In this new History Hit series Mike Loades embarks on a hands-on exploration into the amazing history of dogs - from giant Newfoundlands to skilled sheep dogs, delightful chamber dogs to resilient carriage dogs. It’s a fascinating story of how humans and dogs have lived and worked together for thousands of years - and in each period certain dogs stand out.

In the first episode Mike follows the pawprints of history back to Tudor times, an era when you could find dogs both on the hunt and in the laps of courtiers. With his active approach to history, and using an original Tudor dog manual, Mike tracks down a fugitive with bloodhounds (just as the Earl of Essex did in Ireland), he uses poodles to retrieve crossbow bolts from a lake, tests a spaniel ‘on point’ with a gosshawk and discovers the sad tale of Anne Boleyn’s pet dog, Purkoy.

In the second episode, Dogs in the Age of Revolutions. Mike opens a window on a fascinating era of great change in society, agriculture and industry. Mike works with the sheep dogs that helped drive animals in the agricultural revolution; the giant Newfoundlands that supported the fisheries of the New World; the foxhounds and lap dogs of the upper classes and the coach dogs that kept high speed transport safe.

Famous humans in this narrative include George Washington and the Empress Josephine, but it is the dogs that take centre stage as Mike herds, rides and is even rescued by them, bringing his canine knowledge to their remarkable story.