Up town pt 2

I looked at the map to see what parts of the park Tommy could be off lead. We had walked through some formal gardens from the tube station who were displaying the ‘dogs to be kept on lead’ signs (boo!!),
I found the main part of the park and headed towards that. Excellent I thought to myself, Sunday afternoon football. I let Tommy off anyway and it did take him a whole 10 minutes before he started running on the pitch trying to join in…back on lead and away from the pitches.
We started to walk along the far perimeter fence, and what I didn’t know is that Regents Park is next to London Zoo! Tommy had his first sights of Ostriches and Hippo! His nose stayed in the air sniffing for ages. We carried on along this path and met up with two ladies walking about 8 small dogs between them. Unfortuately, they weren’t the London Small Dog group and had never heard of them. We walked along together for a while and Tommy played very nicely with the other dogs. At least he got some dog action I thought.
Tommy and I turned away from the ladies because I was in desperate need for tea by now. We headed towards a café and what did I hear? That’s right! Lots of small dogs and chattering people! I have found the London Small Dog group! Hurrah! Even if they were about to leave. We spoke for a short while, and then they left. I’d like to meet up with them properly sometime.
Tommy and I hung around for a while longer. The sun had come out by now and we were just having a nice time really. I started to head home just after 4:00.
We stood on the tube for the journey back to Fenchurch Street. It was a lot easier than trying to keep Tommy off the seats – especially as he was getting tired. Quick wee stop (for me) and then the train home.

Although we didn't spend as much time as we would have liked with the group, it was still a good day. Here's how I know -

Up town...

In my constant effort of ‘doing new things with the dog to make him a go anywhere – do anything dog’, I found this group on the internet. They meet maybe once a month in London, with an annual trip to Southend. As there was no training on Sunday, (yes! A whole day off!) which co-in sided quite nicely with their April meet, I thought a day trip to London would be a fantastic idea.
Tommy has often gone on the train so settled quite well on my coat, with just occasional glimpses out of the window as to where we were going – especially after the first half hour as he’s never been on the train longer than that.
We got to Fenchurch Street and as usual at the weekend it was disserted. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t realise that Tower Hill underground station was shut! So off we went round to Bank to catch the tube to Morgate.
Tommy seemed very different to walk in the city rather than in Southend. He held his head a lot higher and didn’t seem to sniff the ground so much – maybe not so much to smell? We got to Bank tube station and I found what platform to catch the train from. We waited for the second tube rather than the first. This was so that I could get him steady in the sit; take in the noise, smells and airflow and to see what was expected of him when the next tube pulled in. On we went and as it was only two stops, we stood.
At Morgate we changed lines. More consulting of the map and walking Tommy for miles over to the other line. He seemed to be enjoying himself. Eyes bright, tail wagging and walking to heel. He looked up at me a couple of times as if to say ‘am I doing it right?’. The response was always ‘good boy’ and sometimes a treat as well.
When we got to the other tube, it was a long wait before it was going to pull out, plus half hour journey to Baker Street. I got on a reasonably quite carriage and took my coat off to put on the seat for Tommy to sit on, and then sat down. Tommy jumped onto the coat and someone else on the carriage said ‘don’t let him on the seat love’. I was going to explain that he was on the coat, but the gentleman had a point, what if the tube got busy…maybe I should make him stand / sit on the floor. Which is what I did. The rest of the journey went without note really, lots of people smiling at Tommy and asking about him. I was only too happy to let them fuss him and give him a tiny bit of treat if they wanted too.
When we got to the park, we were an hour and a half late. Oh well, I thought; let’s go for a walk anyway.

More tomorrow