My Dog And I

It has been a while since I last indulged my love of old photographs, so here we go:

Working Class Dog. I can imagine a woodbine and pint of stout being set aside for this backyard shot. By the dog, of course.

 

Me And My Friend. Kids and their pets, perennially.

Give me back my doll! How can animals understand the emotional outbursts and whims of children? How can we?

Family Shot, Dogs And All. I love this gathering. The old dog looks like it couldn’t be bothered rising from its slumber for the occasion. We’ve all been there. It looks like the girl to the right has a black eye, but it could just be staining on the photograph itself. See how the guys appear manly by holding a rifle and, ahem, watering can.

The Novelty Shot. Even in those days it seems that they weren’t averse to dressing their pets up. Perhaps disapproving, the robust woman won’t make eye contact.

The Sentimental Shot. In a child’s scrawl: ‘Our Billy and Me’. ‘Our’ feels more familial, inclusive, than denoting ownership. But perhaps that just reveals my own soft side. Look how she holds it by the collar, perhaps it has bolted on previous attempts?

Showcase Ingenuity.  A custom made side car has been built especially for the dog to sit in. The dog looks as proud as the boy showing off his catch of fish. The females look like they are ready for bed-but what do I know about fashion, either then or now?

Summer Days. Childhood adventures. Not sure how adventurous the dogs are feeling here though.

Walking The Dogs? I have a large Golden Retriever. This kind of thing has been suggested.

 

Military Dogs. These three Jack Russell type dogs look like they belong to a regiment, although there is a child present too. They were good for catching rats. The dogs I mean, not children.

An Old Favourite. This photograph has featured in two previous posts on Jackdaw. I like how there is just enough scant information known to enable us to relate to the two people posing on the dusty porch: ‘Mary with her Grandfather, Jasper, around 1900’.The unnamed dog looks a little like that one that wouldn’t wake up in the earlier photograph.

Keep Calm, I Love Her. This is my favourite of the new ones. The old, grizzled, patient friend, tolerating a little ear pulling by a little Shirley Temple.

Hoped you liked this little time-shift foray. I’m more a dog than a cat person, but maybe a future post of the past, yes?