Bone Voyage

On assignment with Europe's most peripatetic canine

  • By Jennifer Drapkin
  • Photographs by Toni Anzenberger
  • Smithsonian magazine, March 2006, Subscribe
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Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Capri
Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Capri (Toni Anzenberger)

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Church of San Michele Arcangelo in Capri

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One day eight years ago, a young landscape photographer from Vienna was visiting a farm near Verona, Italy, when he learned about a spotted puppy with black ears that no one wanted. The photographer, Toni Anzenberger, adopted the dog and named him Pecorino, thinking it meant "little sheep" in Italian. Only later did Anzenberger learn that he'd named his new best friend after a cheese. "At least Pecorino sounds cute in German, like a clown's name," Anzenberger says. "It's not like calling your dog Gorgonzola."

Then, when Anzenberger brought the dog with him on an assignment in Tuscany, Pecorino kept running into the picture. At first Anzenberger was frustrated. But he soon realized that Pecorino added character to the pictures. So he began photographing the dog everywhere, on the streets of London and the shores of Greece, next to windmills in the Netherlands and statues in Rome.

Traveling with a canine can be challenging. To enter England and Scandinavia, Anzenberger had to prove that Pecorino didn't carry rabies, which involved waiting several months while the dog underwent blood tests. In Lisbon, Anzenberger caused the subway to be stopped after he and Pecorino boarded a train; security guards enforcing the no-dogs policy escorted the pair aboveground. Most of the time, Anzenberger and Pecorino travel by car; both have a fear of flying.

Pecorino's fame has garnered the duo some unusual privileges. They were allowed to take over two double-decker buses for a shoot in London. The Church of San Michele Arcangelo, in Capri, permitted Anzenberger to photograph Pecorino on its 245-year-old tiled floor, which depicts Adam and Eve's expulsion from Paradise. Most human beings aren’t permitted to step on it.

Pecorino has a flare for modeling. The pooch often chooses his own poses, and looks left and right on command, Anzenberger says. Cats or female dogs don't distract him. Once he hears the camera shutter stop clicking, he strikes a new pose. When he has finished his work, he demands to be petted. He prefers being petted even to eating, though he does like fresh bread and spaghetti. And he attracts a crowd. Once, in Barcelona, a bus full of Japanese tourists saw Anzenberger photographing Pecorino on the sidewalk, and they all got out and joined in. Anzenberger himself, who is 36 and lives in Vienna with his wife, also a photographer, is almost never recognized.

A few years ago, a devoted fan in Austria introduced Pecorino to a female pointer mutt that looked a lot like him. They’ve had eight puppies. Four have a black spot above the eye, like their father, but none has his personality. "The children take after their mother," Anzenberger says. "They are wilder." Anzenberger says Pecorino is happiest at exhibitions of his photographs, where people line up to pet him for hours on end. He knows he's a star. As Anzenberger says, it wasn't his decision to go into canine portraiture—it was Pecorino's.


One day eight years ago, a young landscape photographer from Vienna was visiting a farm near Verona, Italy, when he learned about a spotted puppy with black ears that no one wanted. The photographer, Toni Anzenberger, adopted the dog and named him Pecorino, thinking it meant "little sheep" in Italian. Only later did Anzenberger learn that he'd named his new best friend after a cheese. "At least Pecorino sounds cute in German, like a clown's name," Anzenberger says. "It's not like calling your dog Gorgonzola."

Then, when Anzenberger brought the dog with him on an assignment in Tuscany, Pecorino kept running into the picture. At first Anzenberger was frustrated. But he soon realized that Pecorino added character to the pictures. So he began photographing the dog everywhere, on the streets of London and the shores of Greece, next to windmills in the Netherlands and statues in Rome.

Traveling with a canine can be challenging. To enter England and Scandinavia, Anzenberger had to prove that Pecorino didn't carry rabies, which involved waiting several months while the dog underwent blood tests. In Lisbon, Anzenberger caused the subway to be stopped after he and Pecorino boarded a train; security guards enforcing the no-dogs policy escorted the pair aboveground. Most of the time, Anzenberger and Pecorino travel by car; both have a fear of flying.

