Tag Archives: french bulldog

Tattooed Dogs by Michael Pratt

24 May

Michael Pratt was born in Roswell, New Mexico. A ceramist and painter, Michael co-founded Pratt & Larson Ceramics in Portland, Oregon in 1980. Pratt resides with his wife in Portland, Oregon with “two rescue cats that have control issues”. Their beloved toy poodle Kirby (AKA Benito Poodlini) passed away recently, but the “big and stocky with an attitude” pet was definitely the kind you could imagine gracing Pratt’s canvasses.

Tattooing is common practice in Portland, and whilst sitting at a café one day, Pratt couldn’t help but notice 50 or so tattooed men and women across the street, as well as a striking French Bulldog. Inspiration hit, and thus the images of dogs with tattoos were born, depicting an “almost iconic image of Portland”. Says Pratt, “Tattooing, at its best, is a narrative of a person’s experiences and preferences. They tell the story of an individual. We tell our pet’s stories all the time. We see the characteristics that strike us (as) cute, funny, mean, ironic… to combine the two seemed only a logical extension of the thought. Let the animals tell their own stories through their tattoos.”

Each dog has a name and a story to tell (like Lucy, who ‘had that street dog flair about her’ and ‘had been around the block a few times’) and some even have a sci-fi bent to them, although this is not necessarily a nod to the mysterious Roswell/UFO brouhaha.

A typical piece begins with the animal itself. Pratt will photograph a dog that catches his eye, draw it onto a panel, then paint with acrylic, channeling his own self, from his sense of irony to his humour, into the piece. He says, “The whole character of the portrait and the choice of the tattoos develop as the painting develops. The whole thing comes to life as the image develops. The story becomes apparent through my involvement with the painting.”

The reaction from the public has been an eye opener for Pratt, who has enjoyed observing their interest in the convergence of cultures — passionate or not. “It has raised my awareness of how people relate to their pets, and to art that suggests they see them in a different light” he observes.

Here are some of our favorite images from the Tattoo’d Dogs series…

Hidden Dragon

Lucky Me

Elvis

Glow

Blind Faith

Forever Free

Lucy

Nostradogmus

Sir Bull

(Via: Four&Sons)

Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

7 May

114 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

Hoppa, a four-year-old mixed breed dog born without front legs, uses a prosthetic device to walk outside in the central Israeli city of Tel Aviv February 28, 2010. The device was invented especially for Hoppa by a animal-loving art student, who hopes his wheeling device will improve the lives of pets born with abnormalities or with amputated limbs. (Amir Cohen/Reuters)

212 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

38 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

Naki’o, a mixed-breed dog with four prosthetic devices, goes for a run in Colorado Springs April 12, 2013. Naki’o lost all four feet to frostbite when he was abandoned as a puppy in a foreclosed home. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

45 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

A Yorkshire Terrier named Hope shows off her uni-wheel attached to a doggie vest in Longmont, Colorado April 21, 2013. Hope is missing one limb and is able to walk with the wheel attachment. (Rick Wilking/Reuters)

55 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

A 25-year-old female loggerhead turtle named Yu swims after receiving her 27th pair of prosthetic flippers at the Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe, western Japan February 11, 2013. Life looked grim for Yu, a loggerhead turtle, when she washed up in a Japanese fishing net five years ago, her front flippers shredded after a brutal encounter with a shark. Now keepers at an aquarium in the western Japanese city of Kobe are fighting to find a high-tech solution that will allow the 25-year-old turtle to swim again, with years of labor and 27 models of prosthetic fins behind them without success. (Reuters/Suma Aqualife Park)

63 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

A keeper holds an artificial tail fluke attached to female bottlenose dolphin “Fuji”, estimated to be 37-years-old, at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Motobu town on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa February 14, 2007. Fuji lost 75 percent of her tail fluke due to an unknown disease in 2002. The dolphin can swim and jump using the artificial tail fluke, which is believed to be the world’s first artificial fin for a dolphin, and was developed by veterinarians and Japan’s largest tire maker Bridgestone Co., an aquarium official said. (Issei Kato/Reuters)

73 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

A dog named Pay de Limon (Lemon Pay) runs fitted with two front prosthetic legs at Milagros Caninos rescue shelter in Mexico City August 29, 2012. Members of a drug gang in the Mexican state of Zacatecas chopped off Limon’s paws to practice cutting fingers off kidnapped people, according to Milagros Caninos founder Patricia Ruiz. Fresnillo residents found Limon in a dumpster bleeding and legless. After administering first aid procedures, they managed to take him to Milagros Caninos, an association that rehabilitates dogs that have suffered extreme abuse. The prosthetic limbs were made at OrthoPets in Denver, U.S., after the shelter was able to raise over $6,000. (Tomas Bravo/Reuters)

