-
Clicker training – The fastest way to teach a new spaniel new tricks
Alexandra Fraser uses her working from home lunch breaks to expand on Wilf’s repertoire of commands and tricks. This week she talks through clicker training, and how to teach everything from ‘sit’ to the slightly more complicated ‘tidy up’.
-
Top tips for grooming a mucky puppy - from easy bath times to tidy pub trips
‘Mucky pup’ is the operative word for an absolute mess – with very good reason. Alexandra Fraser explains how she manages to keep Wilf well-groomed, while still allowing him to having his fun outside.
-
Walking a new puppy - How long to walk for, where to go and how to recover from inevitable setbacks
Alexandra Fraser discusses the ups and downs of puppy walking, and why you shouldn’t let a small setback throw your confidence.
-
Basset hounds: Incorrigible and exasperating, vocal and entertaining... and seemingly almost human
The basset hound is a force of nature, says devotee Flora Watkins.
-
Five things that your puppy shouldn't eat - and what to do when they eat them
Five visits to the vets later, Alexandra Fraser reflects on the dangers faced by a hungry puppy and the benefits of pet insurance.
-
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.
-
Five reasons why you shouldn't get a dog for Christmas
‘A dog is not for Christmas’ is a well-known saying that encapsulates what it means to be a dog owner – it’s not just one day, or the good days, or the days you actually want to go for a walk in the rain. Alexandra Fraser does away with the sugar coating and explains why a furry friend might not be the most appropriate gift this year.
-
The ten unwritten rules of walking your dog - and how to follow them
Being a responsible dog owner is more than just picking up after your pup and stopping them from stealing sandwiches at the picnic.
-
The Puppy Diaries: 'The first night wasn't too bad. The second night was… different. We were up and down more than the Grand Old Duke of York'
Alexandra Fraser — who recently bought a cocker spaniel called Wilf — details the ins and outs of sleep-training a new puppy, from where to place your puppy in your home to why you dearly need a dressing gown.
-
Jason Goodwin: 'The collie would come to the shed door for the smallest scrap of affection or touch. After a few months in the village we felt rather the same'
Our columnist Jason Goodwin on telepathic dogs, Pyrenean dialects and animal authors.
-
The ups and downs of life with chocolate labradors: 'If one of my chocolates does something naughty, there’s no hiding. They all know it’s mine'
Chocolate labradors are becoming more and more popular — and with good reason, as Katy Birchall explains. Photographs by Millie Pilkington for Country Life.
-
The Puppy Diaries: 'You cannot go to see a seven-week-old cocker spaniel puppy and not fall in love'
Alexandra Fraser and her partner didn't decide to get a dog; they merely decided to go and see a dog. Little did they know that it would amount to the same thing, as she explains in the first of a new series.
-
Rosie and Jim: Why won't dogs let sleeping people lie?
The sleeping arrangements of pets and a village-like enclave in south-east London come under the gaze of our columnists this week.
-
The irresistible Old English Sheepdog: 'What could be more wonderful than a big ball of fluff always happy to see you?'
These big bundles of fur have advertised Dulux and danced with David Bowie, but numbers of old English sheepdogs are plummeting, warns Katy Birchall.
-
Curious Questions: Why isn't there a Crufts for Cats?
Charles Cruft was a salesman-turned-showman who created the world's biggest dog show — yet Cruft himself owned a cat. So why didn't he do the same for felines and create a Crufts for Cats? Well, it turns out that he did — but it was scuppered by the British weather. Martin Fone tells the extraordinary tale.
-
Crackdown on dog theft in the pipeline — and what you can do to protect your dog in the meantime
Lockdown brought with it a huge demand for people wanting dogs, to keep them company in long hours spent alone at home. Sadly, that's sparked a huge rise in dog theft. Katy Birchall reports on a ‘low-risk, high-reward’ crime and gets suggestions on how you can protect your pooch – or get him or her back if the worst happens.
-
The six most destructive dog breeds
Dogs often charm their way through even their naughtiest moments, but some really push their luck. We take a look at some of the most notoriously destructive breeds, and the chaos they cause.
-
Rewriting the history of the Clumber spaniel
Rebirth of the Royal Spaniel, a new book by James Darley, celebrates the storied history of the breed and busts a few myths along the way.
-
Border terriers: The dogs with endless energy that still love a cuddle on the sofa
The Border terrier has it all: bags of character, endless energy and yet small enough for cuddling on the sofa. Katy Birchall finds out more.
-
Keeping goats: Cheap, simple — and they'll be your friend for life (as long as you don't mind the odd demolished wall)
The delightful and versatile English goat is making a deserved comeback, as Julie Harding learns from devotees. Photographs by Daniel Gould.
-
'Dogs are wonderful, but they're naughty too... then again, there's not much fun in a dog sitting quietly'
Inspired by Country Life's search for Britain’s naughtiest dog, illustrator John Holder tells Katy Birchall why he’s dedicated a delightful new book to mischievous mutts.
