Category: Pets

Bear vs. The Nemesis

Our dog Bear looks at a mountain lion sculpture in the distance on the Camino Campana Interpretive Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 18, 2023. Original: _ZFC8905.NEF

Sadly this is about as close as I’ll ever get to an actual mountain lion. Thankfully this is about as close as I’ll ever get to an actual mountain lion. Bear usually wants to stop and stare at the animal sculptures at Fraesfield, he knows they aren’t real but can’t quite make out what they are. It’s the mountain lion that really gets his interest, there is also a jackrabbit and a javelina nearby. This morning he walked right on by, there were lots of people and dogs with it being Christmas Eve so I think he was a little too distracted to appreciate art.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50mm DX
🗓️: December 18, 2023

Test Pattern

This was going to just be a quick test shot to see if the camera’s autofocus could lock on Trixie’s eyes but I’m rather fond of how it turned out.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: November 29, 2023

The Happy Pup

Our dog Bear looks at me with a joyful and loving expression as we played in the living room, taken on November 29, 2023. Original: _A671313.ARW

While researching cameras I most wanted to know how well the animal eye autofocus worked and was shocked at how there were almost no examples with pets with dark fur. Several of my cameras have pet eye AF but not a one of them can see Bear or Trixie. I’m happy to report my new Sony A6700 sees both, and while the AF isn’t perfect, the ability to easily grab a quick shot like this while Bear and I were playing brings tears to me eyes when I think back to how much of a struggle it has been going back to 2007 when we adopted a black cat we named Emma.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: November 29, 2023

Pup in Boots

Our dog Bear sits while wearing dog shoes on the Camino Campana Interpretive Trial in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 25, 2023. Orignal: _A671173.ARW

A few days ago I took Bear on a short hike in dog shoes to see how he’d do, it took him a couple of tenths of a mile to find his stride but then it was full steam ahead. Whenever we hike this trail he stops for a while to watch the metallic animal sculptures placed in the desert, the mountain lion in particular confuses him as the shape suggests danger when his nose is clearly telling him there is none.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: November 25, 2023

The Joy of Discovery

Our dog Bear with his eyes wide and mouth open as he tries a new dental treat for the first time. Taken on August 28, 2022. Original: _Z725474.NEF

Bear last summer as he was trying out a new dental treat. Needless to say it was a big hit.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70mm f/4
🗓️: August 28, 2022

Saguaro Sandwich

Our dog Bear stands in front of a saguaro while the shadow of another saguaro falls across him on the Latigo Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on October 31, 2023. Original: _ZFC8034.NEF

Bear sandwiched between two saguaros on the Latigo Trail. The other day while making the long gradual climb back to the car on a western leg of this trail, he was so tired he let me take the lead, a first I think! Yesterday on a loop I stopped after a mile and doubled back to the car since he was flagging, so today I’ll give him a rest day and we’ll go for an easy walk in the neighborhood.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 24-70mm f/4
🗓️: October 31, 2023