The Country Life Book of Dogs

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 Styler’s wolfhounds and many famous country estates, such as Badminton House, Belvoir Castle, Castle Howard, and Holkham Hall—as well as the Royal Family with their dogs at Balmoral, Windsor Castle, and Highgrove—the book offers an intimate look at Britain’s stately houses, gardens, and gorgeous countryside.

Most of today’s 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 nobility—such as Pomeranians, Queen Victoria’s lifelong passion, and pugs, native to China but long an aristocratic favorite.

Agnes Stamp is Country Life’s Acting Deputy Features Editor. She has worked for the magazine in various guises since 2013—across print, digital, and specialist editorial projects—before joining the Features Desk in 2023. A graduate of London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, she previously worked for luxury titles including Wallpaper* and GQ. An equestrian and canine enthusiast, Agnes has also written for Horse & Hound and holds a postgraduate certificate from Liverpool University in veterinary business management. Tony Allcock OBE is chairman of the Royal Kennel Club, the world’s oldest kennel club.