A Dog for Every Job

Kate, Steve and the team of canine experts explore how the huge range of dog breeds differ in their senses and abilities. Does a short nose impede a sense of smell? Do floppy ears mean subdued hearing? And what effect does the shape of a skull have on peripheral vision? The team examines how humans have harnessed these inherent skills and discovers how this has shaped these breeds into the hunters, herders and guard dogs of today. They also see the senses develop in a litter of newborn puppies, and follow Kate's Welsh Sheepdog puppy Teg getting her first lesson in sheep herding. Ruth Goodman is joined by a pembrokeshire welsh corgi as she traces the breed's history to their humble origins as cattle herders. The team also finds out how hunting breeds such as springers, pointers and retrievers evolved with the development of gun technology.