The Dogs of Paddington Rec

Life Among the Dog People of Paddington Rec, Volume VIII “And Your Little Dog, Too” Anthony Linick Copyright © 2016 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 in 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. I must thank all of those who provided photographs for this project, the staff and management of the Rec itself, and my sister-in-law, Naomi, who assisted in editing. Special thanks to “London Janet,” Daisy-Mae’s mom, for designing the cover of Volume VIII, one that features the Pug, Emilio. 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 lived in the first two decades of the 21st Century, is now almost twelve years old. 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. Volume VI, My Dog’s Breakfast, covering the years 2009-2010, was published in 2014 and is available at anthonylinick.com. 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” recalls a line spoken by the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz. I have always felt a special affinity for this film. My first home was in Culver City, where my father was a screen story analyst at MGM. The year of my birth also saw work begin, only a short distance away, on the famous film. Of course I later married a Dorothy myself and we were tempted on a number of occasions to call our dog Toto. We resisted the temptation but you could say that my present dog, Otto, bears the name in anagram form. Volume VIII is published in 2016 covers the years 2011- 2012. Have fun as you click. “And Your Little Dog, Too” “And Your Little Dog, Too” Life Among The Dog People of Paddington Rec, Volume VIII By Anthony Linick Chapter 1—June, 2011 Peter takes Bobby for an outing. 5 “And Your Little Dog, Too” Wednesday, June 1: We could not ask for better weather as Fritz and I begin what is, for us, another year in the park. Recent rain has at last brought some depth to the green surfaces of Paddington Recreation Ground and now we have bright, warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. A fuzzy brown dog named Oscar, still dragging his red training lead, is just exiting the park with an entirely unsuitable banana skin in his mouth. More exciting is the discovery of a partially deflated Nike football – which I have soon kicked into action for the benefit of my excited dog. This goes on for only a short time, however, because soon the ball is carried behind the cypress trees – and I refuse to go in after it. Instead we carry on until we have reached the Rec’s central green and here I produce a tennis ball for Fritz to chase. There is a great deal of activity out here this morning and I count eleven owners and their animals. There are, in fact, three Schnauzers: Fritz, of course, but also his look-alike cousin Oscar and the long-eared Pepper. Linda has brought the latter but she doesn’t join us, a few minutes later, when we go in for coffee at the café. Today is Winnie the Pug’s eighth birthday and Davide orders all our drinks in celebration. Soon Winnie’s second daddy, Dan, arrives as well – and our group expands to include Ronnie, Ellen, Peter, Ofra, Georgie, Janet, Claire, Hanna and Matthew’s mom, Cipa. The latter has brought Emilio the Pug for the last time – as she returns to Manchester today. For his part, Emilio is actively patrolling the fence of our canine compound – barking furiously at anything that moves on the other side. He has a lot to say to poor Ziggy (the Lurcher-Bedlington cross), who is tied up out here when Celine goes inside for her coffee. Ziggy always looks as though he had just stuck a paw in a socket and he looks particularly aggrieved after having to endure this Puggish scolding. Dan says that his doctor has ordered some therapeutic sun-bed treatments for his psoriasis. Davide reports that the dried beef biltong he has brought back from South Africa is fit for human consumption – though today it is only the dogs who are offered this treat. Peter is scolded by the others when it is revealed that he eats only ready meals at night – and Ofra says she is making him some meatballs. I report that I have just received from Los Angeles a copy of my high school alumni magazine and that (in addition to a picture of me taken on a train in Scotland last summer) there is a photo of Frank Sinatra on a visit to Hamilton High School in 1945. Ronnie produces photos on his mobile phone of the house that he and Susie are purchasing in a Bedfordshire village. There is admiration mixed with sadness – for it can’t be too long before one of the charter members of the Paddington Rec dog mob will be leaving us for good. Thus, on the opening day of a new chapter, we can also anticipate the closure of another. 1 “And Your Little Dog, Too” Thursday, June 2: There is little change in the temperature today – for we have another delightful, sunny and warm morning in the park. Fritz growls at young Jez, who dares approach him while he is concentrating on his first pee. Then we make fairly rapid progress toward the green. I can hear Ronnie and Peter chattering in the doggy compound even before I have rounded the critical corner but we continue on down the Randolph roadway, passing Davide – who is standing in the shade at the foot of the park’s only hill (and named by me Mt. Bannister) and chatting in Italian on his mobile phone as Winnie lurks in the shadows. A right turn allows my dog to begin a slow circle of the park but by the time we have reached the Grantully exit it is time to put him back on lead so we can cross the green on our way to coffee and treats. There is one distraction — for sitting on the grass is Sabina with Oscar the Schnauzer and the Westie, Scamp. Fritz insists on a fulsome cuddle before we can move on. I leave my dog with Ronnie and get in the coffee queue; Claire is standing in front of me and in front of her is a mother with a lad who is wearing Messi’s No.

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