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I met Chloe in Thornhill Square, in Islington.She is a 5-month-old English Toy Terrier, which is quite a rare breed, so it was a real treat to see her!
As you can see from the badge on her harness, Chloe is a keen England supporter! She is a delightful little dog - graceful, neat and playful. She is very inquisitive, focussed and full of beans, like all terriers, yet she has beautifully sleek features of a Miniature Pinscher.
English Toy Terriers are an old English breed, originally bred to catch rats and rabbits. The Toy Terrier ancestors were called Black and Tan Terriers. They were carried by gentlemen in their pockets on hunts and sent to ground, as necessary, to flush out foxes. Unfortunately, Toy Terriers face extinction in UK. The Kennel Club is trying to prevent the breed from disappearing by allowing the English Toy Terrier to be crossed with Manchester Toy Terrier, which looks only marginally different. Let's hope that the breed will survive as they are genuinely wonderful little dogs.
More about English Toy Terriers: English Toy Terrier Club in UK
This is Liffey, doing her best rendition of that Marylin Monroe dress moment from "The Seven Year Itch" on Broadway. Broadway in London's Crouch End, that is.
I met Liffey this morning, pretty as a picture, as she was waiting for her owner to finish his coffee. Liffey is a sweet and very docile Beagle bitch. She is a rather well travelled and cosmopolitan dog. She was born in Australia, lived in Singapore and moved to London a couple of years ago.
She posed for me patiently and sat when I asked her to sit. Which is more than you can say of my Dachshund Kevin, who only sits for treats! She is placid, loves children and is very friendly. Her owner told me that the only time she goes wild is when her beagle tracking instinct kicks in, and she scavenges for bones on the street. Very unladylike, Liffey!
Beagles are hunting dogs that hunt in packs. They are athletic, love exercise and make great pets, but need discipline. Their sense of smell is so superb tha they often get carried away, so they may be disobedient during walks.
More about Beagles: The Beagle Club in UK
Meet Kaiser - a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, also known as a Staffie.
Kaiser is an absolutely stunning dog and a beautiful example of the breed. In fact, he stopped me in my tracks when I saw him walk down the street.He looks very athletic, pampered and happy in his snow-white coat. His owner told me that Kaiser's good looks are down to a good diet and plenty of excercise.
Staffordshire Bull Terriers, despite their history (they were bred for dog and bull fighting), are dedicated and loving dogs who are fiercely loyal and affectionate, given the right upbringing.
It is the 5th most popular breed in UK, but there is a dark side to the Staffies' popularity. Many people buy them not for their loving nature, intelligence and affection for children, but because of their reputation for tenacity and ferociousness. Many Staffies end up in dog rescues after being abandoned, or worse, after being rescued from illegal dog fighting rings.
It is good to think outside the box and see Staffies for what they are (despite their formidable exterior) – loving and good-natured dogs. They are famous for their disarming smile so when you see one, give it a cheeky grin!
More about Staffordshire Bull Terrier: East Anglian Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club
Rescue a Staffie: Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue
Blue is a Weimaraner who lives in my neighbourhood. You see Blue once and you remember him for a long time, as he is so strikingly beautiful. I also know Blue because he is an extremely patient dog and he thouroughly ignores my Dachshund Kevin, who always barks at him from across the road!
Blue posed for me with a thoughtful expression on his face. Note his amazing amber eyes and silver grey coat - rare in dogs, but typical for Weimarners. Weimaraners are highly intelligent and graceful gundogs who are used to point, retrieve and track game. They can also be trained as sniffer dogs, and make fabulous companions and pets.
The Weimaraner was developed in the independent state of Weimar, in today's Germany. The nobles of Weimar jealously kept their dogs from other ownership and preserved the excellent characteristics of Weimaraners. It was not until World War II that any significant numbers of the dogs reached owners outside Germany. The Weimaraner was first introduced to Britain in 1952, so it is still a fairly rare breed in this country. (Source: Weimaraner Club Of Great Britain Online)
More about Weimarners: Weimaraner Club Of Great Britain
Meet Yogi. Not the food-obsessed bear from Jellystone Park, but the resident Alsatian at the Star&Garter pub in Soho.I met Yogi, as he was relaxing, cool as a cucumber, in front of the Star&Garter in Poland Street. Yogi is a 3 year old Alsatian with a bit of media career. He modelled for a dog and cat cartoon for Nikolodeon and it doesn't suprise me, as he is a stunning dog. He has a beautiful, multi-coloured fluffy coat, carefully groomed every day by his owner to keep it smooth and silky.
He has an uber-cool air about him, like a real Soho-ite, and he posed beautifully, with the indifferent air of a real professional. His owner told me that Yogi often lies right across the threshold of the entrance to the Star&Garter. Who needs bouncers when you have an Alsatian at the door!
