Sports Calendar

Mason walks his 18-month-old labrador, Dexter, in the park twice a day. “We’d been thinking of getting a dog. It was either that or have a fourth baby. I took the simple option. Obviously the children were dying for a dog, so was Fiona [his wife], but she doesn’t get in till 8 and I work at home. I knew it’d be my responsibility so I held out. Then after one boozy lunch I agreed, so long as it was a proper dog, something that would look impressive under my command.”

Owning a dog for company usually remains unspoken, yet it is as common a reason in the city, perhaps more so, as it is in the depths of the countryside. Keith Christian, walking his two westies, brothers Barnaby and Rupert, in Grosvenor Square, is explicit about the bond. “They’re friendly, feisty, delightful companions, not some macho

status symbol.” He paid £500 for each of the dogs four years ago. He is a house manager in what is a very wealthy neighbourhood. “Some people around here wouldn’t talk to me if I didn’t have a dog. But rich people like dogs as much as anyone else.” Christian, 63, reels off his dogs going back 30 years: William, Prince, Max, Wodge, Trixie, Judy, Heidi. “My wife and I regard them as our children.”

Obviously, going by the statistics and a deal of anecdotal evidence, the bad lads are out there, hellhounds at their heels, but I wonder just how bad or how hellish. I met two young men on the Roman Road in East London, Angel and Ryan. Between them (formal ownership was not clear) they had Shady, a nine-month-old bull mastiff, a powerful creature, although apparently well-behaved.

Some people would find the combination of Angel, Ryan and Shady intimidating. But they weren’t really intimidating, these young men. They were inarticulate, a bit dopey if anything, but they were OK, and their regard for their dog shone through. “Proud of him? Of course I’m proud of him! Who wouldn’t be proud of a dog like that?” Is Shady a status symbol? Of course he is, he cost them a packet. But as status symbols go, it seems to me Shady’s a pretty harmless one.

Click above left to see the pictures:

Rodman Primack, 32, chairman of Phillips de Pury auctioneers, Mayfair, London, and Theo, labradoodle, who goes to the office every day: “She has such a sweet nature, she loves to cuddle and snuggle.”

Daniel Joyce, 26, unemployed gardener, Hackney, London, and Remy, Mitzy, Terror (Terror is a Dogue de Bordeaux/Rhodesian ridgeback cross; he has since been rehomed. Remy and Mitzy are collie/staff crosses). “It’s a task, but they’re my dogs, my family, my responsibility. People who care about dogs you can tell, people who have dogs for the show-off you can tell.” Joyce has a tattoo of a paw print on his hand.

Cliff Merry, 47, maintenance supervisor at Queen Mary College, Stepney, East London, and Razor, boxer: “He is my best friend.”

Ray Smith, 32, estate agent, Shoreditch, East London, and Abe, dachshund: “He basically sleeps all day. He doesn’t like a lot of exercise, although he’s fine if it’s dry: puddles are a real problem for him. When I go on holiday, people are desperate to look after him.”

Wayne Quincey, 39, market porter, Battersea, South London, and Alfie, Jack Russell: “He’s mustard, he’s proper, he’s fun, he’s the bollocks.”

Pete Newton, 54, dogwalker, Acton, West London, eight dogs. “Dogs like being with other dogs. They get to talk dog. For me, doing this is a bridge to nature.”

Lee Randall, 36, asbestos remover, Bow, East London, and Che, American boxer: “I walk her six miles a day; she’s a reason to get out.”

Angel Adam, 23, unemployed glazier, Mile End, East London, and Shady, bull mastiff: “He’s lovely, friendly, good with the kids. He’s never been aggressive.” Angel and his friend Ryan paid £800 for Shady when he was three months old.

Nick Robertson, 37, homeless, Knightsbridge, London, and Clyde, collie/lab cross: “I get trouble from the police, but they all love the dog.”

Cain, 16, turnstile operator, Battersea, South London, his three-month-old daughter remelle and Coco, pit bull/whippet/Staffordshire bull terrier cross: “He’s very good with the baby.”

Gary Mason, 47, journalist, Hackney, London, and Dexter, labrador. “I had a picture of the whole family going for long walks with the dog. I do 95 per cent of it.”

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