Nuance Pet Photos Blog | Charleston SC Pet Photography » Uncategorized

The flying labrador

els — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:04:34 +0000

We finally replaced Cooper’s old torn-up and tattered frisbee last week after our vet appointment and he’s been ready to play all week. I finally caught him in action…i love how he looks up at me at the end here as if to ask “hey, did you get that on video, mom?”

Cooper catching a frisbee from Els Sipkes on Vimeo.

Cooper’s favorite new toy

els — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:04:21 +0000

Over the years we’ve gotten Cooper quite a few toys, all of which he somehow still knows by name (though he is a bit rusty on some he hasn’t played with in a while—mainly ones we have forgotten about and never ask him to fetch anymore.) Recently, Cooper has become fixated on a whole new “toy.” Namely, my plastic Perrier water bottles.

When we lived in San Diego, on walks, Cooper would actually carry his own (full) plastic water bottle, carrying it proudly like a big fat stick in his mouth. Along the way he would want a drink, and then would carry on with the bottle until it was empty by the time we got back home. Here in Charleston it’s a little too warm for him to carry it in his mouth (he can’t pant enough.)

Anyway, ever since i made the mistake of giving him one of my empties, he has discovered the joys of chewing/biting/tossing the bottles, and, he will sit beside me and actually stare me down to my last sip of the bottle, at which point he gets impatient for me to screw the cap back on so he can have his toy.

Here he is in action after already playing with it a while. Video taken with my iPhone.

Untitled from Els Sipkes on Vimeo.

Bully Sticks

els — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:46:15 +0000

Yesterday, Cooper got his first taste of a “Bully Stick.” How have we not known about these things for so long?!? Thanks to twitter, i came across @bestbullysticks, who sent Cooper a fine Bully Stick sample. Needless to say, after seeing Cooper react to, and devour, his first Bully Stick, we will be placing our order for more soon. Apparently they are even low in fat and high in protein…

“Whatcha got mom? Is it for me? Is it for me? Is it for me?!?!?”

“Hmmm…i dunno about this thing…”

“Ohhhh…ok…i get it…..”

“You sure i can eat it? It sure is different than my rawhides…”

“I’m going for it!”

“Don’t even think about stealing it from me…i got the whole thing hidden in my mouth!”

“That was yummy! Ya got any more?!?”

Good intentions…

els — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:34:44 +0000

While this blog is never far from my mind, i guess the rituals of daily life have taken over and i see today marks one month since i’ve made a blog post, despite my best intentions to keep this blog updated regularly. Not to make excuses, but, May has had its share of distractions, celebrations, and other things going on that have kept me away from the blog. Despite this month having some difficult “firsts” without mom (her birthday on the 4th, and, mother’s day) we also had reason to celebrate Mascha’s graduation from the College of Charleston on May 9th.

This was taken at home, just before we left for the graduation ceremony. The College of Charleston has its own tradition that does not involve gowns and mortar boards. The guys wear black pants with white jackets, and the gals wear white dresses. Must say it’s a nice tradition, and, considering the temperature at the graduation was a muggy 90-plus degrees, i’m sure all the graduates were happy not to be wearing long robes. If you look closely in the photo above at the reflection in the left window by the door, you will see Mascha’s bookbag hanging from the (Dutch) flagpole. It’s Dutch tradition that the graduates hang their bookbags from the flagpole to announce to the world they’ve finally completed their degree. In this case, “finally” means “just before reaching 40.” You GO girl!!!

Sullivan’s Island

els — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:05:25 +0000

Our carpe diem was in full swing this morning, and we made it to the beach on Sullivan’s Island around 8:30 a.m.—though we suddenly realized on the way there that we had brought everything…except tennis balls! A quick stop at the Piggly Wiggly—gotta love those down-south grocery store names—and we were on our way again.

Cooper was happy as a clam finally being at the beach again (I think we’ve only been a handful of times since moving here from San Diego) and he was in complete bliss in the water, chasing his tennis balls, and playing with all his new doggie friends.

He’s been a tired puppy since we got back home, but, I’m sure if I said “beach” he’d be ready to go again right now. Some shots of his first day:

“Is this the only ball we brought?!? And by the way, this salt water makes me drool!”

“I’m gonna git you, suckah!”

“Where did it go?!?”

“Check out my bright orange dog license collar! I’m legal!”

“This is one of my new friends I met at the beach. He’s huge! And has a cool goatee!”

“This is another of my new friends. He’s got bristly whiskers!”

“And this is KV. He’s named after Ken Venturi, the famous golfer. He’s 8 years old, and has a long tongue!”

“OK, back to playing now. Throw it mom! Throw it! Throw it! Throooowwww itttt!!!!!”

“Hey, do you got snacks?”

“Is that my tennis ball you got there?”

“I am gonna get snacks for posing in front of the lighthouse, right?!?”