Alsatians, also known as German Shepherds, are working dogs, often used as guard, military, search and guide dogs because of their intelligence, ability to focus easily and capacity for learning. They also make wonderful pets and companions.
More about Alsatian: GermanShepherd.com
I met this lovely family in the busy Grovenor Place, just off Hyde Park Corner roundabout. The owners told me that they had a long standing family tradition to give their dogs names starting with a B, hence Bamba (top) and Bria (bottom).Bamba is an unusual cross of the rare Pharaoh Hound, also known as an Egyptian hound. That is where she gets her lovely, distinctive ears, which give her a very charming, inquisitive air. Bamba is a new London dog, as she arrived to London only a few days ago from Spain with her owners. She has a beatiful, rich copper colour coat and amazing amber eyes. She has something of the timidity and gentleness of a greyhound about her, until she pricks up her big ears and all of the sudden you can see her Pharaoh Hound ancestors in her. I am sure that once she settles here, Bamba will be very happy.
Bria is a 9-year old serene and placid retriever. She has a beautiful creamy, almost white coat, unusually light colour for a retriever. She belongs to Bamba's owner's Mum, who was kind enough to let me take photo of Bria too. She was rather indifferent to my camera, which was justified. Bria is a dog of habit and it was past her dinner time, so she wanted us to know that it was not fair to keep her waiting any longer! She sprawled on the pavement with all her four paws out, never minding the traffic and noise.More about Pharaoh Hound:
Pharaoh Hound Club of America
More about Labrador Retriever: Labrador Retriever Club in UK
Let me introduce you to Max (top) and Poppy (bottom), who are very special dogs indeed. Poppy and Max are English springer spaniels, who work as explosive sniffer dogs for the Metropolitan Police Dog Support Unit.
I was thrilled to meet this lovely pair in Green Park, where the officers (who are also their handlers) took them for a walk. Poppy is older and more experienced, but both Max and Poppy come from Battersea Dogs Home. Phil, Max's handler, told me a little about Max, an abandoned puppy handed in at a dog rescue. From the start, he showed a lot of potential, and was consequently put on a sniffer dog training course. Max is only 2 years old but he completed his sniffer dog course in January 2005 and has since worked on London Underground, in the aftermath of 7/7 London bombings.
To an unknowing eye, Max and Poppy looked like two very happy dogs bouncing around with the usual spaniel vivacity, playing with sticks found in the grass. Once called by their handlers, however, their training and discipline showed as they responded immediately and came to heel. Poppy really wanted to play with her stick, so that lovely photo of her shows her lifting her front paw, asking for the stick in a very lady-like fashion.
English springer spaniels are gundogs, which find, flush and retrieve for gun. They are excellent at tracking a scent and are eager to please, which makes them ideal for training as sniffer dogs. They are also wonderful companions – affectionate and kind. A very special thanks to the officers who were so kind to let me take photos of the dogs and spent time chatting to me. And I walked away feeling that London was a little safer in their hands (and paws!).
More about English springer spaniels:
English Springer Spaniel Club in UK
I met these two Scottish lads in Liverpool Street in Islington as they were strutting in a typically dapper terrier fashion.
They are Scottish terriers, also known as Aberdeen terriers or, affectionally, Scotties.
Don't be fooled by their cute looks and minute size - they were bred to catch mice and rats so they are determined, alert and full of energy.
These two Scotties are beautiful examples of their breed - full of beans and inquisitive, with lovely jet black coats. More about Scotties: North of England Scottish Terrier Club
I met Domino in Green Park, where she was walking with her owner.She is a cross of unknown parents, although watching her run makes you think of a Border Collie.
Domino is 14 years old. Mind you, from the way she was bouncing around, skilfully avoiding my camera, you would think she was a puppy.
She is a friendly and endearing girl who came from Battersea Dogs Home, which proves that you can get a friend for life when you adopt a dog.
Meet Erin, outside Tate Modern.Erin is a young whippet bitch. She looks quite thin to the untrained eye but there is no need to worry. Whippets look like that, and Erin here is an extremely fine example - beautiful and delicately built.Erin is very shy but don't be fooled by her innocent looks. Seconds after this photo was taken, she was asking people eating their lunch outside Tate Modern for a bite to eat. Not that shy after all.Whippets are one of my favourite breeds. They are gentle, affectionate, trusting and loyal. They are a hunting dogs and are very athletic. They also race, like greyhounds.More about whippets:
Whippet Club
I met this lovely Chow-Chow as he stood outside a house in Islington waiting for his owner to come downstairs. The beautifully coloured fluffy coat shone in the sun and thanks to a hot day, the purple tongue Chows are famous for, was on display.More about Chow-Chows:Chow Chow Club in UK
This is Miss Piggy. She is a Staffordshire Bullterrier bitch.Miss Piggy comes to Islington's Farmers' Market every Sunday with her owner.She is really friendly little dog with a charming smile and a lovely spot of colour on her ear.
