getting involved I hope it helps!! ~ micki

There is so much to admire of your skill and technique in this shot. The DoF is spot on, the placement of your two pals is perfect. The two tone pastel landscape behind being soft enough so as to not intrude yet clear enough to give me context of where these two characters go to work in the morning. The light is great, such a warm late day glow with a hint of orange.

 

These aspects of your photo are of course entirely technical considerations, all of which are needed if you hope to get a great shot but none of which make a great shot on there own. What makes me absolutely adore this shot is the look on Spurs face. You nailed it with your caption! He has that over the top exuberance that only a happy pup has. His look say "Hey Susan how ya doin ? lets go burn some calories." It is that look which sets this apart.

 

Reading through the comments I had to laugh at your description of the speed he expects cattle to move at. One of our Pyrs. is very much of that school of thought. I often say "crazy Maggie only has two speeds, full steam ahead and stop, with nothing in between ". Maggie came from a local Pyr. rescue as have 3 of our 4 Pyrs. over the years.

Gordon, you flatter me, there was no "technical" expertise here at all, the dogs were standing on the back of a flatbed pickup waiting for the OK to get down and I just pointed my camera and pulled the trigger. I've had a dog (sometimes many dogs) for a companion all my life, I'd be lost without one. Early this Spring I thought I would be moving to the Four Corners Area and into a small town, I knew old Smokey Joe would adjust but Spur was just blooming as a top working cowdog so I found a new home for him with a rancher that really wanted and needed a good dog, I still miss him and dream of him often. When the move didn't work out and I started another ranch job of course I wished I had him back but didn't ask as he's settled in on his new outfit and doing a good job. I've also worked for a couple different Sheep outfits and they still use Pyr's for herd protection. It's a hard life for those dogs, they live out in all the harsh weather, and unless the owner of the flock is faithful about seeing that the dogs are fed they often have to find food (dead carcasses usually)on their own. I admire the Pyr's devotion to his band of sheep and they do keep the lamb lose, due to predator's, down. I appreciate a dog that's been bred to do a certain job and his willingness to do that chore. All my dogs are usaully spade and or neutered at six months. I did raise Pembroke Welsh Corgis for several years and my daughter and I showed them here and in Canada. Enough "doggie doin's".........Merry Christmas to you and yours.

However you managed it the shot works! I tell my Pyrs. horror stories all the time about how hard life is for some of their siblings and how they won the lottery by ending up at our house. They just yawn in my face roll over on the floor and go back to sleep in their nice cozy living room... such ingrates :) Even though I spoil my dogs they still know what they were breed for. One of my other Pyrs. now passed on attacked a bear in my yard, even though he was 10 years old and had arthritis he did not hesitate to sinks his teeth into that bears ass and send him packing. He took off into the bush in pursuit and did not come back for over an hour, I though he was a gonner but he came back all pumped up and full of himself. I think that was his favourite day of his entire life. He got a chance to do what every fibre in his soul had been telling him he was born to do for ten years. He never considered guarding my laying hens a fitting chore for one as noble as himself :)

 

Happy holidays backatcha