Christmas has come and gone. As we pack away the tree, the treats and the discarded wrapping paper, it’s time to sit back and reflect on the year that’s passed. In part one of our 2021 review, we looked at five great stories from the previous 12 months: including great dog cities, harmful foods for your dog, and weird dog behaviors that can seem mystifying at first glance.

In part two of our series, we’re going to profile yet more great article content delivered to you, our readers, over the course of the year. Hopefully there’s something here of interest, and if you do like our work, please let other dog-lovers in your life know. We always appreciate the support.

Here’s to a fantastic 2022.

Teaching your dog to walk with you properly

The dog walk should be a daily part of your routine, but a lot of time and energy can be wasted if these walks are directionless – especially early on. In our dog walking guide, we specified a few key fundamentals to get right. Namely, ensuring that your dog is taught to come to you; getting your dog used to eye contact; using edible treats correctly; and expecting progress rather than perfection. This last point is true any time you’re trying to teach your dog something .

The farmer’s dog in focus: introducing the “Boerboel”

The Boerboel is an interesting, if uncommon, breed in North America. It comes from Southern Africa and was bred to look after farmsteads. What sets the Boerboel apart is its sheer size: it’s one of the largest mastiffs in the world, and one of the most commanding too. Despite this physical presence, Boerboels are often good-natured, and they make good family pets. It’s unfortunate, then, that they often have a bad reputation, and this reputation couldn’t be further from the truth. Check out our article dedicated to the humble giant to find out more.

Dogs from the movies

In 2021, we ran a three-part series looking at famous dogs from film and TV. We included Frank from Men in Black in part one, Sam from I Am Legend in part two and the huskies from Eight Below in part three. We suggest you check out the articles individually, however, as there are other great picks throughout. And since it’s the holiday season, what better way to unwind than in front of the TV with a furry friend front and centre on the screen?

Does size matter? Looking at the biggest breeds in the world

The Boerboel is a monster, but he’s not the only one. Earlier in the year, we profiled the biggest dog breeds in the world. This is always a popular topic and was broken down into height and weight. The Wolfhound nabbed the former prize, while the English Mastiff earned the latter. If you don’t mind being eaten out of house and home, this is a good article to read.