Dog owners have always known how good they have it, but they didn’t know QUITE how good until Coronavirus. That is certainly the case at the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park in London SE1, which is the home of the Imperial War Museum and a home from home for myriad local dogs who play daily in the adjacent Imperial Dog Park.

The community formed around the dog park over many years, swelled with several litters’ worth of new arrivals since March 2020, is now being celebrated in Park Dogs of London, a new photography book, created by a team of local dog owners.

Park Dogs of London… at the Imperial War Museum is 130+ pages of beautiful photography featuring 45 dogs in scenic locations around the park. Amongst the breeds featured are varieties of Beagle, Bichon Frise, Cockalier, Cavapoo, Cockapoo, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Bulldog, Greyhound, Jackapoo, Jack Russell, Maltese, Pharaoh Hound, Pomeranian, Poodle, Schnoodle, Shih-Tzu, German Pointer, Husky, Spaniel, Terrier and Whippet.

This happy pack includes 18 “lockdown puppies”, purchased as a direct result of life during Covid, often by owners who had been pining for a pet for years.

Each solo photo spread is accompanied by an introduction to that dog, with touching descriptions from the owners about their pooch, the park and their lockdown experiences. There are also group shots of canine “besties”.

Park Dogs of London is the brainchild of Terri Paddock and Peter Jones, parents to three-year-old cockapoo Lottie. Like so many others, becoming dog owners for the first time transformed the couple’s life and, through the park, rooted them in their community in a way that they had not previously experienced in seven years residing in the area.

Last year, Terri and Peter formed the “Dog Lovers of IWM” WhatsApp group, now with more than 130 members. Park drinks, walks, playdates, farewell dos and doggy birthday parties have all been organised via the Group, which is also abuzz each day with swaps of pet paraphernalia, advice, jokes, and adorable videos and photos.

ISBN:               978-1-716-37294-0 / 978-1-716-37596-5

Publisher:        Lulu Books

Format:           A4 photobook

Price:               £29 paperback/ £35 hardback