Out & About

How to deal with a dog that's stronger than you are — especially when it runs off when it gets excited

Ben Randall tackles an issue for an owner of a dog that's almost as big as she is.

Mud, glorious mud: Why we should get down and dirty in our wet earth

We loved it as a kid, and we should love it as an adult. Mud is fun to walk through, play with and has real scientific benefits for our health to boot.

'My dog goes crazy when he sees someone with a ball launcher. How do I make him stop?': Expert trainer Ben Randall explains what to do

Taking on a dog with ingrained bad habits can be a headache. Ben Randall explains how to retrain them to keep calm.

Dawn Chorus: The artwork thrown in a museum bin, Cambridge's most famous sight and the world welly wanging champion unmasked by the BBC

What is it like to grow up in a castle? Can you name Cambridge's most famous landmark? And who is the Welly Wanging World Record Holder? All this and more is revealed in today's Dawn Chorus.

How to stop a dog from whining and barking in the early hours of the morning

A dog with an early routine is one thing — but a dog who occasionally decides to beat the birds up at dawn can be trickier to deal with.

More Champagne, madam? The beautiful train journeys that bring back the Golden Age of travel

The romance and glamour of taking a trip on an original steam train is hard to resist, and all the more so when paired with fine dining and opulent surroundings. Octavia Pollock took a trip to find out more.

Riding through the kitchen on horseback, plus take our Quiz of the Day

A spectacular view of Snowdonia, the intelligence of owls and our quiz of the day are all highlights of this morning's Dawn Chorus.

A taste of the exotic: the strangest animals roaming the British Isles

Thanks to escapees from private collections and zoos, hitchhikers and releases of inconvenient pets, followed by the breeding efforts of these resilient species, the British Isles are now home to all kinds of exotic fauna not at all native to these shores.

How to teach your dog to go to the loo when you need them to — and not just when they decide the time is right

It can be frustrating and stressful when your dog is stubbornly refusing to do its business while on a lead, especially if you’re in a scenario where you can’t let them roam free. Expert dog trainer Ben Randall explains how to encourage your dog to go on command.

'Intelligent, calm, cautious and thoughtful': Why donkeys keep charming us

With the ability to offer silent, unwavering emotional support, donkeys are stoic and devoted creatures that can boost mental health and melt the hardest of hearts.

Living on the hedge: The art of hedgelaying

The modern hedgelayer’s role is no longer that of a fencer, but instead a practical conservationist creating vibrant, thorny arteries of hedgerow habitat, says Richard Negus.

Curious Questions: Which person has spent the most time on TV?

Is it Elvis? Is it Queen Elizabeth II? Is it Gary Lineker? No, it's an eight-year-old girl called Carole and a terrifying clown. Here is the history of the BBC's Test Card F.

'Without fever there is no creation': the tumultuous talent of Giacomo Puccini

Three of the top 10 operas performed worldwide are by the emotionally volatile Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, who died a century ago. Henrietta Bredin explains how his colourful life influenced his melodramatic plot lines.

Ben Randall: Q&A with the award-winning dog trainer

We speak to Country Life's canine agony uncle Ben Randall.

'Neither fish nor flesh': The beguiling world of the otter

A creature of bewitching contrasts, the otter is ‘an animal that might have been specifically designed to please a child’ and has captured our imaginations since first we encountered its bright-eyed gaze.

'I enjoy seeing people having a good time. That, for me, is the key': Meet some of London's best restaurateurs

The secret to success in hospitality is often a simple one — give people what they want and do it well.

Burghley Horse Trials preview: From Paris, with love

British equestrian sport is riding high post-Olympics and next month’s Defender Burghley Horse Trials, which has attracted an illustrious entry, should show it in its best light.

One lump or two? The homes where horses come inside the house

No tea party is complete without a four-hoofed friend in attendance, says Flora Watkins. Just be mindful of where you put the sugar lumps.

'World's cutest sheep' for sale in North Yorkshire

Are your sheep ugly? Do you want new, pretty ones? We have just the sale for you.

Leading landscape photographers share their secrets in latest Light & Land exhibition

Charlie Waite, Bill Ward, Astrid McGechan, Ed Rumble and Charlotte Bellamy are some of the many famous names who will be exhibiting at the Mall Galleries from September 3.