Dog Tales: How Crumble became a Country Life frontispiece, found a husband and had five puppies
A brilliant lonely (dog) hearts ad for Crumble was shared by us at Country Life – and ended up sparking a canine romance that has brought five gorgeous puppies into the world.

At Country Life, we absolutely love dogs. And we know you do too. So we've decided to start sharing stories of our canine pals – and yours – so we can enjoy each others' up and downs. Drop us a line at country_life_digital@timeinc.com if you'd like your dog(s) to be featured.
- - - - - -
It all began back in February, when the team at the Country Life website received this lovely message from reader Hester Dalton via our Facebook page.
That's right, little Crumble, looking for love, was transformed into a Country Life Frontispiece – aka a 'Girl in Pearls'.
Tickled pink by this lovely idea, we happily shared the message on our social media pages.
For a long time after that, we thought no more about it.
Then, in July, we received this message:
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Well, what else could we say?
The answer came back quickly...
Hester was speaking the truth!
We shared those pics with the world in July, and assumed that we'd hear no more.
Thankfully, we were wrong!
Enjoy? Oh yes!
Hester also gave us a group pic identifying all five... and letting us know which one they couldn't bear to see leave:
Huge congratulations to Hester and Kate, and of course to Crumble and Ted!
We'll finish up with a picture of the proud parents...
If you've got a special dog and would like to share his or her story with us, please email the team via country_life_digital@timeinc.com.
Country Life readers dogs’ picture gallery
Credit: Guide Dogs
The seven stages of life for a guide dog, from puppy to retiree
The work that goes into training a life-changing canine is immense.
Crossbreed dogs: 15 of the best non-pedigree chums, from schnoodle to whoodle
The crossbreed is no longer considered an accident and dog owners are going crazy for these new versions. Emma Hughes
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.
-
It's a perfect storm for the revival of eclecticism, and we're in the middle of it
In design, periods of purism are often followed by a dramatic new mood. Now, the scene is set for an exciting revival of eclecticism.
-
How good is your Claudia Winkleman trivia? Find out in The Country Life Quiz of the Day, October 13, 2025
What secrets lurk beneath that fringe?
-
The Lancashire heeler: A clever, compact and very rare terrier that was once described as having 'the same value as an ox'
From cattle drover to companion, the Lancashire heeler is as versatile as it is rare.
-
The English bull terrier is mischief meets muscle
From the 19th-century show rings to the homes of artists, royals and rock stars, the English bull terrier is one of our most original and loveable dogs.
-
How American political refugees, economic migrants and devoted Anglophiles are transforming London
One luxury restaurant, apartment and tennis court at a time.
-
‘Sex, Money, Race, Religion’: Unlikely pair Philharmonia Orchestra and Gilbert & George collaborate on one-off concert
The artist duo once declared music to be ‘the enemy’, but this hasn’t stopped them from teaming up at the Royal Festival Hall for the orchestra’s 80th anniversary.
-
'Nowadays, little separates the literati from the glitterati': Britain's literary festivals are this season's hot tickets
Britain is synonymous with the literary festival, says Will Hosie, and they are only growing in popularity.
-
The not-so-ugly duckling: What to know about the quirky Irish water spaniel
With its curly topknot, ‘rat-tail’ and boundless energy for water, the Irish water spaniel is a breed apart. Quirky, clever and affectionate, it has been winning hearts for centuries — even if it still gets mistaken for a poodle.
-
'Top Trumps: British wildlife edition': How do our native animals measure up against one another
Patrick Galbraith rates ten of the UK's most interesting native animals on their elusiveness, speed and deliciousness, and reveals everything else you need to know about them.
-
Agromenes: Act now for Man’s best friends
A crucial bill on animal welfare is making its way through Parliament. It must pass to put an end to the illegal trade on cats and dogs.