82 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

Scar the cat, which had its hind legs severed by a combine harvester, stands in this undated handout. Two-year-old Oscar can walk again after being fitted with prosthetic limbs in a world-first operation. Oscar was given a pair of artificial limbs by veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick, using a technique developed by a University College London team. (Reuters)

93 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

A 48-year-old female elephant named Motala walks on her newly attached prosthetic leg at the Elephant Hospital in Lampang province, north of Bangkok August 16, 2009. Motala’s front left leg was maimed after she stepped on a landmine at the Myanmar-Thai border 10 years ago. (Phichaiyong Mayerku/Reuters)

10 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

A seven-year-old disabled cat named Cici is helped to walk by a device as she participates in “Cat Show 2002” in the western Turkish city of Izmir, December 29, 2002. Cici was disabled in a traffic accident two months prior. (Reuters)

115 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

Tzvika, an injured female turtle, walks with the aid of her newly attached wheels at the Wildlife Hospital in the Ramat Gan Safari near Tel Aviv January 5, 2011. About two months ago, Tzvika was run over by a lawn mower and suffered severe damage to her shell, and a spinal injury that affected her ability to use her rear limbs. The wheels, attached by veterinarians at the safari, elevate the turtle to keep the shell from being worn down and enable her to walk. (Nir Elias/Reuters)

122 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

Marco van den Boom installs a wheel of a medical roll car for French bulldog Billy at the headquarters of ‘Rehatechnik fuer Tiere’ (medical engineering for animals) in the western town of Witten November 9, 2012. Four-year old Billy, whose hind legs are paralyzed since birth, ran for the first time on Friday with the aid of the roll car. “Rehatechnik fuer Tiere” owner Marco van den Boom, custom builds a range of roll cars for disabled or infirm dogs and animals, to help aid their mobility or paralysis needs. (Ina Fassbender/Reuters)

131 Injured Animals Keep Moving with Prosthetics

Chris P. Bacon, pictured February 12, 2013, at Eastside Veterinary Hospital in Clermont, Florida, was born without the use of his hind legs. Last month, the pig’s owner turned the piglet over to a Clermont vet who decided to help the little guy. Dr. Len Lucero took the pig home and made a wheelchair for him using toy parts. (Tom Benitez/Orlando Sentinel/MCT

Psssst .. He Can’t Hear You – Understanding A Deaf Dog

16 Apr

Understanding your dog and knowing how to control him, develop his potentials, and resolve behavior problems, emotional conflicts and frustrations are no less essential than love and respect.
- Michael W. Fox

Hugo, the little deaf French Bulldog with Logan.

Meet Hugo! He’s the first little deaf dog we’ve had stay with us at The Hydrant. While we’ve had quite a few aging dogs that are losing there hearing, but he’s the first born this way. His stay here, has taught me a lot about different training techniques, specifically using hand motions. I’m so used to using different noises & sounds to get the dogs to do what I want, the moment you take away sound, creativity comes into play! At first I had no idea where to start, but after a quick internet search I knew my plan for the week …..

The first few days was getting Hugo’s attention. Eye contact. After all, once you’ve got a dogs’ eye contact they’re waiting. Waiting for your next move …

He’s not super food motivated, so I had to find a really special something he loved. I figured out quickly that was freeze dried sardines (YUM!) AND tug toys!

These are some very useful links I found, and thought i’d share –

Deafdogs.org – full of great info, including recommend hand signals you can use.

Deafness In Dogs – Why does this happen? Hand signals and tips for training.

Typical Friday night at The Hydrant.

 

 

Sunday Cuteness Overload!

14 Apr

We are back with our 20th edition of the cuteness overload! For this special edition we are featuring photos of  an adorable baby all snuggled up with a litter of chubby French bulldog puppies. The baby was 3 months old when the photos were taken in November, and the puppies were 3 weeks old.  Enjoy the overload of cuteness…

2

22

222

2222

22222

222222

2222222

22222222

222222222

2222222222

22222222222

222222222222

Doberman Play Date

31 Mar

We brought Logan & Edison out for the Doberman Play Date at High Park.

121

We also had a special guest appearance by Lady! She loved hanging out with the big dogs!

058

065

Logan in his usual position, digging a big hole in the sand and laying in it. Its his favorite thing to do at the park.

085

Logan & Edison running around with the other dogs.

094

093

Ok lets take a coffee break, meet me at the table.

113

103

For more info on the Meet Ups check out the Toronto Doberman Pinscher Meetup Group

Top 10 – Most Stylish Dog Breeds

27 Mar

Man’s best friend is sometimes menswear’s best friend too. Aside from garnering numerous reblogs and helping guys nab members of the opposite sex with their good looks and loving personalities, there are plenty of dogs with an innate sense of style. It’s ironic to think that, given that they wear pretty much the same exact outfit everyday, but believe or not, there are certain breeds who have more style than others. So Complex has ranked the Top 10 Most Stylish Dog Breeds…

10. Portuguese Water Dog

Possible Stylish Owners: Presidents, Sailors, People with anchor tattoos.

