Henry, king of England

Meet Henry, an English Bulldog. I was incredibly excited to bump into Henry in Borough Market today, and I literally bumped into him when he suddenly appeared in my path, his solid bulky body and short muzzle impossible to ignore. The bulldog, an iconic English breed, is no longer a common sight on London streets, but when you see one, you don't forget it quickly! In fact, the proverbial Englishman, John Bull, the "honest plain-dealing fellow, choleric, bold, and of a very inconstant temper", is often depicted with a bulldog, signifying the British spirit.

Henry, who appropriately bears the name of several English kings, has a fabulous personality. Not only is he friendly and loves attention, but he shows that slightly stubborn determined streak, so essential in the bulldog's character. He ran around me a couple of times, his mischievous eyes shining, and refused to pose for photos, trying to stick his muzzle right into the camera lens, and running away playfully when his owner tried get him to stand still. As a result, the photo isn't the best quality but Henry's personality definitely shines through!

At only 11 months, he is a big boy, sturdy and solid, and moving him out of the way was nearly impossible, especially when he decided to dig his heels in and enjoy a raw potato found on the floor. Henry goes to his owner's office every day, spending the day in his basket under the desk, running around the office and, of course, visiting Borough Market. In fact, the visits and resulting hunting expeditions, with Henry nibbling on the odd veg found on the floor, are one of Henry's favourite things, along with sitting on the sofa and watching telly with his owner in the evening.

It was a real pleasure to meet Henry, and I was delighted to meet such a beautiful example of the breed. The bulldog, a very old English breed, was originally bred to fight bulls in the pits of medieval and Tudor England. Bull-baiting, a cruel pastime, was finally banned in 1832, but the breed remained. Sturdy and incredibly strong, with a prominent jaw and mournful looking eyes, the bulldog is a dog whose beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. The breed has a very strong following, as bulldogs are docile, friendly and immensely loyal, and make great pets. They do have a willful and stubborn side to them so they need a consistent and patient owner.

To find out more about bulldogs visit Bulldog Breed Council

To see another bull-y sort of dog please visit a bulldog and mastiff cross called Biffer

The African Queen

Meet Simba.

I spotted her from quite a distance as her smooth coat had such an unusual tawny reddish shade, gleaming in the afternoon sun in St George's Gardens, Bloomsbury. She is a beautiful dog, a Shar-pei and Staffordshire Bullterrier cross, with the compact, athletic body of a Staffie, but the wrinkled face and a colouring of a Shar-pei, especially the dark shading around her muzzle and mouth.

Her owner inherited Simba from his girlfriend, who called her Honey. You can see why when you look at her honey-coloured coat, but Simba somehow fits her perfectly. True to her name (Simba means lion in Swahili), she seems like a bit of a hunter. As I was watching Simba running around the park in a light-footed gait, lithe and graceful, I could not help but notice her calm and focussed demeanour. As I stood and chatted to Simba's owner, she managed to look into every nook and cranny of the park, and turn around every few seconds to see if her owner was still there.

Simba finally came along to say hello and, at the sight of a box of treats, she changed from an aloof African queen into the friendliest of dogs. She sat beautifully, and waited patiently with her hazel brown eyes shining in her wrinkled cute face.

She is the kindest of dogs, and her favourite pastime is playing with other dogs. A husky called Luna is her best friend and they often spend time running around the park together. I certainly look forward to see her again soon!

To meet other Staffies please see Kaiser and an Islington Shar-pei called Rebel.