A celebration of the many breeds of dog we love, as seen through the pages of Country Life magazine, from working the fields to romping through splendid gardens to lounging in beautifully appointed sitting rooms.
Throughout its 125-year history, Country Life has chronicled our love affair with dogs. This elegantly designed volume features seventy breeds based on Royal Kennel Club classifications: hounds, working dogs, terriers, gundogs, herding dogs, toys, and utility. Each breed profile includes modern and archival photographs along with history, anecdotes, and lore.
Here we see the romance of English country living through a canine lens. From Jilly Cooper and her rescue greyhound to Trudie Stylers wolfhounds and many famous country estates, such as Badminton House, Belvoir Castle, Castle Howard, and Holkham Hallas well as the Royal Family with their dogs at Balmoral, Windsor Castle, and Highgrovethe book offers an intimate look at Britains stately houses, gardens, and gorgeous countryside.
Most of todays breeds originated in Britain or were codified by the Royal Kennel Club, as covered by Country Life from its inception. The book poignantly raises awareness about breeds that are today considered vulnerable to extinction, such as the winsome Norwich terrier, the stout bull terrier, or the resolute otterhound, currently ranked most endangered.
Also included are non-native breeds that have long associations with the Royal Family or the nobilitysuch as Pomeranians, Queen Victorias lifelong passion, and pugs, native to China but long an aristocratic favorite.
