I’m not even going to pretend that I’m writing this out of any kind of interest in James Middleton. This post is just about looking at James’ pretty dogs. He has six dogs or more. He spends a lot of time in Scotland, where he works as a tour operator on his brother-in-law’s family estate. But James also has a place in London and a place in Bucklebury, I think. My guess is that when James and the doggos are in London, that’s when they get to use the special bike you can see in his Instagram photos – there’s a front-facing, deep box where the dogs get to go for a bike ride and look out on the world. His doggos seem especially well-behaved in it too – I’ve had two dogs in my life, and both of them would have jumped out as soon as I tried to put them in. Anyway, sad news: this special doggo bike was stolen. From James’ IG:
Sadly my Dog Bike got stolen -😔Ella & Co are devastated – taking the dogs out on the bike brings me so much joy and to all those we meet on the way. There is CCTV which is being investigated but would love to find it… please spread the word and if this reaches 15k likes I will make a donation to our neighbours @battersea dog & cat home in support of their wonderful work who’s residents have lost more than just a bike! #findellasbike #babboe #dogsofinstagram #battersea
That really sucks. I wonder if the Dog Bike was a custom job or whether some company actually makes those bikes? I looked up “dog bikes” and it does seem like there are many different versions of dog bikes, but James’ version really does look like a custom job. That sucks that someone would steal something so unique. And say what you will about James and his Nazi marshmallows, but he really does love those dogs and just look at them – they’re beautiful and well-cared-for and well-behaved. They’re spoiled rotten! Sigh… maybe I should get another dog.
Photos courtesy of James Middleton’s Instagram and Avalon Red.
Yeah, his dogs are gorgeous. I have a lab and a golden so when I saw his I actually squealed LOL.
That sucks about his bike but I’m also like….what are you going to do with that?? Like, if I stole a dog bike, what would I do with it? I feel like it would be relatively easy to track down.
it’s a cargo bike, there’s plenty of uses. you can go grocery shopping without taking a car or having to haul the bags yourself on public transit, so it would be very convenient in a dense city like london. james is just calling it a “dog bike” because he uses it for his dogs.
Also, they’ll probably just sell it.
No, I get what people do with that bike in general lol, l meant more that it seemed like an awkward thing to steal, especially if it was custom. It seems like it would stand out (but I don’t know how common those bikes are in London. Maybe it would just fade into the crowd.)
@Becks1 i’m sure it will just get sold, and maybe some unsuspecting person will get caught with it one day, or they’ll never find it. london is a very big city.
I’m glad I clicked on this post first. Those dogs are beautiful and looking at them (the picture of them in the bike with their tongues hanging out!!) is a great way to start the day.
I hope he finds his bike and now I’m off to google dog bikes so I can get one of my own. 🙂
Yes, his dogs are very beautiful and seem so well treated, and although I have been snarky about James (with reason!) in the past, this story really humanizes him for me and shows his good side. My 15-year old dog Millie, the love and light of my life, has died recently and the emptiness without her is at times pretty unbearable.
I’m so sorry for your grief. It’s an agony all its own. I hope you can find some peace soon, LahdidahBaby.
That’s very kind of you, Lady D—thanks.
I’m not a dog person, but Wow! those dogs look lovely. What kind are they, out of curiosity?
The smaller ones are spaniels I believe. They look the same breed as Lupo? (Will and Kate’s dog.) but I’m not familiar enough with the different types of spaniels to know more than that. The big black one is a lab and then there is a golden retriever.
Yes, those black dogs are Lupo’s siblings. Will and Kate got him from James. They’re beautiful!
Smaller black ones are cocker spaniels. Looks like he also has a black lab and golden retriever.
I want to pet each of those dogs and tell them how good they are
Right? Gooood boy! Gooood girl!
Bikes like that are common in the Netherlands where they are called bakfiets (box bike)
Looks like it reads “Babboe” on it, so it’s made in the Netherlands.
Ive never seen one of those bikes in Australia, and that’s a shame, because they’d be so useful here. I’d love to ow n one one!
They’re called cargo bikes and very popular in countries like Denmark, Netherlands and here in Germany (at least in larger cities). I have one for my little daughter (fitted with a bench and seatbelt, of course).
How cute is that? A bench and seatbelt!! I love it.
I just came to this post for the doggie dog pix! His dogs are beautiful and obviously well loved.
But a bummer about the bike.
The dogs are beautiful, but it really does take a special skill to photograph them so well. Just wanted to take a moment to appreciate the beautiful pictures to brighten up the morning.
That’s true. The photos are gorgeous, almost like you can feel the silkiness of their coats.
I know it’s his IG, but maybe he hires a photographer?
OMG, I love dogs. His black lab is gorgeous. I own two boxers and they would definitely jump out of that thing. In fact, one jumped out of the back of my jeep the other day when he saw two small puppies. Thankfully, I was parked and he was tethered in the back or I don’t even want to think what could have happened. I don’t have a back window in the jeep currently, as my dog broke the zipper to the plastic summer window the other day. Good thing I love them.
