Katherine Kovacic on the connection we have with our canine friends in 'Australia's Dogs'

Good Reading Podcast

Australians love dogs – big dogs, little dogs, fluffy couch potatoes and hardy working dogs. We have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. 'Australia’s Dogs' is a celebration of the dog in Australian life, exploring the human-canine bond, and reflecting on the crucial role played by dogs in our life and work. Learn more about Australia’s home-grown dog breeds that played a central role in the development of pastoral industries, as well as the iconic dingo and its place in Indigenous life, and the Australian ecosystem. 'Australia’s Dogs' is generously illustrated with images drawn from the rich collections of the National Library of Australia. Some capture a photographer’s love for their own dog, while others tell epic tales of survival in harsh conditions, comment on an element of social history or record a significant moment. As the incredible variety of images shows, the story of dogs in Australia is a subject that is historically significant, with a broad and enduring appeal. In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Katherine Kovacic about the ancient bond between dogs and humans, how and why Australian dog breeds have become part of our folklore, and what the vast collection of photographs held in the National Library Of Australia's archive tells us about ourselves and the connection we have wth our canine companions.