Ella stood by the side of the bed, just making sure I've heard the alarm clock and that I'm getting up ready for her early morning walk.

She makes sure I don't go back to sleep once the alarm has gone off.

She doesn't bark - she just stares at me until I get up and it is hard to go back to sleep with that big head and face at the edge of the bed Lol

When she is stood by the side of the bed her head is higher than the duvet - so there is no escaping her.

Sometimes I pretend to hide and bury my head under the duvet and she loves burrowing under it to "find" me. When she finds me, I am usually rewarded with a BIG lick.

Who could resist her or ignore her?

Her eyes just ask questions without words - she is a super dog to have around.

Tags:   Ella Rhodesian Ridgeback Big dog Panasonic DMC G3 Micro 4/3rds Micro Four Thirds MFT Lumix G3 walk dog walk alarm call wake up portrait ISO 6400 surreal abstract staring waiting night vision in the dark walkies spooky haunted Hound of the Baskervilles watching patient

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Love is..............next to me. The dog biscuit on the worktop!

She may be my best friend, but the biscuit on the worktop has all of her attention.

100% concentration - looking straight past me and the camera, directly at the treat - little minx!

She has a very soft mouth, taking treats very gently and never snatches at food.

Your fingers are quite safe if you give her a tasty treat

Tags:   Ella biscuit concentration focus Love is Man's best friend dog training hound Rhodesian Ridgeback loyal Panasonic DMC G3 Lumix Micro 4/3rds Micro Four Thirds MFT brown eyes devotion portrait highlights waiting patiently

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Rolling on her back in the sun on the lawn is great fun to her - she looks like she is laughing!

She rubs her back on the grass like she is having a good old scratch then she gets up, shakes herself from head to tail and walks off.

It brings new meaning to "ROFL" - Roll on Floor Laughing.

Here you can see her massively deep chest - it measures 36 inches in circumference and she has colossal stamina

Tags:   Ella rolling back grass fun happy playing ROFL dog Ridgeback

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Ella sound asleep and snoring her head off after a long day and a long walk. Not a care in the world.

When she is this tired she has rapid eye movements, her lips quiver and her paws twitch in her sleep.

Sometimes her legs move as though she is running and she gives out little cries, sometimes deep growls, in her sleep.

She loves to chase squirrels and rabbits. She has never caught one but she just loves the chase.

Is that what she dreams about perhaps?

However, if she hears the lid of the biscuit tin click open with her treats in it - she is awake in a heartbeat. Little minx

Tags:   Canon 7D ISO 1600 Ella sleeping snoring Deep sleep dog resting tired bokeh Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Black and White dreaming asleep paws eyes impression blur fur soft nose contrast high key Sleeping giant hound peaceful

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Ella waiting for her ball to be kicked so she can pounce on it.

She adopts this position no matter whether you kick the ball to the left or right of her, so she can react immediately by pivoting around her hips.

She twitches and sways like a goal keeper about to save a penalty and she will never take her eye off the ball.

If you try and fool her by flicking the ball straight over her head, she just rises up and catches it with both front paws and slams it back on the ground again. She loves this game as her expression shows.

Her level of concentration is remarkable. A true hound - nothing escapes her attention.

Her speed and reflexes are incredibly fast for such a big dog.

She will quite often catch the ball in mid air before it hits the ground.

She has very powerful shoulder muscles and a high arch, like a greyhound, to the groin which gives her such a turn of speed.

Tags:   EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Canon EOS 30D Rhodesian Ridgeback pounce focus speed concentration playful African Lion Hound Lion Dog big dog waiting power powerful hound sight hunting grace graceful sleek Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

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