puzzle

I met Puzzle earlier this week… on her 5th birthday!  She’s an incredible dog – happy and sweet as can be.  If you’ll scratch her butt, you’ll be her forever friend (and she may even work her way into your lap).  And she’s a certified search and rescue dog.  Awesomeness.

I shot Puzzle specifically to get a more “serious” shot to be used for a very special project (more on that at a later time – but for now just a few outtakes).  Unfortunately, a golden retriever plus 100+ degree temperature does not equal “serious” face.  Plus she’s just a happy girl – her signal that she’s found something when she’s working is to wiggle her whole body (love it!).  I did manage to get a few that aren’t too goofy, but she has a big ol’ grin with her tongue lolling off to the side in a huge chunk of the shots.  

We had her “find” me once in the tall grass – but by doing so, she got covered in burrs.  COVERED.  Poor girl, to think she’d just had a day of beauty.  (A tip I learned – when they’re actually working, her mom sprays her with Pam to keep the burrs from sticking to her fur.)

It was a hot and sweaty day, and I ended up covered in chigger bites (which I am apparently allergic to), but I loved every minute of it.  Puzzle and her mom are an amazingly talented pair, and it was so great to meet them.