David Abiker and Obiwan – the alchemy of a human dog duo Too W'ouf
Today I present to you a Trop W'ouf duo that you probably already know: journalist and columnist David Abiker and his dog Obiwan. This duo is simply IN-SE-PA-RA-BLE and out of the question for David to even imagine going to work without sound. Cavalier King Charles. So, Obiwan accompanies David wherever he goes and the duo shares their week between Paris and the countryside.
If while listening to his press review on Radio Classique or his column on Canal+ you hear barking, it is simply Obiwan, David's dog, who shows that he is there.
When I offered to interview him, David Abiker didn't hesitate for a second before accepting! A complete fan of his dog, he was enthusiastic about the idea of telling us about Obiwan. It was also a great opportunity to convey a very important message to him: taking his dog everywhere with you and especially to work, it's great and easy! This human-dog duo fights to trivialize the presence of the dog at work. They are also both instigators of the Canine League of Workers.
David Abiker and Obiwan, the unconditional love of a human and his dog
Obiwan has shared David Abiker's life for two and a half years now. This human-dog duo simply fell in love with each other in a pet store.
David discovered his love for dogs with his first dog Charlie, who arrived in a bit of a jam-packed period – he explained to me. At the time, in 2015, David had just lost his father. Add to that the Charlie Hebdo attack, you can imagine that the period was not the happiest. It was then that Charlie, David's first dog, came into his life bringing joy and good humor to the home. Sadly, at age four, Charlie died in a car accident.
So, Obiwan, this ball of love, enters David's life and helps him mourn his first dog. After Charlie's death, David wanted to adopt a Cavalier King Charles again. It must be said that these dogs are very sociable, affectionate and calm.
David Abiker is completely Obiwan gaga, he had so much to tell me about him… What a joy to listen to him talk to me about his dog! It must be said that Obiwan is truly a love: “he rises on his own!” according to David. He is still a bit of a thief and sometimes behaves badly, but he is adorable. David and Obiwan are super fusional. Besides, when his wife is not there, Obiwan sleeps with David.
David confided to me that there is “a good dog” in all dogs. They are all different, but there is a kind of common soul in them. I completely agree with him!
The daily life of Obiwan and David
David and Obiwan have a hectic life. Of course, being a columnist on the morning show of Radio Classique, you have to be an early bird. David gets up at 4:45 a.m., after getting ready, he puts the leash on Obiwan and leaves the house at 6 a.m. Direction Radio Classique for the press review at 8:30 am Then, of course, it's time for the walk. They both need to stretch their legs. Then before leaving on Canal+ for its chronicle, our human-dog duo goes to rest for a nap. Inevitably, having gotten up so early, David and Obiwan need to take a short break. Their hectic day ends at 19 p.m. after the musical program that David hosts remotely with Obiwan on Radio Classique. If you listen carefully, you will surely be able to hear Obiwan barking!
You will understand, Obiwan always has a place of choice in the life of David: he always has his basket in the office
Getting your dog into the office
People always freak out about having a dog at work. And yet dogs sometimes make less of a mess than humans. Leaving his dog at home to go to work is absolutely non-negotiable for David Abiker. David tells me that the dog has played more for social acclimatization than some managers in his career…. I confirm: Musher comes with me to the office, W'ouf course and she accompanies me in 95% of my appointments for the company; even with my accountant! And every time I arrive somewhere, the office doors open and the welcome we receive is super friendly. If she wasn't there, my appointments would have a very different color. It relaxes the atmosphere for sure and makes it really easy to get started!
Taking his dog to work actually happened on its own for David. He and his wife having staggered schedules, it was necessary to take his dog to the office to be able to take him to the needs. David Abiker tells me “finally, I became the dog's nanny… or maybe he's mine, in the end, it's probably a bit of both”. Obiwan is now an integral part of all David shows! He is really at home and even barks when he sees the morning pastries on the radio.
