Phantom the Wonderdog!

Today is a day to celebrate the most photogenic creature I have encountered in Italia.  He is very big...

...no, not you, Signor Insetto.  This is someone with lots of fur...

...no, not you, Signor Obi.  I'm talking about Phantom, of course!

Phantom in italiano is fantasma, which means "ghost".  But Phantom isn't scary, he's just grande e peloso (big and furry):

He resembles the Big Bad Wolf, Snuffleupagus, ALF, or a Wookie, depending on your perspective.

He likes having his tummy rubbed:

Phantom is a three year-old long haired German shepherd.  Here he is with my computer, which is also grande (for a computer) but not peloso:

Here he is with my zaino (backpack), which is even more grande but also not peloso:

Here is a close-up of Phantom's giant faccia:

Phantom likes to get out and do stuff!  Here he is taking a break from hiking:

He likes to go in the macchina (car) too:

His favorite thing to do is hang out with Gene.  When Gene isn't home, Phantom gets very triste (sad).

He also likes to chase Zoe il gatto.  She doesn't really like playing with Phantom, though, so she usually finds a way out of it:

Here he is being obedient:

Phantom is a good doggy-woggy!  He wishes you a buona giornata, because that's the kind of cane he is. (So do I, because I'm me, Bridget!)