Good enough for the Obamas, good enough for you. For all you heritage heads, the Portuguese Water Dog is the perfect accessory to a Breton-stripe shirt or a peacoat. Originally bred as a seafaring pup, the good ol’ PWD is also known for its high obedience and the ability to swim. Couple that with its fluffy mane and its colorblocked coat of fur (that’s also available in all black for you goths out there), and you’ve got one stylish canine.

9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Possible Stylish Owners: People who love the idea of “fashion”, J. Crew shoppers

This season’s hottest accessory, by and large, is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Just look at that thing. You want to hug it and hope it sneezes glitter and sprinkles. Those droopy eyes, those floppy ears, the perfectly mussed coat of fur. It’s a living embodiment of this “high/low” concept every other person who pays attention to style is really feeling right now. It is a literal lapdog who wants nothing more than to just chill out, and the desire to do absolutely nothing? That’s luxe.

8. German Short Haired Pointer

Possible Stylish Owners: People who shop at Orvis, Dads with Barbour jackets that faintly smell of gunpowder

For men who wear hunting jackets for real, actual hunting, and use shooting patches to cushion the blowback from the butt of their Winchester rifles, this is their unironic dog. Man’s best friend was bred to find foxes and other wildlife, and direct its masters to their prey. Add in speckled fur and a rich brown coat that isn’t too far removed from tweed, and you have a regal pup that you would find cast-iron intrepretations of above a mantle in the Ralph Lauren mansion.

7. French Bulldog

Possible Stylish Owners: Independent shop owners, Sensitive bros with a #menswear Tumblr

Like Jay-Z had to make a song cry, sensitive style thugs choose to let a Frenchie represent their soft side. You’ll find this little guy hanging out at boutique menswear shops, either lying down by the counter or lounging by the fitting room. Doesn’t matter if they’re playing hip-hop or indie rock, he’s down with both. His primary job is to be a shop mascot, and usually has an appropriately-alt name like “Winthrop” or “Olivier.” You’ll also find him hanging out at the 1-bedroom apartments of stylish cool guys who make shit tons of money for seemingly inane things, like taking selfies on Instagram with a beer bottle from a specific brand..

6. Pug

Possible Stylish Owners: Creative types who work from home, Stylish fat dudes

This is the canine equivalent of heavyset dudes that look awesome. The pug’s own gluttonous, lazy nature is a perfect match, and the fact that he can just eat the day away and still be as adorable as ever is his greatest advantage.

5. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Possible Stylish Owners: Royalty, People who buy full-price stuff from Barneys

The Corgi, known for its associations with British royalty, is a regal pup. Having a bunch of these guys greet you at the door shows that their owner is pretty much living, breathing wealth. That they couldn’t last more than an hour out in the wild doesn’t matter, because they are adorable. Look at their little faces, completely ignorant to every other thing in the world, like dogs less fortunate than they are. The best part about owning them? You’re probably rich enough to pay other people do do the dirty work, like scooping up their poop so you don’t have to worry about dirtying your Margiela sneakers or Balmain jeans.

4. Boston Terrier

Possible Stylish Owners: Dudes who wear a sportcoat 24/7, Dudes who wear double monks on the reg

The Boston Terrier is the icing on the perfectly tailored cake that is the sprezzed-out #menswear dude. Docile and regal, his black and white coat almost looks like a natural tuxedo. Throw a bow tie on instead of a collar, and you’ve got a canine gentleman. When he’s not being walked around with a horse-bridle quality leather leash, he’s probably seated in the basket of a single-speed bicycle, leisurely riding through the city as his master pedals his way through the annual Tweed Ride.

3. Brussels Griffon

Possible Stylish Owners: People with a streetwear brand, Well-coiffed bartenders at nightlife hotspots

The Brussels Griffon is to the downtown cool guy what the Boston Terrier is to the suited and booted #menswear douche. Originally bred by downtown cab drivers as effective rat killers in 17th century Belgium, this breed has come a long way from its gritty roots—much like many of the native New Yorkers who possess them. Plus, they’re small enough to be able to live in a tiny apartment, but large enough that people won’t give you flack for owning one, unlike Pomeranians, which are pretty much the Ed Hardy shirts of dogs.

