Tag: black lab

First Day

A close-up of our newly adopted dog Bear relaxes on our bed on April 3, 2022. Original: _ZFC6566.NEF

Bear on his first day with us a couple of years ago, he’s grown (and shrunk) so much since then.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: April 3, 2022

Desert Defenses

Our dog Bear lays on his back as he plays with a saguaro dog toy, which was designed for dogs who are rough with their toys, as it can lose its outer skin but still have an internal cactus for the dog to play with. Taken on June 22, 2024. Original: _Z720019.NEF

Saguaros have evolved many traits to survive the harsh desert climate. If played with too roughly, they can shed their arms and outer skin, revealing an internal cactus complete with its own second skin, right down to the mustache. The new armless saguaro is better able to withstand even the most ardent of loves.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70 f/4
🗓️: June 22, 2024

Not a Junkyard Dog

Our dog Bear looks into the distance while standing in front of a water tank covered in graffiti on Service Road No. 4 in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. Original: _ZFC8970.NEF

“Not a Junkyard Dog”

This old tank covered in graffiti is my favorite reminder this once was not preserved parkland. I think Bear was watching some hikers over on the Whiskey Bottle Trail, he’s generally not one for looking in the camera and that’s OK. Most of the park is lush with plants and animals and doesn’t resemble the entrance to a junkyard but I do enjoy photographing the tank whenever we’re in the area.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 6, 2024

Water Break

Our dog Bear stands beside his water bowl at the overlook on the Jane Rau Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 19, 2024. Original: _ZFC9205.NEF

Bear and I take a water break in a spot where perhaps neither human nor dog has ever set foot before. I so miss being able to take him hiking every day! We were back here yesterday, I didn’t think we’d have time for this short trail at the end but he charged around our favorite loop so fast that even after stopping to watch a herd of deer we still had plenty of time to come up here and take a water break before heading home.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 19, 2024

New Horizons

Our dog Bear stands near saguaros on the Axle Grease Trail in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 16, 2024. Original: _ZFC9192.NEF

During my time off I’ve loved taking Bear to trails I normally avoid as they are crowded on the weekends, stepping aside to let people past is the most common way he steps on something painful. Here we’re taking a water break at the junction of the Axle Grease and Rock Tank trails, it was a Tuesday so we only encountered a few people. I’m not sure he cares but I enjoy seeing him discover new places.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 16, 2024

On Top of the World

Our dog Bear looks out from atop the big boulder at Balanced Rock in McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 26, 2024. Original: _ZFC9268.NEF

A couple of weeks ago as Bear and I had Balanced Rock to ourselves I was forcefully struck at how I was happier than I had been in a very long time. Not that there hadn’t been plenty of happy times in the years prior but that after several months of leave my mind had finally unwound and let me stay and revel in each little moment. Surprisingly rather than the euphoria slipping away with the realization my leave was about to come to a crashing halt, it stayed with me as we hiked back out through this stunning land.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 26, 2024

The Running Dog

Our dog Bear relaxes on the carpet in a running pose.

Bear and I haven’t been hiking in four days, a mix of me being run down for a few days after my second Shingles shot and the desert getting some much needed rain. The nearest park prefers you not hike in the rain and I haven’t felt up to driving further afield, particularly not with the work commute resuming in a week. It’s chucking it down at the moment, Bear is softly snoring beside me with both cats zonked out on my legs.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: December 23, 2023

A Wee Bit Excited

Our black lab Bear sprawls out on my couch on January 11, 2024. Original: _ZFC9026.NEF

Yesterday I returned from a trip and Bear was so excited his feet did the happy dance Ellie used to do when I got home from work. He kept running around the house so I took him out for a lovely 6.5 mile hike. Today we took an easy 2.5 mile walk as I had an appointment for my second Shingles vaccine in the early afternoon, at the moment he’s snoozing beside me as he was in this picture from a month ago.

📷: Nikon Z fc | Nikon 16-50 DX
🗓️: January 11, 2024