Pampered pets are in danger of becoming pooch potatoes, preferring TV dinners to walks in the park.

Have dogs become too domesticated? Some dogs are picking up the unhealthier habits of Western society – ending up overweight and under-exercised.

It turns out that man may not be doing his best friend a favour by taking him down the pub for a packet of pork scratchings.

Dogs used to work for a living, and by confining them to a life of domesticity, we fail to understand their needs, according to animal behaviour expert Professor John Bradshaw.

His book, In Defence of Dogs, (published by Allen Lane/Penguin Books) highlights the problems and suggests ways to help your pet progress from being an underdog to a wonderdog – although not necessarily in the mould of Julian Clary’s Fanny.

For anyone who’s more of a cat person, our feline friends are next on the professor’s list...