Absolutely Barking

Popular columnist Michele Hanson investigates the wild and wonderful world of dog ownership in the UK.

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The world of dog ownership in Britain has always attracted a good number of enthusiasts - some would say eccentrics - who are passionate about their pets. Whereas in previous decades owners had only dog obedience classes and dog shows to cater for their interests, there is now a huge industry offering a wealth of canine-centred activities, such as extreme grooming, dog dancing schools, luxury dog spas and bespoke designers offering a baffling choice of pet accessories. Our dog population is now bigger than ever, and Dog World is far more complicated than it seems from the outside. It is a world of extreme competition, slavish devotion and delicate protocol. What do you do when your hound gets inappropriately frisky with a fellow dog-walker's pet? Who has right of way on the towpath between a jogger and a greyhound, and what kind of cake do you bake for a puppy shower? Popular columnist Michele Hanson conducts a hilarious and fascinating investigation into the British and their dogs across all walks of life - from the pampered pooches of suburbia to the bad-boy breeds of the urban zone - and meets owners across the spectrum of delightful, bizarre, aspirational, ghastly and just plain crazy. Absolutely Barkingis not only a book for dog-lovers; it is also a uniquely witty insight into an aspect of British life that is more popular than it has ever been.