Lmst

If dog theft were more encouraged and less of a crime, I probably still wouldn't have stolen these adorable and friendly #australiancattledogs, but I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't tempted

#dogs #dogsofpixelfed

It's nice when I go to a show or trial and see a dog I've photographed in the past.

I took some photos of Byron back in February at the Royal Canberra Show (https://mastodon.au/@dogPhotos/112359741673740640) and had the pleasure of seeing him again in July, at another show, where I was able to take this shot. I didn't notice at the time, but when I put the photos side by side it was amazing how much he'd grown in just a few short months.

#DogsOfMastodon #Photography #Dogs #AustralianCattleDogs #RedHeeler #WorkingDogs #DogsOfFedi

Byron the Red Australian Cattle Dog stares pensively into the distance as his owner gives him a gentle scratch on the cheek.

The photo is a relatively tight shot of just Byron's face. The background is in such soft focus that no detail is discernible. Byron is looking just slightly to the left of shot and, while his eyes are alert and his ears are pricked, he seems quite calm and relaxed; which is likely related to the hand that can be seen to the left of frame, which is reaching in and scratching him on the cheek.

58F on our walk this morning. Bliss! The insects are louder these days. It feels like the earth is humming. ❤️ #iowa #DogsOfMastodon #AustralianCattleDogs

A cattle dog mix in a blaze orange vest stands on a narrow gravel drive which has prairie on both sides. The light is the golden light of early morning.

I've been quite smitten by Heelers lately. While cattle dogs tend to be few and far between at sheepdog trials, I did manage to snap a few nice shots of some spectators at the 2024 National Sheep Dog Trial Championships (wow, that name is a real mouthful).

This is Martyn. His calm appearance is belied by his pricked ears, which reveal his true state of alertness. While I may be projecting a little, his expression says to me: 'Why is the guy I was playing with just moments ago, now sitting out of reach pointing a giant camera at me?'. While I'm sure he would rather we had kept playing, I feel he is resigned to the fact that sometimes humans are just weird.

#Dogs #Dog #DogsOfMastodon #SheepdogTrial #WorkingDogs #Photography #AustralianCattleDogs #BlueHeeler

A Blue Heeler is lying in the red dirt, staring directly at the camera. He has large pricked ears and is wearing a harness. He is lying next to a timber picnic table, the corner of which can just be seen to the right of shot. The photo has a very shallow depth of field which brings the dogs face into sharp focus but leaves the background extremely soft, further emphasising the intensity of the dogs expression. A number of people on plastic chairs can just be made out in the distance, but due to the soft focus they mostly merge into the background.

I just spent far too long turning this, into this...

(Rosie didn't come with the original pile.)

#NovaScotia #Beach #Rope #Plastic #Pollution #BayofFundy #Dogs #AustralianCattleDogs #ADHD #Autism

The top photo shows a very tangled mess of different coloured and sized rope and seaweed pulled from a beach.

The lower picture shows the differently coloured ropes extracted and coiled on grass, with an Australian Cattle dog sleeping nearby.

Today I have another pup from the Royal Canberra Show. I don't see many cattle dogs at the sheep trials, so it was great getting to photograph a few at the show. Heelers have such amazing colours and patterns, making them very photogenic.

This stocky little fella is Jimmy. A beaut little pup from Grimwood Australian Cattle Dogs. He has oodles of character and, while he remained well behaved in my presence, I'm assured gets into plenty of mischief at home.

#DogsOfMastodon #Dogs #CattleDogs #Photography #AustralianCattleDogs #BlueHeeler

A photo of a Blue Heeler puppy called Jimmy. He is sitting upright and staring into the distance, slightly to the right of shot. He is sitting on grass with miscellaneous camping gear visible in the background. He is sitting in the shade, but there are small spots of dappled sunlight that hint at it being a sunny day.

While his ears are pricked and he seems attentive, there is a somewhat distant, almost pensive, look in his eyes.

Jimmy, the Blue Heeler pup, is lying on the grass looking attentively at the photographer. An assortment of camping gear can be seen in the background.

He is alert and focused, with pricked ears and eyes that stare directly into your soul.

My normal stomping grounds are sheepdog trials, but earlier in the year I visited the Royal Canberra Show and grabbed some great shots of some competing dogs. Having never attended a conformation show before I was met with a very different environment to the sheepdog trials I'm used to. The ability to walk up and talk to the dogs (and their owners) was a new experience and allowed me to practice photographing dogs that are sitting still, which made for a nice change.

The huge diversity of breeds was also a big advantage however, after reviewing my photos, I realise I almost exclusively took pics of working dogs. Oh well, I guess I know what I like...

This is Byron (aka Warrukadli Desert King). Byron did very well at the show, winning both Puppy in Group and Puppy in Show in the Working Dog category. While he seems sweet in this picture, I sense mischief in those eyes!

#DogsOfMastodon #Photography #Dogs #AustralianCattleDogs #RedHeeler #WorkingDogs