How to stop a dog pulling on the lead and start walking to heel
This wasn't just our biggest dogs article of 2022 — it was the most successful article of any kind newly published in the last 12 months. And quite right too: Ben Randall's superb advice has helped hundreds of thousands of owners around the world, and we're delighted that he's gone on to write many more pieces for us. (You'll notice more than a few of them in the list below.)
How to stop your dog jumping up on people
It’s easy to dismiss our dogs’ love of jumping up on us — and other people — as friendly boisterousness. But it's something you can't ignore.
The top 20 cutest dog breeds in the world, ranked according to science
'You might as well rank the beauty of flowers,' we wrote in this article, originally published in 2021 but still relevant today. And yet despite the inherent futility of such a list, it's hard not to be intrigued by the result.
How to leave a dog alone in the house without it getting stressed
Ben's dog training advice is a hugely popular part of Country Life, but even still the response to this piece just a few weeks ago has been astonishing.
Cocker Spaniels: The irresistible dogs with loyalty to melt the coldest of hearts
Our look at the irresistible cocker spaniel is perennially popular on the Country Life website. Emma Hughes's piece is full of facts and anecdotes to put a smile on your face.
How to stop your dog barking at the door
Few things are more grating for dog owners — or more disconcerting for dog owners' visitors — than a dog barking at the door every time someone knocks or rings. Ben Randall explained how to train your dog to keep calm when it happens — ideally, with a little help from your friends and neighbours.
How to choose the perfect dog to fit your lifestyle, family and home
Those who grew up with dogs probably already know which breed they want to own, and have done for years. But the rest of us might need a bit of help — and this piece gathered expert advice that you'll be so glad you knew before taking the plunge.
How to stop your puppy crying at night
Having a puppy really isn't that different to having a baby — not least in our reaction to them crying. The plaintive whimper of a puppy is enough to melt the hardest of hearts, and tear the softest hearts into tatters; here's how to hear it less.
The Queen’s Corgis: All about Her Majesty’s most loyal subjects
As we mourned the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we took a look at her corgis, the dogs that were such a part of her life.
Have you been walking your dog wrong all these years?
If you let your dog roam free on a walk, you might be setting yourself up for problems in other areas of training. Katy Birchall spoke to top trainers to see how to let them have fun without running wild.
See Country Life's top 10s of 2022
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'I found myself in a magical world of a sun-dappled forest, speckled with wild flowers of kaleidoscopic colours and brilliant mosses': Solo walking in the PyreneesThe Pyrenees reserves its best treasures for walkers prepared to venture off the well-beaten trail, says Teresa Levonian Cole, on a solo holiday in Ribes de Freser.
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Rainforests, exotic pets and Winston Churchill's peerage: Country Life Quiz of the Day, July 16, 2025Plus Isaac Newton, the Monopoly board and more in Wednesday's quiz.
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Five British gardens have a starring role on the New York Times's list of 25 must-see gardens — here are the ones they forgotMultiple British gardens have topped a New York Times list.
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Beyond Royal Portrush: Castles, country houses and ancient towers in the other dimension of golf in IrelandRory McIlroy's history-making exploits and The Open arriving at Royal Portrush have made 2025 a banner year for Irish golf — but there's far more to golf on the island of Ireland than those headline-grabbers, as Toby Keel finds out.
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14 ways to keep your dogs cool in the heat, by A-list dog trainer Ben RandallDogs can't regulate their body temperatures as well as humans can, so at this time of year they need your help keeping cool, whether you're on the road, out and about or leaving them with someone else while you go away.
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The red kite is a soaraway success story, having escaped extinction to become a familiar sight in our skies againUnhurried in flight and with a sideline in stolen goods, the handsome red kite is the gentleman thief of the raptor world, writes Mark Cocker.
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Brideshead Revisited (again): The 10 scene-stealing British country homes from film and televisionWhat do an enigmatic Caped Crusader, a sopping-wet Mr Darcy and Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell have in common? Believe it or not, British country houses.
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Sophia Money-Coutts: Is it ever okay to throw your dog a birthday party?Sir Lewis Hamilton did it, so why not throw a birthday party for your canine companion, Sophia Money-Coutts asks.
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Tuning in with the past: Monk music will ring out for the first time since the Dissolution after medieval manuscript is rediscoveredBuckland Abbey once thronged with monks who sang for hours every day. Now, some of their newly rediscovered medieval music will ring out once more.
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'Never willing to pardon where I had a power to revenge’: The history of the duelling classSettling a dispute with swords, pistols and, if legend is to be believed, sausages and guitars, has long been a matter of honour even among modern-day rock stars, discovers John F. Mueller.
