A Dog's Life

Martin Clunes is happy to admit that with Mary, it was love at first sight; her soft, brown eyes, her perfect figure and that unstoppable wagging tail. As cocker spaniels go, she was perfect. Mary was soon joined in the Clunes' household by Tina, another cocker, and Arthur, a black Labrador. Reminiscent of Marley & Me, the dynamics between the three dogs makes hilarious reading—puppy classes, Scrufts, and the competition for top dog status (and even Martin has to fight for this), which leads to visits from a dog psychologist. His passion for dogs inspired Martin to embark on a journey of discovery about their ancestors, both wild—the painted dogs of Tanzania—and extremely tame—the members of the Beverley Hills Mutt Club.