2. Shiba Inu

Possible Stylish Owners: Menswear Bloggers, Menswear Dog Bloggers

Like the bloggers that probably own them, the Shiba Inu is a lot shorter in real life than in photos, and tends to have a highly inflated perception of themselves. That doesn’t mean it’s any less stylish though, as any person who’s actually seen Nick Wooster or Prince in real life will tell you. Style isn’t about physical height, it’s about sartorial height, and when you’ve got the tenacity and handsomeness of a creature like the Shiba Inu—or the boldness of a precision-tailored Thom Browne suit—no one can mess with you either way.

1. Rottweiler

Possible Stylish Owners: Riccardo Tisci, Kanye West, Victor Cruz

There’s an obvious reason why the rottweiler tops this list, and that’s Givenchy. Of course, the most stylish dog breed would be the graphic focal point of one of the most buzzed-about fashion brands right now. The loyal guard dog can be intimidating when necessary, and is known for being relatively fearless and confident—and really, isn’t that what style is all about?

(Via: Complex)

Nicole Mlakar Photography

19 Mar

Nicole Mlakar-Livingston is a lifestyle and pet photographer in Austin, Texas.  Nicole is an award winning photographer, who was selected multiple times as Austin’s “Most Awesom-ist” Pet Photographer by The Austin Pet Directory’s reader poll. She also contributes to local non-profit pet organizations and rescue groups through financial donations and donations of her time and talent. Nicole provides photographic portraits for the Central Texas SPCA adoptable pets in an effort to give every pet an even greater chance of finding their forever home. Nicole was in turn, honored by the Central Texas SPCA as their 2009 Animal Advocate of the Year. We love the unique, powerful and memorable images she is able to capture utilizing only natural light.  Here are some of our favorite photos from her extensive portfolio…

222

2222

22222

222222

2222222

2222222222

222222222222

For more of Nicole`s work check out the following links:

FacebookWebsite  | Tumblr | Twitter | Instagram

Frenchie Party!

10 Mar

We were excited to bring Logan & Yoshi with us to Pawsway for Theo & Lady’s Birthday Party!

Birthday Boy Theo!

Birthday Boy Theo!

Showing off his new b-day custom collar & bow tie!

Theo showing off his new B-Day custom collar & bow tie!

The Birthday girl Lady!

The Birthday Girl Lady!

Cute Lady!

Cute Lady!

Logan had lots of fun, of course he found the only toy in the party!

Logan had lots of fun, of course he found the only toy in the party!

We brought Yoshi with us and lots of friends were there including Declan!

We brought Yoshi with us and lots of friends were there including Declan!

Cute little Abby running around with Yoshi & Lady.

Cute little Abby running around with Yoshi & Lady.

Bella the boxer. Another happy party guest!

Bella the boxer. Another happy party guest!

Happy Yoshi!

Happy Yoshi!

 

Yoshi & Lady taking a break.

Yoshi & Lady taking a break.

We headed upstairs for a run around the top deck, look at Lady go!

We headed upstairs for a run around the top deck, look at Lady go!

Logan doing his best impression of the painting above.

Logan doing his best impression of the doberman painting above him.

Logan looking at the boats.

Logan looking at the boats.

 

We decided Declan deserved to be inducted into the hall of fame!

We decided Declan deserved to be inducted into the hall of fame!

Frenchie Party!

Frenchie Party!

Happy Birthday Lady & Theo, thanks for inviting us to your party!

Happy Birthday Lady & Theo, thanks for inviting us to your party!

A Boy And His Dog

13 Feb


As far as photos posted on Instagram go, they don’t get much cuter than this. Tokyo, Japan-based mother Aya Sakai has been charting the adventures of her young son and his best friend, which just happens to be a French Bulldog, using the popular photo sharing app. Whether they’re cuddling on the couch or watching tv on a cushion, the two just can’t seem to get enough of each other. The relationship will remind you of the sweet 88-year-old grandmother and her cat, as well as Haru and Mina, those incredibly cute brothers growing up in Japan. Adorable beyond words!











For more follow Ayasakai on Instagram and Facebook

(VIA: My Modern Metropolis)

Snow Day!

8 Feb

As you already know we are having a bit of a snow day here in Toronto.  Walking dogs can be challenging in this weather so the crew hasn’t had a chance to get out too much today. To cheer the dogs up we wanted to make  a special dinner for Brooklyn, Timmy, Owen & Olive (and Logan too!).

014

We decided to give everyone some tuna with their meals, squeezing the juice over the kibble first.

037

Then adding the tuna.

045

Owen & Logan wanted to check out the meal prep.

054

Timmy is excited!

031

Olive waiting patiently for her food.

049

Owen chowing down, everyone finished their food tonight with no complaints!

063

Owen giving his seal of approval!

059

Then out for our last walk of the night, there was a pathway cleared so we managed to have some fun tonight!

099

Timmy checking out all the snow.

084

Olive with the best snow chin we’ve seen in a while!

080

Stay safe out there doggies!

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 282 other followers

%d bloggers like this: