A Barker’s Dozen Life Among The Dog People of Paddington Rec. Volume XII Anthony Linick Introduction The same day that we returned after two months in California – having decided that we would not be moving back to the States at the beginning of our retirement – my wife Dorothy and I took our property off the market … and ordered a puppy. Fritz the Schnauzer arrived a few weeks later and by the end of June, 2003, we had entered that unique society of dog owners who people London’s Paddington Recreation Ground. The society in which we were now to take our place remains a unique one, an ever-changing kaleidoscope of dogs and their owners. The dogs represent most of the popular breeds and many of the mutt-like mixtures – and so do their accompanying humans, who come from diverse nationalities and from many walks of life: professionals and job seekers, young and old, family members and loners. They are united by their love of dogs, and on the central green of the park, on its walkways and at the café where they gather after exercising their animals, they often let this affection for dogs carry them into friendships that transcend park life and involve many of them in additional social activities. Fritz had been a member of the pack for about a year when I decided to keep a daily record of his antics and the folkways of the rest of the crew, human and canine. I have done so ever since. I reasoned that not only would this furnish us with an insight into the relationship of man and beast but that it would also provide a glimpse into London life. Such a life, we know, is full of struggles and tensions and these were certainly reflected in the chronicles that followed. I have tried to make this record a candid and accurate one. Has any dog ever received as much dedicated attention as my Fritz? Has any canine society ever received such scrutiny? We turn to the diaries of Samuel Pepys for insights into London life as it was experienced in the latter half of the 17th Century. No wonder some wag has called me The Pepys of Pups – for my project, with its analysis of London life as it was experienced in the early decades of the 21st Century, is now over fifteen years old. The present volume represents the twelfth version of these annual chronicles – a barker’s dozen. Fritz, in fact, died in February, 2014, and I spent a good deal of time wondering if I should ever have another dog. I was determined not to forsake the company of all my park pals and thus, even without an animal of my own, I continued to frequent our breakfast table in the Rec. Then, in March 2015, Otto the puppy arrived and his first full year in our company is a central focus of the present account. I must thank all of those who provided photographs for this project, the staff and management of the Rec itself, our friends behind the counter at the café, and my sister-in-law, Naomi, who assisted in editing. Special thanks go to “London Janet,” Daisy- Mae’s mom, for designing the cover of Volume XII. I published the first four volumes of “Life Among The Dog People of Paddington Rec” in a traditional print format and these are all still available either directly from the publisher at Authorhouse. com or Authorhouse.co.uk or from Amazon.co.uk, from Amazon. com or from any of the other online booksellers. These include: Volume I: Strictly Come Barking, published in 2008 and covering the years 2004-2005. Volume II: Have I Got Dogs For You!, published in 2010 and covering the years 2005-2006. Volume III: DSI: Dog Scene Investigation, published in 2011 and covering the years 2006-2007. Volume IV: A Doggy Day in London Town, published in 2012 and covering the years 2007-2008. In 2013, with Volume V, however, I was able to switch to a new publication format, making Invasion of The Biscuit Snatchers (covering the years 2008-2009) available in e-book format, free for all who want to follow this story by going to my website: anthonylinick.com. Click here. Volume VI, My Dog’s Breakfast, covering the years 2009-2010, was published in 2014 and is available at anthonylinick.com. Click here. Volume VII, covering the years 2010-2011 is called The Great British Bark Off. It was published in 2015 and you will find it too on my website, anthonylinick.com. To download, click here. Volume VIII, “And Your Little Dog, Too,” published in 2016, covers the years 2011-2012. You will find it too on my website, anthonylinick.com. To download, click here. Volume IX, The Dogshank Redemption, published in 2017, covers the years 2012-2013. You will find it as well on my website, anthonylinick.com. To download, click here. Volume X, Dog Day Aftermath, covers the years 2013-2014. You will find it now on my website, anthonylinick.com. To download, click here. Volume XI, The Paws That Refresh Us, covers the years 2014- 2015. You will find it now on my website, anthonylinick.com. To download, click here. And, finally, we have the current volume,A Barker’s Dozen – covering the years 2015-2016. To download, click here. “A Barker’s Dozen” Life Among the Dog People of Paddington Rec, Volume XII By Anthony Linick Chapter 1—June, 2015 Pepper wants a biscuit now! “A Barker’s Dozen” Monday, June 1: As I chat with the others over coffee – at the café in the park – I realize that today I must begin work on the twelfth volume in my long-term history of “Life Among the Dog People of Paddington Rec.” There is a substantial turnout this morning – even though some of the regulars (like Ofra, in Israel, and Peter, at physiotherapy) are missing. Yesterday our resident dog-carer, Georgie, celebrated a famous birthday and, only five mobile phone minutes after describing how things now looked in her Glasgow garden, her mischievous sister Jean made a surprise appearance at a celebration lunch at the Bridge pub on the canal. Pictures of the event are passed around now and some of the breakfasters are able to relive a rowdy outing: Davide, Karen, Janet and Georgie herself. (I missed this event as I had not yet returned from a walking holiday in Wales.) Also present today are Ellie, Wendy, Matthew, Makiko and my fellow walkers, my brother- and sister- in-law, Adrian and Naomi. Janet shows us a copy of the birthday card she made for Georgie; it features headshots of all of our dogs and even some of Wendy’s chickens. The dogs are particularly glad to welcome me back since I have brought my treasured biscuit bag. Ofra’s Cavalier, Bailey, receives some soft chews – since he seems to have only four teeth left – and the always dieting Pug, Winnie, gets a few of these as well, a gift from our Philadelphia visitors. Karen’s Coton, Dudley (who shows up in one of the birthday photos wearing a party hat), is able to get down more solid offerings and so, of course, is my own puppy, Otto, who, a week away from the advanced age of five months, seems ever-larger and fuzzier than when I left him. Georgie’s Yorkie, Sparkie, is also an eager eater but Janet’s Shih- Tzu, Daisy-Mae, remains in Mommy’s lap and Matthew and Makiko’s Pug, Emilio, takes no part in the feeding frenzy – nor does Ellie’s Cockapoo, Teddy. Ellie says, however, that Teddy loves her husband’s home cooking and that yesterday Teddy was given his own barbequed rib as a treat. (His favorite food, it turns out, is Robert’s homemade fois gras – though it has to be served to him on a cracker.) Two other non-feeders are among Georgie’s menagerie today, the Pug Peggy, whom we have seen before and her new black sister, Elsie. After a while Vlad enters with his 1 “A Barker’s Dozen” Rhodesian Ridgeback, Tara, a sure customer for some of the larger Bonio biscuits I had to buy when I ran out of Shapes. As usual the breakfast scene provides an endless stream of gossipy chatter. Jean says that the revelers were asked to hold down the noise at the pub yesterday afternoon. Makiko needs to discuss the details of an evening, next week, when some of us will gather to view the photos of baby Alberto’s Naming Ceremony – where I presided as (yes) resident sage. Karen announces that she will be making a business strip to Beijing in early July. Adrian asks where he might get his glasses repaired, the ones he broke on our recently concluded five-day walk on the Anglesey Coast Path – and Kilburn High Road seems to be the answer. Ellie complains that she is not looking forward to the day’s fare – first the builders tearing down a wall in her kitchen and then a visit to the dentist. It is a sunny enough morning, though there is still a chill wind, and now it is time for some errands. Adrian is off to the 123 Cleaners with some shirts and Naomi and I, accompanied by Otto, have some grocery shopping to conclude at the nearest market. Tuesday, June 2: It has been rather a stormy night and I am certainly surprised to discover that it has already gone 8:00 when, still tired from the recent Welsh ramble, I at last pull myself together for the puppy’s first walk in the park.