black lab – Page 4

Señor Oso

Being able to spend time with Bear each day these past few months has been such a delight. Our work on his daily walks paid dividends yesterday when we came across an unleashed dog in the preserve. The trail was narrow and the dog started barking as soon as it was beside us. Before I could respond Bear de-escalated and led me down the trail, turning around for a treat when we were far enough away. I was so proud I would have given him a handful but after chomping down the first, Señor Oso was back on the march, culminating in his first visit to the Basalt Ridge Overlook (and only my second).

📷: Sony A6700 | Sigma 30mm f/1.4
🗓️: December 29, 2023

Festive

While testing Bear’s hiking shoes I ramped him up to longer and longer hikes, while he easily got the hang of them I noticed they were rubbing and creating a sore on one of his feet. My wife gave him a red wrap over a bandage to keep him from licking it and while he was waiting to be fed, with one leg tucked underneath him and his colorful rope toy out front, it looked like he had one festive leg and one FESTIVE leg. I’ve been taking him without his shoes on a mix of neighborhood walks and trails that don’t have many rocks and are wide enough that he’s less likely to step on something prickly. That has worked well and I’ll keep that up for the next month while I can still hike with him every day.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony-Zeiss 24mm f/1.8
🗓️: December 9, 2023

New Tricks

Bear must not have been allowed on the furniture in his previous home as it took me 7 weeks to convince him to get up on my couch. He’s been a regular ever since, though even now he asks for permission before jumping up.

📷: Nikon Z 7II | Nikon 24-70mm f/4
🗓️: May 22, 2022

Memories

I was getting a little teary-eyed editing some pictures from 2017, partially from knowing how much our lives were about to change, mostly from seeing faces I can no longer see. This is Ellie in our guest bedroom in Portland, at first I couldn’t figure out why our bed frame was there. My wife remembered we moved it from our bedroom when Ellie got too old to jump, we put our mattress and box springs directly on the floor so she could still curl up with us at night.

📷: Sony A6500 | Sigma 30mm f/1.4
🗓️: June 24, 2017

Bear vs. The Nemesis

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

The Happy Pup

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

At Least Bear Thinks I’m Funny

Bear and I enjoying a water break at The Amphitheater.

📷: Sony A6700 | Sony 16-55mm f/2.8
🗓️: November 22, 2023

Pup in Boots

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

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

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