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.

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.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
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
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.
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What everyone is talking about this week: 'People who tended to be more obedient about lockdown are now its fiercest critics'
Week in, week out, Will Hosie rounds up the hottest topics on everyone's lips, in London and beyond.
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From the archive: 'This retina-awakening advert for British Nylon Spinners Limited sums up the swinging 1960s perfectly'
Every Monday, Melanie Bryan, delves into the hidden depths of Country Life's extraordinary archive to bring you a long-forgotten story, photograph or advert.
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What everyone is talking about this week: 'People who tended to be more obedient about lockdown are now its fiercest critics'
Week in, week out, Will Hosie rounds up the hottest topics on everyone's lips, in London and beyond.
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Canine muses: Lucian Freud's etchings of Pluto the whippet are among his most popular and expensive work
In the third edition of our limited series, we meet the dogs who've inspired some of our greatest artists.
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Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country Life
If Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
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Water you're waiting for? Britain's best heritage lidos were built to save swimmers from polluted seas full of potato peelings, oil and coal — and they're still in action today
The seaside lido continues to offer safe swimming for holidaymakers irrespective of the tide, but they're also architectural gems worthy of our admiration.
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West London's spent the last two decades as the laughing stock of the style set — here's how it got its groove back
The style set is returning to the very West London neighbourhoods it once made a habit of spurning, finds Will Hosie.
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Peregrine falcons went to the edge of extinction in the 1960s — today, there are more of them than at any time since the Middle Ages
In the latest instalment of Mark Cocker's 'Winging it' column, he looks at the peregrine, a bird of prey with astonishing speed and super strength.
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Rogue sellers and puppy farmers are exploiting Government licensing loopholes at the expense of responsible dog breeders, says The Kennel Club
The Kennel Club launched a report in the House of Commons last week calling for an urgent review of current licensing regulations.
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Beyond Stonehenge: The ancient moorland megaliths and grand stone rings that you can enjoy without the tourist hordes
With their potent blend of wild looks and mystery, Britain’s ancient sites have an enduring magnetism — and there are far more of them than you might imagine.