Sunday, November 9, 2008

Boz's Close-Up

Yesterday's post got me to thinking. Although I have many shots of Boz demurely lowering his eyes, it's wrong to say he never looks at the camera. There are moments when he feels lordly enough to stare it down or, in this case, just look at it.

I love him madly. I love every wrinkle on his head. I love his hairless spots, his golden toes and the white hairs now sprouting on his muzzle. I love his sweet disposition and the way he smells. Mostly I love his friendship. Of course he's not the only love in my life.

When we got him from Boxer Rescue we thought we were rescuing a dog.

Bonus: our little family.

39 comments:

Dina said...

Ah so, the picture(s) of happiness.

USelaine said...

Remember that hugely popular Peanuts book, "Happiness is a Warm Puppy"? Looks like you've got two there. Bless.

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

sweetest thing

Jilly said...

Two fabulous photographs. It's interesting how some dogs won't look at the camera and others just stare and so it's easy.

I'm in process of possibly taking another rescue dog: a hunting dog who should weigh 30 kilos and weighed 15 when rescued - so thin she couldn't stand. She's in a foster home and will be sterilized next week - she's had endless puppies. Her ages has been estimated from 10 years down to 4. My only concern is how my current shelter dog will accept her. It's taken him a year to know he's 'my' dog - of course I knew he was the day I got him!

Boz is GREAT.

Sarah said...

Great!
Boz is a nice dog.Be together for ever ;)

Anonymous said...

ginab: Absolutely precious. John, too.

Sharon said...

Fantastic photos of the wonderful Boz and family. He has a regal look about him.

Fashion Schlub said...

such a handsome guy!

Anonymous said...

You know I'm going to slobber all over that post.

Susan C said...

I fell in love the second I saw this photo of Boz.

"white hairs now sprouting on his muzzle" I see the two loves of your life have at least one thing in common.

HearkenCreative said...

Wow. I've wanted a dog for a while. Boz reawakens that...he's adorable; guess I should start working on fixing the backyard fence. Beautiful pix, happy folk.

John Sandel said...

… 'at's what I'm talkin about … a joint of meat + a faithful hound = … what?

Borborygmus!

Patrizzi Intergarlictica said...

The shrink told me I have borborygmus of the mind. Is that even possible? I feel insulted.

Petrea Burchard said...

Boz will be pleased to know he's received so many comments. He likes attention. Yes, Miss H., he's the sweetest thing.

Welcome, Hearken Creative. If anyone were to ask me for a recommendation, say, once he finished fixing his fence, I'd recommend a shelter mutt, though if your heart's set on a purebred you can get one from a shelter. Even a puppy. The L.A. area is overloaded with shelters and you can search online. You never have to get a retail dog. If you're going to trainfor dog shows, yeah, go to a reputable breeder. But don't buy them from pet stores.

Altadenahiker volunteers for Boxer Rescue, which is tops. Boz is a Boxer/Mastiff mix we adopted there.

I recommend a dog whose energy is like yours. If you're sedentary, don't get a Weimeraner or a Jack Russell. They need A LOT of exercise. Get an adult dog that likes lying around. But do get out and walk him/her daily.

Watch "The Dog Whisperer," too. Caesar Millan is not just trendy, he knows his stuff.

Borborygmus of the mind sounds like lavish creativity. Better than creative intestines.

T Thompson said...

Those are great pictures, so full of warmth and humanity.

Ceasar does indeed know - funnily I applied his "own the space" and "project a calm state of mind" mantras when dealing with a run away horse some months ago.

My goal (I'm not a horse person) was to simply aid the owner by preventing the horse from leaving via a field.

I simply stood in the middle of it, and kept in mind "This is my space" and stayed clam even when he charged at me. He broke off, unwilling to test me.

I was amazed.

Anonymous said...

I think Boz is top dog. Looks who got the cushion. Brocade, fine taste Boz.

HearkenCreative said...

Sorry, Petrea, I didn't introduce myself: this is Loren/HearkenCreative -- I just finally linked my Google account to Blogger. Love the blog and photos and community...

And yes, as a mutt myself, I would definitely choose a mutt for my family. I have my eye on a shepherd/lab mix.

Katie said...

Awesome that you have two great loves in your life! These photos really make smile. Give Boz a nice rub on the head for me (although I doubt he remembers me). I haven't met your hubby, but feel free to do the same for him, if appropriate!

Pascal Jim said...