David thinks that if the boss accepts the presence of the dog in the office, then his human has every interest in taking him. David himself has never had any problems, well almost. It has sometimes been necessary for certain people to intervene in order to be able to change the trend. He is particularly very grateful to the member of the committee who intervened at Canal+ to allow him to take his dog to the studio! Finally, no one regrets the presence of Obiwan in the studio. Dogs are true human relationship aggregators. This is also the message he wants to convey: “dogs increase the quality of life at work”. Their emotional intelligence is indeed a real asset. Once again, I confirm! When Musher is there, the days are different in the office for the whole team. A stroke of stress? Just watch her with her 4 legs in the air in her basket and listen to her snore for the pressure to drop. I often call him “our Zen master”.
It is to convey this message that David Abiker created the Canine Workers' League. As David likes to say, he is the Life President of the League and Obiwan Permanent Secretary. In the beginning, this Workers' Canine League arises in response to a comment from a user on one of his many LinkedIn posts highlighting the dog at work. She then wrote to him: “It's the Canine League of Workers”. After asking his agreement to use the term, the movement is launched. David then puts his daughter to work to create the logo! Today, he distributes the logo everywhere the subject of the dog at work is mentioned. He has also had badges made which he offers to his community from time to time.
Because David Abiker without Obiwan does not exist, if at all, today as soon as Obiwan does not come to the office, all the teams ask to see him.
Escape from Paris with your dog, the good plan of David Abiker
While David doesn't do any particular sports with his dog, they do a lot of walking together. David often takes 2 hour slots to walk his dog in the forest. It's one of his favorite activities, he told us. Obiwan loves playing fetch.
David's top tip for walking his dog in a quiet place near Paris is the park of the Palace of Versailles. For Parisians who don't have a forest nearby, it's a godsend. You and your four legs can enjoy this 800 hectare park! Please note dogs are allowed on a leash in the park of the Palace of Versailles and not the gardens of the Palace. Finally, having access with your dog to such a park near Paris is still Too W'ouf, especially since there are many trees to find shade with your doggies if they are too hot . David Abiker even qualifies this park as “Best plan in Ile-de-France"
My dog's holidays are all for his happiness!
As I told you, David Abiker takes his dog Obiwan everywhere, but only on condition that he is well and that the outing in question makes him happy.
So inevitably, he takes his dog on vacation with him! But if he feels that his holidays are going to cause Obiwan too much stress or disappointments, he prefers to leave him in the hands of his two dog sitters for whom he is “their nephew”. David does not wish to impose the plane or the heat of certain countries in the summer on his dear Cavalier King Charles.
Holidays in France are never without your dog. Obiwan has seen Brittany many times, for example! He also loves the mountains enormously… especially in winter! Like Charlie, David's first dog who also loved the mountains. He told me that they had once come face to face with an ibex in the Val d'Isère, it marked David's mind forever.
So inevitably, David had to introduce this destination to Obiwan. Obiwan's first time in the mountains was apparently Wow Good! During his first experience on the chairlift, he was like a little crazy. But, Obiwan felt very well that he shouldn't move and remained totally attached to his human, to David's great pleasure of course. I've already told you how much Obiwan liked to run to bring back the stick, so you can imagine that in the snow, it's all the same: Obiwan has fun running after the snow. So David Abiker always takes a tennis ball with him.
To prepare his dog for winter and the cold of the mountains, David greases Obiwan's pads, you can also use a fortifying pads classic. Obiwan also wears a coat so you don't get cold in the snow.
Did you like the portrait of David Abiker and his dog Obiwan? I invite you to follow him on Instagram (@davidbiker) where he very often shares photos and videos of his beloved doggie. You can also follow him on his LinkedIn profile, you will find more information about the Canine League of Workers.
I am happy to have been able to interview David and thank him for his time. I had a great time chatting with David and the love he has for Obiwan is boundless! That's also why he takes her everywhere with him, they are so close together.
PS: Tag us in your photos and use it #takeondog !!! Thanks to you, I discover great spots to visit and where to take pictures with Musher. In addition, I love to see your moments of complicity with your hairy, I melt every time.