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Dogs are our constant companions, providing us with unconditional love (whether or not we deserve it), somebody to talk to, emotional support, a form of entertainment and free exercise. They give so much, yet demand so little — so a stylish treat, or two, is really the least they deserve.
Spoiling our dogs isn’t a new phenomenon. Ancient Egyptians are credited as the first to engrave their dogs’ collars — some were made of precious metals — with names; Cher Ami, the beloved greyhound of France's Louis XI, pranced about with one made of scarlet-coloured velvet, studded with rubies and pearls. Henry III, also of France, tied decorative ribbons around his own neck and suspended a necklace-like basket from them for carrying his bichon dogs and spaniels. Though Queen Elizabeth II didn’t dress up her corgis and dorgis (dachshund-corgi crosses), she did like to present them with personalised stockings at Christmas, stuffed full of toys and treats. Year-round, the royal menagerie enjoyed a regularly-changing menu of fresh beef, lamb and rabbit from the royal estates.
In 1787, the third Duke of Richmond enlisted architect James Wyatt to construct kennels for his hounds at the Goodwood Estate. He allocated considerable resources to the project and it resulted in ‘the most luxurious dog house in the world’, with central heating long before Goodwood House was so-equipped. In 2022, The Duchess Paddock, in the grounds of The Kennels, played host to the inaugural Goodwoof festival, welcoming dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes to the inaugural — and their owners. The wonderfully witty weekend celebrating all things canine, returned for its fourth year this weekend (check back on Tuesday for our full report) and the programme comprises world-class eventing, talks and demonstrations, a Barkitecture competition (kennel architecture) and plenty of playtime. This year will also pay special tribute to the unsung role that dogs played in the Second World War.
According to Charles Gordon-Lennox, 11th Duke of Richmond, the 3rd Duke’s philosophy was that people ‘would far rather spend time and money on their dogs than they would their human guests’, and who are we to argue? Scroll down to explore our selection of the chicest canine products on the market; alternatively, treat your favourite furry friend to the ultimate pampering treatment at Liberty...
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The Talented Monsieur Mille: The haute horologist who stopped time is celebrated in a new bookA new coffee table book by Assouline celebrates one of today’s most daring and innovative watch brands.
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Sir Michael Caine's former home on the Thames is a testament to idyllic living and good tasteAt Rectory Farm House, luxury and modern convenience blend seamlessly with rural England. Is this the house that Jaws 4 built?
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The Talented Monsieur Mille: The haute horologist who stopped time is celebrated in a new book
A new coffee table book by Assouline celebrates one of today’s most daring and innovative watch brands.
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How to stand out from the crowd in the most British of outfits — morning dressMorning dress has remained largely unchanged since the 19th century, but breaking with convention can be chic.
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Death, taxes and Country Life on dogsA new book celebrates the many dogs that have appeared on the pages of this magazine, and chronicles our love affair with our four-legged friends.
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Clare Balding and Andrew Balding's day-by-day guide to Royal Ascot 2025Country Life caught up with Clare Balding and Andrew Balding to get their expert view as Royal Ascot 2025 gets under way.
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Arthur Parkinson: When it comes to happy hens and yellow yolks, grass is kingDon't get too focused on the colour of an egg. If you provide your hens with a happy habitat, everything else will take care of itself.
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'We started thinking: if we were going to design a bike for Aston Martin, what would it look like? And then we simply couldn’t stop': Aston's new bike has everything you could ever dream of — except a price tagThe new Aston Martin .1R bicycle, a collaboration with manufacturer J.Laverack, leaves Paul Henderson stirred rather than shaken.
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Sophia Money-Coutts: How do you turn down another godchild without causing offence?Sophia Money-Coutts is the new Debrett's and she's here every Wednesday to set some modern etiquette wrongs, right.
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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 tooPunch 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.
