She Loves London

Tag: Shop dogs

  • Dogs in London: Soho’s French Bulldog Gang

    Dogs in London: Soho’s French Bulldog Gang

    There’s a bit of a French Bulldog revolution happening in London.

    Fashion conscious, immaculately groomed and all over social media, darlink, this lot have got their camera poses down.

    These pooches know how to pout.

    On which note, say hi to Bo, spotted casually chilling in the Soho sunshine last week (shop window style).

    Bo the French Bulldog in Soho hairdressers

    Oh hi, Bo. Nice collar.

    This French Bulldog spends her days charming the customers and err, getting papped by dog mental bloggers (ahem) at Billy & Bo, the hairdressers on Soho’s Brewer Street.

    Just like everyone else in Soho, Bo’s social network of choice is Instagram, where she posts perfectly posed photos of herself cavorting around London (as well as the occasional selfie – filter on, naturally).

    Bo’s also got a mate.

    They knock for each other and go walkies ’round Golden Square.

    Bonjour, Marlene.

    Bo and Marlene

    marlene the frenchie
    While sniffing around the internet discovering this vast network of French Bulldogs, I found Hodge.

    Hi Hodge.

    He also roams WC1 in style, and sent me this self portrait as proof.

    Hodge in the City

    Counting Bloomsbury, Russell Square and Regents Park as his stomping (/ walking) grounds, like all good pups with a reputation to uphold, he’s also blogging on Tumblr, tweeting on Twitter and – the French Bulldog’s platform of choice, Instagram.

    Bo, Marlene and Hodge, hope to see you in Soho soon.

    There are more London dogs here, and do feel free to send me any you find roaming around the city.

    Happy Monday!

    (Woof.)

  • Dogs in Shops: The Canine Bookmonger on Coldharbour Lane

    After London and dogs, next on my list of favourite things in the big wide world of everything would have to be books.

    Why is when Ellen alerted me to this beautiful member of staff in Bookmongers – a second hand bookshop on Coldharbour Lane in Brixton – it was pretty much like all my blackberry mojitos arriving at once.

    Best of all, he’s what I like to call a Proper Dog. (aka, big).

    Dogs in Shops: Barking about Books on Coldharbour Lane

    The shop is owned by Patrick Kelly, who opened it 20 years ago when he moved over from the USA – here’s a little video about him and Bookmongers. Their story, the character of the place and the general brilliance of second hand books pretty much sums up everything I love about London’s independent shops.

    On which note, you’ll find Bookmongers at 439 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LN.

    Thank you to Ellen Munro for the picture – she also runs one of my favourite blogs, Dogs on Trains.

    Speaking of reading, this year I’m one of 20,000 World Book Night volunteers, which basically means that on 23rd April I’ll be giving out free copies of Damage to people who wouldn’t normally read, like some sort of London-based book Jesus.

    So if you know anyone who could do with a push towards literature, let me know. I will hunt them down. 

    There are more dogs in shops here – and please feel free to send me any you find.

    Have you met this dog? Are you World Book Night-ing too? Let’s be friends. Friiiieennnnnd.

  • Dogs in Shops: Model Behaviour on Marylebone High Street

    Marylebone High Street has long been one of my favourite places to shop in London.

    Well, I say shop.

    Mostly I just wander through on my way to somewhere else, perusing the lovely clean boutique-y rails from the outside in, pretending my hair is glossier than it is and that I can afford to buy more than just a drink from Starbucks.

    (What is a soy chai latte anyway?)

    Fitting, then, that this is where we should find our second shop dog of the series, a hound who would definitely make me want to spend £100 on something I couldn’t afford in order to pat his head.

    Clad in  some sort of canine hoody – what else – and modelling his likeness on a canvas in the window, this dog has quite possibly the pointiest ears I’ve ever seen, and such artistic talent to boot.

    Marylebone High Street dog

    “I tried to negotiate 2 for 1 deal, but sadly no such luck” said Kara, who snapped the pic and sent it over.

    Such a missed sales opportunity: forget Advantage Card points, I want that pup.

     

    See the other dogs here. If you’ve seen a shop dog, please send it my way. I am collecting them one by one, saving up their fluffy faces for a rainy day.