Quickly discovered that I'd already broken every rule about choosing a dog, as Onion the collie, rejected by a breeder for having the wrong markings, came to me at 12 weeks and Zanny was found in a field aged about 5 weeks, yelling the place down. Play is central to Glazebrook’s philosophy and the book is joyfully filled with play suggestions: cardboard boxes, “go find it” challenges and sensory games. For myself I found it an interesting read and it was good to hear certain ideas reiterated and others dismissed, but the questions I have about dog ownership these days are more in depth and specialised than this book could supply. The decision to bring Pip into their lives perfectly illustrates what Glazebrook preaches most fervently – it’s vital to analyse and understand your circumstances before you choose a dog, rather than picking a breed you think looks cool, and ending up with a dog that is incompatible with your lifestyle, making everyone miserable.

The unbearably sad, but necessary, last chapter of the book on end of life, touches on the heart-rending decision to have Cookie put to sleep. After you have chosen your canine companion, she discusses a variety of topics from supplies you will need to toilet training and on through life to older dogs. If you’re getting a puppy, it must be at eight weeks, and you must devote a big chunk of time to settling any dog in. It’s a whole sequence of love, learning and loss that has helped shape her philosophy: if we’re unique, strange individuals, so are dogs.And I can't help wondering what would have happened to my guys if everybody was as careful as she suggests.

Possibly good for people who are really not acquainted with dogs but would like one or do something where one is around one. They have been together since they were 17 and his childhood spaniels also formed part of Glazebrook’s doggy education. And that the instagrammable version of dog ownership is far from the truth, it is a huge and important responsibility. Most dog trainers focus on the dog, but Louise focuses on you, giving you the skills and confidence to interpret your dog’s needs and behaviour.Even considering the points above, section three and onward would be helpful to any one who wants to understand how to communicate with their dog, though it is most appropriate for puppy training. There were many useful chapters and reminders on what we can do to give our dogs the best life possible. It’s just very well written by someone with a lot of knowledge and who has had to deal with a lot of badly behaving dogs throughout her career. Photograph: Dan Burn-Forti/The Observer ‘With every dog you learn something new’: Louise Glazebrook with her own dog Pip (by her left hand) and Rebel and Bowie. But mainly, her absolute, infectious delight in dogs is apparent on every page (there are surprises, too: I had no idea licking you can be a polite dog way of saying “go away”).

The truth is that your dog is communicating with you all the time but, unless you know the signs, you aren't picking up on what your dog wants you to know. The truth is that your dog is communicating with you all the time, but unless you know the signs, you aren’t picking up on what your dog wants you to know. Hopefully the book will help, but in our dog-obsessed, dog-confused age, I doubt Glazebrook will get a breather any time soon.A lot of the focus is on choosing the right dog for you - considering the breed characteristics and energy level etc. And it’s far worse than that: many lockdown dogs – some bred in appalling conditions and sold by criminally irresponsible dealers, seeding behavioural problems for the future – are being surrendered to shelters as their owners realise they were unprepared for dog ownership and unable to cope with their pet’s needs. extra dogs were acquired in the past 18 months) as we sought solace at a frightening, lonely time in man’s best friend.

Her firm but fair attitude has seen her become a sought-after television expert on dogs, appearing as a regular on 12 Puppies and Us, as well as other television shows including Steph's Packed Lunch. Very informative around how bad breeders get you off to such a bad and sometimes irredeemable situation with your puppy. A Shiba Inu in a neatly belted mac trots past; a shaggy sphere on its owner’s lap in a café peers through a dense fringe at her pastry; a sleek sausage shimmies, belly grazing puddles. Of Pip she says: “As a visual, he’s not a dog I would necessarily be drawn to,” but she took her own advice.With one three year old labradoodle and a new puppy imminent, I thought this book looked like a good read. Most dog trainers focus on the dog, but Louise focuses on you, the owner, giving you the skills and confidence to interpret your dog's needs and behaviour and build a better, happier relationship for life.