I love that bike, and it’s the first I’ve seen. Seeing the bike and the pictures of all the dogs in it is the first time I’ve been impressed by James. My Lab would love to be driven around like that, but he would want jumping out privileges! I hope James gets his bike back.
I can’t tell if I’m getting a crush on him or the puppers 😂
My company has a bike like this. There’s a big train yard and someone rides around on it doing maintenance work. ( In Canada.) Also I’ve seen cargo bikes for sale in IKEA
I was so confused at “dog bike”, I literally thought you were talking about a dog of his named bike, which in retrospect, the grammar isn’t right for that. I would laugh out loud if I saw some guy riding down the street with that. Do people still use the term “tool”? Not to mention that it seems unsafe for the dogs
Well you would have to laugh a lot here, because many families have them to transport their kids and therefore many Dads ride them. I laugh when I see people riding SUVs because damn, those adventurous roads from home to preschool and back …
wow, well y’all sufficiently put me in my place. I stand by my thoughts that it doesn’t look safe for the dogs, and it doesn’t seem safe for children either. If it was to be involved in an accident, the occupants would go flying.
They come equipped with benches and seatbelts. Just Google cargo bike.
Omg I just woke up and read the headline as his dog named Bike was stolen and felt so bad! 😂😂😂 I’m glad it wasn’t a dog!
Same, Diego, same 🙂
There’s a special place in hell for whoever steals a dog bike!
Also, that first photo made me think of the story of Ugly Duckling.
I thought his dog, named Bike, was stolen. I thought, “That’s a strange name for a dog, but, ok.” Why is Bike capitalized? 😂
I thought so too and then I was so relieved to understand it was only the bike 🙂
You guys are hilarious.
Why does he need 15k likes to make a donation. A bit thirsty on his part.
you’ll find more results if you use the term “cargo bike,” which is what these are more commonly called. they’re great for hauling groceries and kids. i saw them all over the netherlands, and we have a couple green coffee companies in town who do their deliveries via cargo bike. they’re wonderful, anything to lessen car dependence is a step in the right direction.
I want a dog so badly…We have a deal going on at home at the moment. My youngest son is REFUSING to poop in the potty. But he wants a dog. So we told him that when he starts pooping in the potty, we can get a dog.
I guess he doesn’t want a dog as badly as he says. 🙁
L84TEA – I would wait to get a dog if you don’t have one already. IMO the optimal age for kids to have a dog in the house for the first time is around 5 or 6. Of course, if they grow up with dogs day-one as was the case with my younger one and the dogs are used to kids, all good. When my daughter was two she would grab our 90 pound very mellow lab mix by the ear or tail and walk him around the house. Now I am getting sad as that dog passed away five years ago and I miss the big guy.
Aww, didn’t mean to make you sad. I still miss the cocker spaniel I had a kid who died when I was in the seventh grade. Still miss her terribly!
We had a dog (a beautiful chocolate lab), but she passed away very unexpectedly a couple years ago. I have been mourning her ever since. But lately I feel more ready and miss having a dog around. My oldest son is 6 and he remembers her and misses her.
Omg that made me laugh! Potty-training can be such hell.
L84TEA – no worries, we got a new puppy over a year ago, and while the big guy will always be my best dog, the “dude” (new dog) is pretty darn cute and sweet. I get it on kids begging for a new dog, my now 10 yo begged like crazy last year, she promised to pick up poop every day and she actually does!
The spaniel with the hairdo is cracking me up!
The dogs are beautiful and I’m glad they weren’t stolen along with the bike.
I somehow like this guy. I saw him walking two of his dogs in London some days ago. I hope the dog bike will be found 🍀
Kaiser.. totally agree with you on how healthy those a dogs look.. there is nothing better for labs to have a pack and open land to run in.. my sister in-laws labs have that situation and a few of them have lived to 14 which is really really old for a lab.
And now I’m following him on insta – luckily most his pics are of the dogs. They’re beautiful puppers! I first read this as his dog was stolen and I was sooo sad, glad it’s just his bike.
Hmmmm…I wonder if this really happened, or if James has a deal with Babboe? Or both, even?
The professional-grade photos (with the brand name clearly showing), the “15k likes” request with the donation offer (who’s making the donation–James or Babboe?) the #babboe included at the end–it all feels like a covert ad.
And its working…see how many commenters here (including myself) have looked up “cargo bike” or “Babboe” as a result of this. Fans/followers of James will now be “on the lookout” for Babboe bikes, in searching for his stolen one (reinforces the brand name, makes product more desirable, etc). And what better way to get people to look at and remember your product, than to show it with a bunch of beautiful dogs?
Yeah, no–this Instagram post feels manipulative and kind of “sleazy”. Ew. The dogs *are* gorgeous, however.