Dogs on the Beach Pictures
Fetching, splashing — and hanging out
One of my favorite dog pictures is this Rough Collie on East Beach, Santa Barbara. He (or she) reminds me of when I lived next door to a family with a collie. They left him out in the front yard, and I would spend quality time with him. It was a good compromise since I had animal allergies and could only have fish as a pet.
I also watched the TV show Lassie as a boy, so I viewed collies as having all the qualities I looked for in a dog — obedience, likes children, and is capable of saving lives.
A perfect Wirehaired Vizsla obviously loves to frolic in the ocean — much like me. So while he fetched objects in the sea, I caught a wave on my boogie board.
This dog was very affectionate, and when he noticed me sitting on the beach and taking his picture, he came running over. He waited until he got close enough to shake his wet coat on me — either a sign of love or to mark his territory. I smelled like a dog for the rest of the day.
This is one of the canines on my scary list. When I was five, while playing in the driveway, two large dogs knocked me facedown on the cement. They might have been Doberman Pinschers, but I don’t remember. I suffered cuts and bruises, and my forehead was swollen for a month. Since then, I get anxious when I see an unleashed large animal — except for the dogs on the beach. They are too busy having fun to be vicious.
This large Poodle just got her hair done. She did not want to get wet and ruin her coiffure that cost a fortune at the French hair salon in Montecito. So she refused to fetch anything, especially a rubber ball that might have a mongrel’s germs on it — and definitely not a stick — that’s uncouth! It’s bad enough that she got sand in her paws which endangered her new manicure. Fifi, please.
While on Ventura beach, I saw this spectacular sight. I had to blink twice and pinch myself to see if I was dreaming. A goat and an English Pointer walk together with the same black and white coat. So many questions went through my mind: Were they on a date? Did they share the same parent? And who would bring a goat to the beach? Although the goat looked pretty comfortable getting his cloven hooves full of sand.
Finally, I leave you with a video poem:
© 2021 Mark Mark Tulin