Pecorino's fame has garnered the duo some unusual privileges. They were allowed to take over two double-decker buses for a shoot in London. The Church of San Michele Arcangelo, in Capri, permitted Anzenberger to photograph Pecorino on its 245-year-old tiled floor, which depicts Adam and Eve's expulsion from Paradise. Most human beings aren’t permitted to step on it.

Pecorino has a flare for modeling. The pooch often chooses his own poses, and looks left and right on command, Anzenberger says. Cats or female dogs don't distract him. Once he hears the camera shutter stop clicking, he strikes a new pose. When he has finished his work, he demands to be petted. He prefers being petted even to eating, though he does like fresh bread and spaghetti. And he attracts a crowd. Once, in Barcelona, a bus full of Japanese tourists saw Anzenberger photographing Pecorino on the sidewalk, and they all got out and joined in. Anzenberger himself, who is 36 and lives in Vienna with his wife, also a photographer, is almost never recognized.

A few years ago, a devoted fan in Austria introduced Pecorino to a female pointer mutt that looked a lot like him. They’ve had eight puppies. Four have a black spot above the eye, like their father, but none has his personality. "The children take after their mother," Anzenberger says. "They are wilder." Anzenberger says Pecorino is happiest at exhibitions of his photographs, where people line up to pet him for hours on end. He knows he's a star. As Anzenberger says, it wasn't his decision to go into canine portraiture—it was Pecorino's.

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Comments (9)

The adress of the new homepage of the dog Pecorino & Toni Anzenberger is www.pecorino.at and the link to the facebook side of Pecorino is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pecorino/230130363698296?sk=info

Posted by Toni Anzenberger on November 24,2011 | 09:18 AM

I've been a Pecorino fan for a long time; I'd say since 2004. While in Vienna recently (May 2011), I contacted the Anzenberger Gallery, via e-mail, and asked if I could meet Pecorino. He was, unfortunately, not in town at the time, but I visited the gallery anyway.

Regina Anzenberger (Toni's sister) founded the gallery in 2002. She was kind enough to meet with me and show me the studio. She also showed me some of HER work, which includes some great photo books--including a photobook about Pecorino's daughter, Shakeera.

If you're interested in purchasing Pecorino items (books, calendars, postcards, etc), go to the gallery website (http://www.anzenbergergallery.com). Many of the Pecorino books have been translated into English.

Posted by Tim Gainor on May 31,2011 | 10:46 PM

a neighbor stopped me today on my regular walk with my dog to share a 2006 Smithsonian magazine article about Pecorino. As we were "Ooo"-ing and "Haaa"-ing over the photos with delight, many other neighbors stopped and shared our laughter. it was a "digital" moment in itself!. Thank you Tony and Pecorino

Posted by Yael Pardess on May 30,2009 | 10:32 PM

I have been trying to get a book of Toni Anzenberger's work in the U.S. especially one with the print of Paradise Pecorino II. Sounds like Sydney Hilt has obtained some. Any suggestions of where to look?

Posted by Gwen Emery on May 7,2009 | 10:02 AM

I LOVE Pecorino, & think Toni Anzenberger is an amazing photographer! I thought I had all the Pecorino books, but now find there are quite a few more, & I must start buying again. Think Pecorino's daughter, Shakeera, is very special also. Does Toni ever plan to visit the U.S. with Pecorino?? Could be another wonderful book, or even a set of books!

Posted by Sydney Hilt on January 25,2009 | 06:56 PM

simply wonderful...I see the work of a true dog person... I believe that percorino could well be a pointer maremma cross....

Posted by helen brennan on November 5,2008 | 03:46 AM

I'm fascinated by your boy dog, Pecorino, as I have a girl dog that looks just like him. Her name is Ellie. Do you have any idea what type of dog Pecorino is? I believe Ellie is the same type and I adopted her too. I think she may be blue heeler/australian shepard but wonder if she is blue heeler/lab? Love your pictures!

Posted by Robin Miller on June 14,2008 | 07:11 PM

Does anyone have any info on where calendars or books, preferably in English, can be purchased? Has the Smithsonian shop considered stocking the books or calendars for sale in the U.S.??

Posted by Adrienne Low on February 12,2008 | 07:50 PM

I have been writting various palces trying to get some one or organization to publish this man's books in English, I ordered all from Germany but-- get more out of in English !

Posted by PATRICIA BURKE on November 28,2007 | 06:48 PM



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