Country Life's 10 best dog stories of 2021
From Border Terriers to the unwritten rules of walking your dog, here are the highlights of a year's worth of dog tales.

The top 20 cutest dog breeds in the world, ranked according to science
Ranking the cuteness of dogs? You might as well rank the beauty of flowers,' we wrote of the science behind this list. But it's hard to deny that it's a fascinating look at what we love about dogs.
The ten unwritten rules of walking your dog – and how to follow them
There are some things that nobody will tell you before you get a dog. Until now, that is.
The champion dog trainer with a game-changing method who can teach any dog new tricks
Ben Randall showed our own Paula Lester some of his wonderful dog training tips in October — and if you enjoyed this piece, the good news is that Ben will start writing for Country Life in 2022.
West Highland Terriers: The dogs that are clever, funny and inquisitive, with an irresistibly smiley demeanour and a skip in their step
Few dogs have as much character as Westies — as the sometimes hair-raising tales in this piece show.
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Golden retrievers: The gorgeous dogs that bring friendship, loyalty and love
Some call the golden retriever the ‘dumb blonde’ of the dog world, but those who know them know differently.
How to choose the perfect dog to fit your lifestyle, family and home
You might already know what sort of dog you'd like — if not, this is the place to start.
Border terriers: The dogs with endless energy that still love a cuddle on the sofa
No less an authority than tennis legend Andy Murray provided the headline for this article — how's that for celebrity endorsement of a dog breed?
The six most destructive dog breeds
Hide your food. Hide your shoes. Hide your magazines. Hide everything.
The Lakeland terrier: ‘A hard-working handful’
The dog that'll keep going all day, in all weather. The big question is whether you can keep up.
Curious Questions: Why can’t we resist puppy dog eyes?
It's no accident that your heart melts when dogs gaze into your eyes, as Martin Fone explains.
Credit: Getty Images
Labradors: The all-action dogs that are just as happy lazing on the sofa as saving lives
An all-action working dog that's never happier than when lazing on the sofa? That's the labrador for you. We take
Sheepdog trials: How farmers' bluster has led to 150 years of enthralling, fascinating competition
The original working trials may have stemmed from banter over whose border collie was better, but, as members of the
Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
If only dogs could talk: Reading the minds of Britain's 11 most popular breeds, from Labradors to Westies
Do pooches really take on the characteristics of their so-called owners? Rupert Uloth spoke to some of Britain’s most popular
Labradoodles: The ultimate companion, from allergy-compatible guide dog to beloved family pet
In the past 30 years, this well-mannered crossbreed has stolen our hearts, yet the man responsible has likened it to
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
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How to make Eton mess strawberry blondies
Our kitchen garden cook Melanie Johnson shares a mouthwatering recipe bringing together two of the greatest foodstuffs on the planet: strawberries and meringue.
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The deaths of Romeo and Juliet: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 12, 2025
A Rolling Stone and a familiar-sounding place find their way into Wednesday's Quiz of the Day.
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What do 32 pigeons, 38 dogs, four horses and one cat have in common? They've all been awarded a Dicken medal, and now you can have one too
Punch and Judy, two brave boxer dogs, saved the lives of British officers in Palastine. Now Judy's PDSA Dickin Medal will go under the hammer at Noonans on June 11.
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Forget catnip, it's all about catmint
Nepeta, the highly aromatic and pretty perennial beloved of so many country gardens, may be your feline’s favourite fix, but we should be wary of its root, warns Deborah Nicholls-Lee
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‘It's a bit like a pub, but without the requirement of being drunk’: Why we’re all hot for a countryside sauna
The sauna is the latest wellness trend — especially one immersed in Nature. Lotte Brundle dips into why the pastime has been heating up.
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'When you are blind, your physical world is only as far as your arms can reach, but with my guide dog, my world is limitless'
Tubby little bundles of joy, guide-dog puppies may be irresistibly sweet, but they’ve been expertly engineered to perform life-changing duties, discovers Katy Birchall.
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Arthur Parkinson: Ruffled feathers and a bad attitude — my guide on how to deal with broody hens
A chicken's desire to sit on and hatch a clutch of eggs can be the most effortless way to rear your own birds, but for those who are after eggs and not chicks it can be a real issue.
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'We don’t expect to catch monsters in British seas': The return of the bluefin tuna
It’s no longer necessary to venture to tropical waters in order to catch a monster tuna, says Jonathan Young, as he attempts to land a big-game fish in Falmouth Bay.
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From 'Gerroff my land' to 'Get on my land': Farmers are keen to set the record straight with Open Farm Sunday 2025
The event — which sees farmers throw open their gates to visitors — returns for its 19th year on Sunday, June 8 with hundreds of farms across Britain will be taking part.
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Goodwoof: 'The remarkable thing is how few incidents of biting there are, from dogs and owners'
Now in its 4th year, Goodwoof could be the canine Glastonbury. Charles Gordon-Lennox, the Duke of Richmond, reveals some of the secrets of its success.