A Puli, a Hungarian sheep-herding dog (name: Andy). The long corded coat is designed to protect the breed from the harsh winters of the Hungarian plain. Traditionally, the dogs were shaved along with the sheep they herded and, like their charges, grew their coats back before winter. The shot, designed to show the dynamic qualities of the coat, was made by getting the dog to run and jump towards its owner, with the camera between the owners legs.

f you look closely above the Shar-Peis right eye, threading finely through the heavy folds of the eyebrow is a tiny white stitch. It is there because the thick bristled skin, bred into this fighting dog as a defence against opponents bites, would otherwise push the eyelid inward, scraping the eyelashes over the cornea and producing an infection called entropion. The picture is both an abstract conception and a stark image of what humans do to their pets.

Pictured: Shar-Pei puppy (name: Holly). Shar-Peis were fighting and herding dogs from southern China (the name probably derives from the Cantonese for sandy coat: the coat is exceptionally bristly). By shooting close up, the photograph zeroes in on the extraordinary folds which make the dog so distinctive. Notice the tiny stitch above the left eye.

While science provides a context for the images, they are far more than mere illustrations of it. Flachs photograph of huskies (see next picture) shows how science and image blend together. This is the last in a sequence of photos which begins with a close-up of one dogs startling sapphire eyes: an image of acquired behaviour.

Pictured: Neapolitan mastiffs are among the largest of all dogs at 170-200lb, ten times the Bichons weight. They reputedly descend from the molossus breed used as dogs of war by the Romans. Ercole, however, has his competitive spirit channelled into dog shows: he won best of breed at Crufts this year. While the soft focus on the Bichon brings out the breeds cuteness, the lighting and background of the mastiff are designed to underline his monumental quality.

Pictured: A face created by people for their own pleasure, all eyes and button nose. The Bichon Frise (here, Eric) has been a lapdog for hundreds of years. They were originally bred and owned by sailorshence, in part, their miniature size, 10-20lband used up and down the Mediterranean for barter as well as companionship.