Tag: black lab

My Favorite Hiking Companion

Our dog Bear at the overlook on the Marcus Landslide Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 18, 2026. Original: _A671234.ARW

One of the nice things about hiking with Bear is how comfortable people are talking to me compared to when I’m alone. You would not believe how many times I’ve been told that I’m so handsome and well-behaved. Thankfully they also complement Bear, particularly the horse riders who appreciate his gentleness around their nervous steeds.

Our dog Bear at the overlook on the Brown’s Mountain Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 25, 2026. Original: _A671501.ARW

First picture:
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: January 18, 2026

Second picture:
📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: January 25, 2026

The Hall Monitor

Our dog Bear relaxes in the hallway next to our kitchen on November 28, 2025. Original: _Z727125.NEF

Bear loves to sleep in the hallway, halfway between my office and my wife’s office. He’s sleeping there now, quietly snoring in the dark. He had been sleeping beside me on the couch but he’ll sometimes get up and go where it’s dark and quiet and free of cats.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: November 28, 2025

500

Our dog Bear sits on a large boulder on the Balanced Rock Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 26, 2025. Original: _Z727068.NEF

If my notes are correct I recently made my 500th visit to our local preserve. To celebrate I took Bear up to the spot that became so meaningful during my leave of absence a couple of years ago. Almost all the visits the past few years have been with Bear, I love his enthusiasm for our hikes and let him set a fast pace, even though I prefer to go slowly and revel in the details. Sometime next year I’ll have time to both take him and go out on my own, but for now my priority is enjoying our time together.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: November 26, 2025

A Bear & A Frog

An overhead view of our dog Bear and his frog toy. Taken on November 24, 2025. Original: _Z726946.NEF

I’m pretty sure this is how one of Aesop’s fables starts. So far the frog has tolerated Bear’s prodigious love and still has all of its limbs and no head wounds, a rare sight in this house.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: November 24, 2025

Empty Conduit

Shadows of our dog Bear and I fall past words spray-painted in the street that say Empty Conduit. Taken on September 7, 2025. Original: _ZFC1862.NEF

There’s a street nearby known as The Oracle of Scottsdale because of the insightful if cryptic messages it offers to pilgrims who brave the journey. I’ve not been able to work out what it was trying to tell me, perhaps it was a message for Bear.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50mm DX
🗓️: September 7, 2025

War Ravaged

Our dog Ellie in the dog park at Irving Park as the trees bloom in the background in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland, Oregon on March 11, 2018. Original: _DSC3847.ARW

One of the last pictures I took of Ellie in the dog park at Irving Park before we had to leave my beloved if war-ravaged Portland. So thankful for our many years in that wonderful city and the Irvington neighborhood we called home.

📷: Sony A6500 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: March 11, 2018

Me? A Scientist?

Our dog Bear gleefully prepares to bite down on his alligator stuffed animal on September 6, 2025. Original: _A670161.ARW

I’ve been asked to join a citizen science group exploring the continued decline of the Sonoran alligator. I’m honored and happy to help but also confused, what can I possibly know about it?

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: September 6, 2025

Our dog Bear joyfully prepares to bite down on his alligator stuffed animal on September 6, 2025. Original: _A670289.ARW

Our dog Bear bites down on his alligator stuffed animal on September 6, 2025. Original: _A670184.ARW

Charley Chuckles Goes Swimming

Our dog Bear swims in our pool on September 8, 2024. Original: _A675892.ARW

Swimming season will soon come to a close as I prefer the water temperature to be just shy of boiling flesh from bone, but at least we’ll be able to go hiking again. Bear enjoys his pool time though his favorite part is sitting on the ledge and chomping on his rubber ball. His dog paddling is so effortless yet effective that I thought I’d try it myself. Unfortunately I’ve gone faster by treading water. Bear is good about getting out of the pool to go to the bathroom. He takes his rubber ball with him, which when he’s finished I ker-chunk of the concrete and he goes flying into the pool after it.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 16-55mm
🗓️: September 8, 2024

Our dog Bear walks with his rubber ball after getting out of the pool on September 8, 2024. Original: _A675859.ARW

Our dog Bear sits on a ledge of the pool on September 8, 2024. Original: _A675829.ARW