Mixing the personal with the practical, India Knight’s guide to dog ownership is written from the perspective of a “lay person crazed with dog-love”. Knight, a relatively late convert to the joys of dog, combines advice on dealing with breeders and how to handle a new puppy with more general thoughts on the psychology of the human-canine relationship. She highlights outdated training techniques – the idea that dogs are pack animals that need to be dominated by an alpha has been discredited – and takes a few shots at the dog food industry. She’s an advocate for “raw feeding”, which she firmly believes to be better for a dog’s digestion and general health.

With illustrations by Sally Muir, this is a useful, well-structured read for those considering their first dog, and for the dog-ambivalent among us it offers insight into the strength of the connection that can form between dog and human.

The Goodness of Dogs is published by Penguin (£14.99). Click here to buy it for £12.29