It was a rainy day at the Valley Forge Kennel Club Dog Show last month.  There were some tents set up adjacent to the obediance trial rings and inside I found this adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel being cradled in his owner’s arms.  Kept out of the rain and snuggled in her arms, this little pooch was cozy as could be.  He seemed to have no interest whatsoever in the dogs that were in the ring, but instead was “people watching”.  Maybe waiting for someone to come along and scratch his ears?  Or….take his picture?  🙂  Quite the model, don’t ya think?

Tara has always been pretty much of a couch potato.  The couch is the only piece of furniture that she will actually sit on.  Her other favorite spots are under the dining room table, on her bean bag bed, and on the windowsill in the living room.   Once she gets comfy on her sheepskin pillow on the windowsill, she just can’t keep her eyes open for very long.  The sun is so warm and cozy that she just nods off!  The windowsill is the very best spot in the house to photograph her because there is a lot of light – especially in winter when the trees have no leaves.   The challenge for me is to get her to keep her eyes open long enough for a few photos.  It rarely happens.  So, in the end, most of my photos of Tara on the windowsill look like this one!  This image was processed with a watercolor effect. 

Originating in Leonberg, Germany in the 1800’s, this dog loves children and makes a great family pet and companion.  They are a high energy breed and are very intellegent.  They are also quite large and will easily become kitchen counter surfers if not trained.  They are sensitive to their human’s moods and love to accompany their human on errands and trips.  They love the water and they love to dig.  If you are meticulous about your carpet and furniture, they may not be the breed for you as they love to roll in the dirt.  This breed is the Leonberger and they are like big teddy bears….so cute!  They’ve just been added to the AKC Working Group in 2010, so I’ve been seeing them at all of the dog shows this summer!