How sniffer dogs have moved on from drugs and bombs to Japanese knotweed
Kat Janczur spent years training dogs to sniff out drugs and explosives. Today, she and her canine companions have a very different quarry: Japanese knotweed.
Dogs & Animals
From perfect pedigrees to loveable canine scamps of unknown origin, we celebrate man’s best friend.
Looking for a new dog? Head straight for our article on how to choose the perfect dog to fit your lifestyle, family and home.
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How to train your dogs around your gardening, by expert trainer Ben Randall
It's the time of year when we're all starting to get out more and more — particularly in the garden. That's an ideal chance to work on your dog's training, as Ben Randall explains.
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How to adopt a dog without it upsetting the pets you already have, by top trainer Ben Randall
Though some dog owners are happy to stop at one, many of us like to bring more into the home as years go by — and if your new arrival is an older dog who is being rehomed, it can need a bit of thought to make sure things go smoothly. Ben Randall explains more.
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What to do if your dog keeps barking when you leave the house, by A-list trainer Ben Randall
The unconditional love of a dog is a wonderful thing, but when they get so attached that they can't bear to see you leave then they need your help. Ben Randall explains how to stop a dog getting upset when you leave the house.
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How to stop your dogs waking up too early, by top trainer Ben Randall
An unwanted early morning wake-up call from her dogs is the problem faced by our reader this week.
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What to do if all else has failed and you can't handle your dog, by expert trainer Ben Randall
The vast majority of dogs and their owners have happy lives full of fun and love; but sometimes, things just don't work out. Ben Randall answers a reader who is wondering if it's time to find a different home for their dog.
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Would-be dog owners urged to buy British by the Kennel Club
'There is a real danger we could lose our diversity of breeds', warns the Kennel Club's Bill Lambert, as Agnes Stamp reports.
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Are you overtraining your dog? The signs to look for, and how to put it right
A reader this week suffers from a dog who can't concentrate and is getting distracted all the time, but with things now going badly our dog training expert Ben Randall takes a look – and suspects that overtraining is the problem.
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How to stop a dog nipping or biting when it's excited
A dog that starts nipping, biting and mouthing when it's overexcited may not mean any harm, says Ben Randall, but it's something which just can't go on. Here's how to handle the issue.
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You don't need to teach your dog to lie down, but you do need to nail the 'sit' command — by top trainer Ben Randall
A reader writes this week to ask Ben how to persuade her dog to lie down on command — but is it really something she needs to teach?
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Jonathan Self: What can you do with dogs? Their yea is yea and their nay, especially in lashing rain, is nay
It's raining, and Jonathan Self is outside waiting patiently for his dogs to do their business.
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What's the best name to give your dog?
It may be time to park Rover and consider something more imaginative, says Jonathan Young.
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'Every time I got near my dog, she ran off with the fish!' Ben Randall on how to train a disobedient dog
Some dogs quickly pick up the basics of training — yet somehow only respond seven or eight times out of ten. If that sounds like you, help is at hand: expert trainer Ben Randall explains how to train a disobedient dog.
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How to stop a dog constantly begging for treats
Reward-based training has transformed our relationships with our dogs — but it can go wrong. Ben Randall explains how to put things right if your pooch goes off track.
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How to handle a dog that's spent most of its life chained up
A heartbreaking letter from an overseas reader gives our resident dog training expert Ben Randall one of his toughest challenges to date.
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Should you let your dog sleep in your bed?
Some dogs and owners share a bed — but should they? Ben Randall shares his wisdom on how to make it work.
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Country Life's top 10 dog stories of 2022
From beautiful breeds to superb advice from our training expert, these are our best dog-related stories of the last 12 months.
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The Christmas foods that you can share with your dog — and the ones to avoid at all costs
It's natural to want to be able to give your dog a treat at Christmas, but you need to be very careful about what to give them. Canine nutritionist Alison Frost shares her advice on what will and won't be okay.
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How to stop a dog chasing cars: Six tips from top dog-trainer Ben Randall
Watching your dog run after traffic can be heart-stoppingly scary — but it's also a difficult habit to break. Ben Randall, expert dog trainer, explains how to go about stopping a dog chasing cars.
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Cocker Spaniels: The irresistible dogs with loyalty to melt the coldest of hearts
As the dog world prepares for Crufts 2020, we take a look at the breed of dog which has been crowned Best in Show more often than any other: the cocker spaniel.
