Dogs
Chris Pearson and Mariam Motamedi Fraser discuss their research on 'man's best friend' with Laurie Taylor.
DOGS – Laurie Taylor explores the making of the modern companion animal, from working animals to pampered pets. Chris Pearson, Professor of Environmental History at the University of Liverpool, charts the changing fortunes of hunting dogs, street dogs and show dogs, as they moved from the rural to the urban, shedding utilitarian roles to become cherished family members. Also, Mariam Motamedi Fraser, Honorary Research Fellow at University College, London, asks if dogs belong with humans and the natural bond is less natural than we assume.
Producer: Jayne Egerton
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Guests and further reading
- Chris Pearson, Professor of Environmental History at the University of Liverpool
Collared: How We Made the Modern Dog (Profile Books)
- Mariam Motamedi-Fraser, Honorary Research Fellow at University College London
Dog politics: Species stories and the animal sciences (Manchester University Press)
Broadcasts
- Tue 15 Jul 2025 15:30BBC Radio 4
- Sun 20 Jul 2025 06:05BBC Radio 4
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