So we go for a walk. A walk is when you put one foot in front of the other continuously and that movement carries you away to some place else.
Lately, she has decided that a walk also requires you to stay in place for a long time. A loooonnng time. Donna decidedly enjoys just standing in one spot, sniffing the air, listening and observing passerbys.
Rooted in the same spot, observing the world go by.
This is the cute, happy face you see if you are walking towards us.
And when she tires of standing in the same spot, she sits.
Flappy, floppy ears.
The human is usually impatiently standing by the side
and doesn’t see the cute face from this spot. – –
And that is how we snapped this picture with a random passer-by in it :P
This candid shot was not planned. But when I heard of Amy’s Don’t Parsley Me By contest, I thought this photo illustrates that line quite well. The post processing… well I was somewhat playing aimlessly with the apps I had. Perhaps I have been influenced by this particular set of Do not abandon your pet posters. Because subconsciously, the colours tended towards a dark, dull and grungy mood, and when I realised this, I just went with the flow :P
Donna: Why did she pass me by without a look?
Human: Because the world doesn’t have the free time you have to sit and stare all day.
Actually I don’t mind her taking the time to imprint what is downstairs. I wonder if it would help, should she get lost one day and need to find her way back to the correct block of flats.
Do your dog(s) like to stand and stare for long periods of time when outside facing the public? Do they do anything that made you proud or embarrassed you in public?
thatjenk
Cute – especially that first colour photo!
Alma doesn’t sit still much when out and about, but Moses will tire out even at the dog park and take a rest, and let the socializing come to him.
weliveinaflat
Moses sounds highly efficient in the socialising department :P Bwahahahahaha. Alma sits very well for your pictures though :P I really can’t tell that she doesn’t sit still much :P :D
Linda Trunell
Donna is a spectator. Would love to know her thoughts on what she observes. Max is usually more interested in the smells than the sights on a walk so I sometimes find myself saying, “OK, let’s go already!”
weliveinaflat
I wonder if her observations will be literal, like ooh that’s a guy… that’s another guy… that’s a kid! :P But maybe I simplify too much :P Donna definitely takes her own sweet time to sniff as well… so I can imagine you with Max :D
Lindsay
My dog doesn’t do this. He’ll stop and try to sniff something, but he rarely sits just to sit while on a walk. However, I’ve known a dog that does do this. His owner actually thought something was wrong with him physically when she first adopted him. “Why doesn’t this dog want to walk?” But the vet said, don’t worry, he’s just mellow. He likes to take things slowly, and he teaches us humans to slow down and appreciate life.
weliveinaflat
I think their character changes at the shelter versus when they are adopted. The shelter folks did report that she used to refuse to walk … sometimes I wonder if it could be because she had too much common sense to walk on the hot concrete in the afternoon, versus being really depressed, but I would never know :P But it’s true that she has made me slow down and just live in the moment. Thanks or dropping by and sharing :) have a great day ahead!
Kyla
Um, sometimes I relieve myself. The outdoors is the outdoors after all.
weliveinaflat
LOL Donna does that too, since we are downstairs either for loo breaks or walks. Sitting and staring is a bonus that she concocted.
NW Frame of Mind
Heidi loves to stop right in the middle of a walk and sniff the air for as long as I will let her. It may be because she isn’t as familiar with our neighborhood as the one where she usually lives. She is trying to learn everything at once!
weliveinaflat
Did you just get Heidi? I don’t think you’ve mentioned her before (but it might be I just missed it :P) But perhaps you are right, the environment downstairs is constantly changing because of the construction work going on.
NW Frame of Mind
Heidi is 7 and has been my brother’s dog since she was a puppy. She is staying with us for a few weeks while he is travelling but really – she’s a member of the family. :)
ILoveDogs
Cute! My dogs definitely don’t stand still when we are on a walk. They want to move and they want to move now! Pierson, however, does like to sit by the window and watch people going by.
weliveinaflat
You make it sound like they are dragging you everywhere XD. What does Maya do while Pierson hogs the window seat? :P
Kuruk
Donna sometimes I want to rest on the cool cement, so I just lay down and Mama can’t go anywhere! Woooowooooooo! :-)
weliveinaflat
Mama must feel the same as me when you do that :P
thehappyhugger
Aw, she is really so beautiful and has such a friendly smiling face! Thank you so much for sharing her pictures with us and for taking part :)
Sonel
Yep, too many smells, sights and people… so little time. :D
Great shots Mrs. P. Donna is just so adorable! xxx
dogdaz
Love what you did with the pictures. My dogs are not sitters. Louise, a nose hound/lab, is always moving with nose to the ground, and Sofie, my herder, is always pushing people and animals along.
weliveinaflat
Now I have this mental picture of Louise, nose to the ground and moving like a snail, and Sophie right behind her nagging at her to move on :P Does it happen? :P
dogdaz
Absolutely. Sofie will nip at her back legs to get her moving.
weliveinaflat
:D
well minded
Oh, Donna is so cute! My dog screams if another dog looks at her at the dog park. So embarrassing.
weliveinaflat
She has her cute moments :D Screaming sounds drastic. Is it fear or excitement? Embarrassing mums are part of the fun sometimes :P
well minded
I think it’s more of a warning thing. Or a combo of fear, excitement, and crazy. I’m actually writing a post about it!
weliveinaflat
Awesome! I love hearing about crazy :P
Jan K
If I had a nickel for every time I said “we’re supposed to be WALKING”……however, my dogs never just sit and stare, I have beagles so there’s a lot of stopping and smelling. I try to let them do that, within reason, though! If I let them linger every time, we’d never get back from a walk! :)
weliveinaflat
Exactly!!!!! Nowadays, when she is not sitting and staring, she has perfected the art of running along, nose in the grass while I speed-walk on the pavement. At least we are able to get to the park and back and NOT halfway to the park and then we have to go home! :P That was in the early days of our adoption.
2browndawgs
LOL it is cute that Donna wants to sit and observe the world.
weliveinaflat
Oh yes but I usually don’t … Not really :p
sassmuffins
I am…absolutely fascinated by the last photo. However did you achieve the moving overlay onto that picture?