His paw is beautiful and well manicured. Dogs KNOW (so do cats, from yesterdays photo).....

Cafe Observer said...

P, I can see who the 1st love is for you & the hubby. So, try not to make him too jealous.

Hearken! Creative Loren: ck out Pasadena Humane; & Boxer Rescue if u want a boxer. Don't hesitate -do it.

Great pics! Part of your Greatest Hits album.

monoblog said...

Wonderful photos, wonderful family; easy to notice that all captured with love...

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

Oh he's beautiful. NOW you're talking! he he. I've answered your question of yesterday, as best I can by the way!

Susan C said...

Loren, you're a mutt? Me too. (Our stock just went way up after Obama's comment at the press conf. last week.) Are you Hapa?

Petrea Burchard said...

Amazing story, Ted. I'm not sure I could have--wait. No. I'm sure. I'd have gotten out of his way.

PA, we try not to spoil him but we don't try very hard.

Oh hey, Loren! Nice to see the face with the name.

Katie, I'll bet he remembers your smell.

Pascal Jim: He does his nails himself. Sort of. They stay trimmed because he gets lots of walks.

Thanks, C.O. I should ask at the Humane Society if they'd let me do some photos. I understand the Pasadena branch is tops.

Thank you, Monoblog.:)

Lynn, I'm glad you like him!

Hey, everyone's going to want to be a mutt now. As a matter of fact, I might be a mutt. I mean, I'm a WAS (not a WASP, I'm not religious), but my heritage could be mixed. Sure it could! It's all lost back there in the blah blah blah of history, so you never know!

I love mutts. All dogs are good dogs.

Chuck Pefley said...

Animals do have a way of growing into more. Wonderful photo of Boz. Of course if Boz were a cat, I'd have even more affinity :)

Christie said...

I'm so glad you have such a friend!

HearkenCreative said...

Petrea & Mike: Wholeheartedly agree with your positive assessment of the Pasadena Humane Society. I was sorry to see in today's Star News that they are hurting on the fundraising side -- they really need the money/space to grow.

Susan: Not HAPA; I called myself EuroMutt when I was growing up: I have distant relatives throughout Western Europe. Then I married my wife who has relatives in every Northern and Eastern European country. Not exotic at all, but fun nonetheless.

Ms M said...

That's such a sweet picture of Boz! I love the way you include him in your photos, the way he is often "sizing things up."
We have Chava, a cat we rescued, who adds so much to our small family, too. They are such blessings :-)

John Sandel said...

Agreed: all dogs are good dogs. They're so good at being soldiers, even a dangerous dog is a good dog, if he was trained that way.

But you are a WASP: a White Anglo-Saxon Petrea!

Cafe Observer said...

P, my guess is everyone is religious & has their god, or behaves in life as if there is one. Some join a group, others go at it on their own.

Now, Pasadena Humane is hurting for money but they're just one- it's on account of de economy.

Arts too.

Money isn't flowing around like it used to. Credit to spend won't be extended to Americans as before bcuz our govts are technically bankrupt, and its collective citizens are overextended.

Bankruptcies are up 44% this year. And I hear banks/consumer-groups are now lobbying for a govt bailout of the credit card debt. That's the real earthquake you can call The Big One.

As long as this continues, then people will only spend for de necessities of life. We've become our own charity.

It's good to see so many people are seeing the light and coming over to The Way of de Dog!

Laurie Allee said...

Now I love Boz, too!

Unknown said...

Such a beautiful dog! I'm with you, we love our dog too (she's a yellow lab), she's like a kid, and her friendship is priceless, she goes out with me to draw, paint, and it's so good to have her next to me.
Boz look like a great guy!

Her Glitter Life said...

So Sweet...Awesome pictures

Petrea Burchard said...

Chuck, I know there are cat people and dog people. I like both. Boz made the choice in our family!

"Friend" is the right word, Christie.

Pasadena Humane Society rescues all types of animals: dogs, cats, coyotes, horses, rabbits, mountain lions...everything around here.

Welcome, Iron Woman!

Rob said...

What a dog's life! Handsome dog! Our dog Winston simply gets annoyed with us when we get the camera out. He usually goes and hides behind the sofa.

Petrea Burchard said...

Shy Winston.

tr3nta said...

his beautiful...

Anonymous said...

Petrea, Boz is gorgeous. He knows that he is well loved! What a cutie!

b.c. said...

awww, sweet