Hungry dogs and their owners gather for annual pre-Christmas celebration

“DO dogs enjoy walking in the dark?” I asked a hatted and tightly-scarved woman, standing and surrounded by a kennel’s worth of dogs, writes Ian Lowry.

“Probably not,” she replied, “although their bladders and digestive systems appear to be indifferent to it.”

“Do you dog walkers enjoy walking in the dark?” I enquired of another woman.

“Definitely not,” she replied emphatically as she clutched a lead with a large, brown dog straining on the end of it.

“So why are you meeting in such numbers in the dark with so many dogs surrounding you?”

It was the early morning after the winter equinox on Friday, December 22, just three days before Christmas Day, and the dog walkers of Caversham Heights and their dogs were celebrating the beginning of the lengthening of the days for another year — well, until the middle of June at least. There was Digby, Lena, Ella, Bella, Horace, Griff and Jasper. Mingling with them were Poppy, Bailey, Molly, Pebbles, Jengo and Barney and another visiting dog who appeared to be anonymous.

Two large trays of tempting, canine cupcakes were laid out on the ground, courtesy of Tabi, the young chef de cuisine to the dogs for the morning.

Glasses and bottles emerged from bags and the sound of the popping of corks heralded the fact that there was something more tempting than orange juice close at hand.

The dogs quickly gobbled up their surprising morning treats and the dog walkers appreciated something sparkling and chilled at this unusual time of day. Soon the trays and the bottles were put away in their bags and the entourage and their canine companions dispersed to their warm and welcoming kitchens.

There was just time then for a quick cup of hot coffee and the ritual of preparing the dogs’ breakfasts.

This annual celebration has become a firm fixture in the calendar of the dog walkers of Caversham Heights.

They all meet together in the stillness of the dark before the morning mist has disappeared and the day has emerged and just before the hectic real business of Christmas celebrations have begun.