Meet the Paws Project Dogs: March
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 March’s dogs and learn a little more about each of them…
BOSCO & ROSE
Breed: Chihuahua; Huntaway x Mastiff
Age: 13 years; 3 months
Where did you get your dog from?
Bosco joined the family in 2013 when their son was seven years old. He was found on Trade Me through a local woman whose son was the same age. Bosco was being rehomed as their previous dog had separation anxiety, and he quickly became inseparable from the family.
Rose came along a few years later, after their previous dog had passed. It had just been Bosco and Alexia for about three and a half years when a friend’s dog had puppies. They were offered one for free and chose the brown one, saying all of their animals are ginger. Rose came home at eight weeks old.
What’s your dog’s personality like in a few words?
Bosco is described as a sassy queen. He’s a menace, full of love, and very much his own character.
Rose is really sensitive and really sassy. She’s a people dog, very observant, caring, and receptive.
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
At night, if someone moves on the bed, Bosco reacts dramatically. Even though he has plenty of space, he goes “psycho,” as if the world is ending, despite being perfectly safe.
Rose often lies on her back with her puku in the air and her tongue falling down her face, looking as though she has completely melted into the bed.
POLAR, INDI, RIP & SWIPE
Breed: BorderPap, and Border Heading Dogs
Age: 1 year, 2.5 years, 3.5 years, 1.5 years
Where did you get your dog from?
All four dogs were bred by their owner, Emma.
What’s your dog’s personality like in a few words?
For a small dog, Polar is very loud, alert, onto everything, and incredibly fast.
Indi is very cuddly and loves her mumma. She’s extremely fast on the agility field.
Rip is a very strong boy who is extremely cuddly. He loves working sheep, with agility as his main job, and has a great off switch.
Swipe is very cuddly, loves to work and swim, and is probably the quietest of the dogs. She also loves her bed.
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
Polar is a dedicated bed destroyer and also seems to think she’s a cat, regularly using the cat door.
Indi will often sit and just look at her mum as if she’s thinking, “I love you, mumma.”
Wherever there is water, Rip will leap in and swim, continuing until everyone is ready to head home.
If you’re watching Silent Witness on TV and it finishes, Swipe will come running in and join in by “singing” along to the chorus.
PIPPA
Breed: Cattle Dog X
Age: 5 years
Where did you get her from and how old was she when you got her?
Pippa came from the Wellington SPCA at nine weeks old.
How would you describe her personality in a few words?
Pippa is described as a grumpy old nan. She’s nutty and lovely.
Does she have any funny quirks or habits?
Pippa’s fur is wild and her wobbly ears are described as ridiculous. She’ll run to grab a toy and place it on someone’s lap, not to play, but simply to show them. If she sees the cat, she takes herself to her crate and sulks, knowing she’s not allowed to chase it. She also runs up and down the fence to “chat” with the neighbour’s dog, and reliably takes herself off to bed at 9:30pm each night.
RAVEN
Breed: Border Collie x Spitz
Age: 7 months
Where did you get your dog from?
Raven was bred by her owner. She was the last puppy remaining after the others had sold, and with no interest in her at the time, her owner decided to do the responsible thing and keep her. They bonded quickly.
What’s your dog’s personality like in a few words?
Raven is described as a complete nut-bar. She’s incredibly cuddly, endlessly entertaining, and hilarious to watch when she’s running around doing zoomies. She’s always making her family laugh and smile, and is affectionately described as “the dog I didn’t want at the time, but didn’t know I needed.”
Do they have any funny quirks or habits?
Raven does small, silent air snaps when she wants attention, whether it’s to play or when she’s hoping for food. She snaps her teeth together without making a sound. She also likes to walk upright on her back legs, especially if she’s trying to see something in the distance, like another dog. It wasn’t trained – she simply started doing it on her own.
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 March’s dogs (and their humans) for being part of the Paws Project and helping support local rescue dogs.
