Meet the Paws Project Dogs: February
The Paws Project Calendar is about more than photographs. It’s about dogs, their stories, and using creativity to give back. Each month, I’ll be sharing the dogs featured in the calendar and a small insight into their lives.
A heartfelt thank you to every dog who took part and helped raise funds for Ellie’s Canine Rescue through their involvement in the project.
Read on to meet February’s dogs and learn a little more about each of them…
Hugo
Breed: French Bulldog
Age: 5 years
Where did you get your dog from?
Hugo came from Cosmique Kennels in South Auckland. He was born on 28 September and came home when he was a couple of months old.
What’s your dog’s personality like in a few words?
Chaos is the best word to describe Hugo. He’s friendly and enthusiastic, especially when meeting new people.
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
Hugo takes his role as protector seriously – guarding the porch from every single leaf and courier driver. He’s also very tuned in to the fridge, instantly knowing whether it’s cheese or a carrot coming out, and only coming running when it’s something he likes.
Cookie
Breed: Samoyed
Age: 4 years
Where did you get your dog from?
Cookie came from a breeder in Hawkes Bay. He was 15 months old when he joined the family, as he wasn’t considered “good enough” to be a show dog. His owners wanted a slightly older dog rather than a puppy.
What’s your dog’s personality like in a few words?
Cookie is timid and anxious, but lovely with his family. He’s a great addition to the household, wonderful with kids, less confident around other dogs, and is described as a “loved family member” and affectionately “a little bit dumb.”
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
Cookie has a special spot by the ranch slider where he sits to ask for food in the morning and at night. He tries to communicate with a low, grumbly growl – a Samoyed trait – which may sound grumpy but is just his way of talking to his family.
Spencer
Breed: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Age: 5 years
Where did you get her from and how old was she when you got her?
Spencer came from a breeder in Ashurst and joined the family at 12 weeks old.
How would you describe her personality in a few words?
Spencer is quirky, silly, and fun.
Does she have any funny quirks or habits?
He always insists on having a rock on walks, carefully choosing one as they walk along streams or rivers. He often goes through three or four before finding what he considers the perfect rock – and they’re always different shapes and sizes, so it’s a mystery what makes it just right.
Chewy (left), Disney (middle) and Lulu (right)
ChewY, Disney & LULU
Breed: German Shorthaired Pointer X, Dalmatian, Golden Retriever
Age: 5 years, 1 year, 4 years
Where did you get your dog from?
Chewy came from a farm in Whitemans Valley and joined the family at 10 weeks old.
Disney’s story is a little different – her owners met her breeder in the supermarket checkout at Foxton Beach and, half an hour later, went over and picked her up. She was 10 weeks old at the time.
Lulu came home at 8 weeks old from a breeder in the South Island.
What’s your dog’s personality like in a few words?
Chewy is fun, protective, and very cheeky.
Disney is cheeky and cuddly, with a relaxed, go-with-the-flow nature and an adaptable personality.
Lulu is loving, cuddly, and what her family describes as “blonde in the nicest way possible” – she loves everyone.
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
Chewy loves to run and chase ducks, and at Petone Beach the dogs will swim the entire way around the concrete section in the freshwater area while their owners walk along the footpath. They’re all water dogs, and people often stop to watch them.
Disney doesn’t have a full tail due to having “happy tail” as a puppy. After repeatedly injuring it by getting overly excited and hitting it on things, she had to have part of her tail amputated – and then had to have it shortened again after reinjuring it. She now has a very short tail.
Lulu has a pink tail, which is kept that way for her St John’s Pet Therapy visits – something both she and the children she visits love. It’s maintained every 8–12 weeks, depending on groomer availability.
Meeting and documenting these dogs has been such a privilege!
If you’re dreaming about documenting your own dog in a way that feels true to them, you can find more information about about my photography sessions here.
Thanks again to February’s dogs (and their humans) for being part of the Paws Project and helping support local rescue dogs.
