The Dog Lover’s Miscellany

It was King Frederick II of Prussia who, in the eighteenth century, opined: ‘The only, absolute and best friend a man has, in this selfish world, the only one that will not betray or deny him, is his dog.’ It’s a sentiment that is as true today as it was then – and goes some way towards explaining why, in the UK, at least 30 per cent of householders own a dog … and many more long to do so if only their personal circumstances would allow.

Over millennia, dogs have walked at the heel of humans. As working dogs they have hunted and herded; guarded families; assisted the disabled; tracked missing persons and played a vital part in war. As pets, the pleasure they have given generations is immeasurable.

The Dog Lover’s Miscellany: Wit, Wisdom and Wonders celebrates our affinity with canines. From the practical to the whimsical, there are very few aspects the author neglects. The many and varied chapters talk of history, hellhounds and legend; modern research and a dog’s ‘sixth sense’; their roles in films and advertising; working and sporting dogs; dogs in pub names; famous owners (some more eccentric than others) and the games people play with their pets.