Johnny Dogs is a friend of Thomas Shelby. He has close ties with both the Lee family and the Shelby family.
Character History[]
Background[]
Johnny Dogs is a Romani cousin through various marriages to the Shelby family. He's also loosely allied with the Lee family. His wife left him to raise their son and two daughters. He didn't fight in the war.
Series 1 · 1919[]
He gives Thomas a new horse in exchange for getting to ride in the Shelby Family Car. He acts as a neutral party between the Shelbys and the Lees. Johnny Dogs also performed the wedding ceremony between John Shelby and Esme Lee after he brought Tommy to make peace with the Lee family.
Series 2 · 1922[]
Johnny Dogs works for Thomas and unloads products from the BSA into Camden Town. Johnny Dogs distracts the police officer guarding Field Marshal Russell's house to give John enough time to slip an explosive through the letter box.
Series 3 · 1924[]
Johnny Dogs burns the body of Anton Kaledin after Arthur Shelby killed Anton during Thomas' wedding.
Series 4 · 1925-1926[]
Johnny Dogs helps Thomas by cleaning up the body of Antonio after Tommy unmasks him as a hired assassin and kills him with a meat hook.
The next morning Johnny attends the family meeting and is informed about the vendetta with the Changretta's, hating the fact that Tommy enlisted the help of Aberama Gold and his men. He insists on Charlie helping him make a proper feast because he doesn't want the Golds thinking they're poor. Later he is seen preparing everybody in Small Heath.
Series 5 · 1929[]
With Aberama believing Johnny gave up their location to the Billy Boys, he is attacked by Aberama Gold after the killing of his son Bonnie Gold, taking him to Tommy's house. Tommy calms down Aberama and has Lizzie call an ambulance for him, taking Johnny back inside so he can heal, but not before making it clear to Tommy that he "is no black cat." Later he is caught while sleeping with one of the maids and is sent to Scotland together with Arthur Shelby to stop Aberama Gold from taking revenge on the Billy Boys.
Series 6 · 1934[]
Johnny Dogs and his family have been living on the grounds of Arrow House. When Ruby gets sick, Thomas demands that Lizzie tell Johnny Dogs' eldest wife Esmeralda to put on the Black Madonna and then to do whatever Johnny Dogs' wives say.
He attends Thomas' farewell meal on the grounds of the now demolished Arrow House.
Quotes[]
Johnny Dogs: “So, your first fair since France?”
Thomas Shelby: “What do you know about France, you war-shy Gypsy bastard?" Johnny Dogs: "Oh, fuck, Tom. I thought your sporting days were over?"
Thomas Shelby: "Yeah, so did I."