From Bonn to Tokyo: A brief history of dogs around the world

Fed up of your local dog walk? Let Mark Jones whizz you through 30,000 years of canine history, from Bonn and Papua New Guinea to Finnish forests and Tokyo’s Shibuya station

The writer with his Romanian rescue, Duchess (Annabel Ross Jones)

January is National Walk Your Dog Month here and in the US. It’s designed to raise awareness of dog obesity and get owners out there tramping the fields and parks, whatever the weather.

This January is a bit different. Thanks to lockdown, owners don’t need extra encouragement. They are the ones standing at the door with the lead in their mouths. If dogs had their way, they’d probably designate January National Give Us A Rest month, with badges saying Three Walks A Day Is Fine, Honestly.

Let’s instead dream, we humans and canines, of a time when we can roam where we wish in this dog-friendly land – and of places around the globe the dedicated dog lover can visit.