Meet the Paws Project Dogs: July
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 over $1800 for Ellie’s Canine Rescue through their involvement in the project.
Read on to meet July’s dogs and learn a little more about each of them…
Archie
Breed: Shih Tzu
Age: 7
Where did you get him from and how old was he when you got him?
Archie came to his family at fifteen weeks old from Pet Essentials in Porirua.
How would you describe his personality in a few words?
Archie is a social butterfly who loves people. He is, by all accounts, a good little dog.
Does he have any funny quirks or habits?
Archie loves chasing the cat and going on adventures with his family, including regular visits to Little Wags. At home with his owner, soft toys are his preference, but he will happily chase balls for the team at Little Wags.
Doogle
Breed: Beagle
Age: 1
Where did you get her from and how old was she when you got her?
Doogle came to her family at three months old, from a friend who had to move overseas unexpectedly after losing her job. She was born on the 5th of May.
How would you describe her personality in a few words?
Doogle is adventurous, playful, stubborn, and naughty. She is what you might call a complicated dog.
Does she have any funny quirks or habits?
Doogle is a dedicated sock and underwear thief who has refined her technique considerably. She will wait patiently until you are not looking, make her way to the clothes rack, and help herself. She is strategic, patient, and committed.
Lexi & Jamie
Breed: Cairn Terriers
Age: 5 and 4
Where did you get your dogs from?
Lexi came from Jura Kennels at ten weeks old.
Jamie also came from Jura Kennels, at nine weeks old, nine months after Lexi.
What's their personality like in a few words?
Lexi is the classic older sister: confident, in charge, and a steadying counterbalance to her brother's energy.
Jamie is diabolical. Challenging but absolutely adored, very extroverted and full of energy.
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
Lexi adores cats and has a real talent for fostering kittens, spending hours with them and gently teaching them how to play. She has worked out how to sit with her elbows tucked in like a cat. She is also an expert at teasing Jamie with a ball.
Jamie is deeply attached to three large lamb chop toys that must accompany him to bed or be present during television time. Sometimes in the night he gets up to go and collect another one. He drags them around the house, they are nearly as big as he is, and he considers them his mates. All three sleep in bed with him.
Dash
Breed: Pembroke Corgi
Age: 1
Where did you get him from and how old was he when you got him?
Dash came from Seramado Kennels in Waituna West at nine weeks old. His family made the decision on a Monday, contacted the breeder on Tuesday, and picked him up on Saturday, a very quick turnaround that worked out perfectly as his grandparents were visiting Wellington that weekend and got to meet him straight away. There is also a sweet coincidence attached to his story: it turned out Dash and a neighbour's corgi share the same father. Half-brothers, reunited by chance after the families reconnected.
How would you describe his personality in a few words?
Dash is cheeky, friendly, and boisterous, and loves meeting new people. He managed to run into a bookcase once and needed medication to recover, which gives you some sense of the energy he brings to a room.
Does he have any funny quirks or habits?
Every time Dash comes in from a walk, he goes straight to the bottom step, presses himself against it, and has a good wriggle. Every single time.
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 July’s dogs (and their humans) for being part of the Paws Project and helping support local rescue dogs.
