Shaggy : covered with or having long hair
Chic : sophistication in manner
In this section, you can find snippets and tips about living or visiting London with your shaggy friends. Tres Chic !
Try walking anywhere at all with a Barbet or three and see if no-one comments!
They really are magnets for comments and questions from everyone you meet. The usual question from children is 'Has it got eyes'? 'Well, Yes' I say, 'but just like your Mum, they have eyes in the back of their heads so they can see everything you do'! The Mums like the answer, and the children usually giggle. |
Now, when we are out in town with the dogs, which bearing in mind this is one huge town, we like to try and find places that we can sit and relax over a bite to eat or a coffee, hmm, few and far between in London, but we have a few favourites. Going around town with your dog is so much different than just letting them run free in the forest or fields, they need to learn so many different things which I'll go into later (Urban Living), but most importantly, they need to learn to relax when you take them into a restaurant, pub or street cafe.
Of course, dogs can travel on the Tube (London Underground) too, but it is hard work if there isn't a lift, as you are supposed to carry them on the escalator! Try doing that when you get to one of the deep stations like Holborn and own a large dog!
We also like to see what is on offer in the shops for our four legged friends.
Cabbages and Frocks is a great little market in the grounds of Marylebone Church each Saturday where dogs are more than welcome, lovely food and designer items, along with handmade items.
Another favourite, though only at the weekend is a fantastic dog friendly cafe in the heart of East London, Time for Tea, definatley worth a visit, and just a short hop from Petticoat Lane, Colombia Road flower market, Brick Lane or the Geoffrye Museum. This cafe transports you back in time to the 1940's and if you're lucky the resident friendly Great Dane will be home.
Of course, dogs can travel on the Tube (London Underground) too, but it is hard work if there isn't a lift, as you are supposed to carry them on the escalator! Try doing that when you get to one of the deep stations like Holborn and own a large dog!
We also like to see what is on offer in the shops for our four legged friends.
Cabbages and Frocks is a great little market in the grounds of Marylebone Church each Saturday where dogs are more than welcome, lovely food and designer items, along with handmade items.
Another favourite, though only at the weekend is a fantastic dog friendly cafe in the heart of East London, Time for Tea, definatley worth a visit, and just a short hop from Petticoat Lane, Colombia Road flower market, Brick Lane or the Geoffrye Museum. This cafe transports you back in time to the 1940's and if you're lucky the resident friendly Great Dane will be home.
Barrier Park also known locally as Millenium Park
Another favourite place is the Millenium Park, a great view of the river from here, and lots of green and interesting space. In summer there are some wonderful fountains, a great place to cool off as you can walk through them, then a lovely cafe where you can sit outside on the deck with some quality ices. From here we often go down to the farm at Mudchute, another place where dogs are welcome, and I don't know of anywhere else in London where the dogs can go face to face with Llamas, Alpacas, Cows, and Turkeys among the more general farmyard animals. From here, if you still have time to spare, walk down to the foot tunnel that takes you under the Thames, and you end up by the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, tourist heaven, but also a great place for Pubs that are happy with doggy visitors. Try The Nelson overlooking the Thames.
Does My Bum Look Big In This?
It's that terrible feeling isn't it! You are going out, and whatever outfit you decide to wear, either your bum looks big, or it's too tight, or just totally wrong for the occasion....
But what do you dress your Barbet in?
NOTHING!!!
It is a dog, a Water Dog, with his own adequate insulation from both the cold and the heat with his own coat. If you want a dog to dress up and carry around in your designer handbag, mmmm, what can I say apart from this is not the dog to do THAT to! The only time you should see a Barbet in clothing, is after they have been worked as a gundog or similar, and they have something like an equafleece, or a service dog with it's jacket or bandana, and maybe a few have waterproofs which are actually quite sensible if you are going out in the rain or snow.
Seriously, the Barbet is beautiful enough, without adorning him with unnecessary bling or accessories.
If you really want to spend some spare cash on a dog, think about a donation to a worthwhile canine charity.
Here is a link to a shop I recently visited while passing a bit of time at Victoria Station in London. My jaw dropped when I saw the prices, but they do seem to have a good list of clients (well they are in Pimlico).http://www.mungoandmaud.com/store/department/2/Dogs/
But what do you dress your Barbet in?
NOTHING!!!
It is a dog, a Water Dog, with his own adequate insulation from both the cold and the heat with his own coat. If you want a dog to dress up and carry around in your designer handbag, mmmm, what can I say apart from this is not the dog to do THAT to! The only time you should see a Barbet in clothing, is after they have been worked as a gundog or similar, and they have something like an equafleece, or a service dog with it's jacket or bandana, and maybe a few have waterproofs which are actually quite sensible if you are going out in the rain or snow.
Seriously, the Barbet is beautiful enough, without adorning him with unnecessary bling or accessories.
If you really want to spend some spare cash on a dog, think about a donation to a worthwhile canine charity.
Here is a link to a shop I recently visited while passing a bit of time at Victoria Station in London. My jaw dropped when I saw the prices, but they do seem to have a good list of clients (well they are in Pimlico).http://www.mungoandmaud.com/store/department/2/Dogs/