In our ongoing drive to widen the appeal of UKClimbing and UKHillwalking, dogs are being given space in our logbooks to record their efforts on hills and crags, and to track the progress of training regimes. The new Dogbook facility will be up and running shortly.

From Bonehill Rocks and Lurcher's Crag, to Terrier's Tooth and Howling Ridge, the history of climbing in the British Isles owes more to dogs than many may appreciate. Our update has been inspired by stories of notable canine ticks, from climbing the famously technical Cuillin peaks to bagging all the Munros:

Categories of ascent in the dogbooks include: Lead climbing, Sit start, Dogged, and Spotted.

We've also added a facility to record all-important extra details such as the frequency of treats, quality of sticks, getting away with rolling in something unsavoury, and number of other animals bothered in passing.

Animal lovers have lavished praise on the site update.

"Our furry friends love their hill-walkies" said dog expert Kay Nines, "and it's generally accepted that by the time you've got to the summit any four-legged members of the team will have put in three or four times the effort of their humans. Some are accomplished doggy-baggers that put the average walker to shame. There's even a rare breed that excel on the rock. But for too long dogs' accomplishments in the outdoors have been poo-pooed.

"Well done UKClimbing and UKHillwalking for setting the record straight."

However sceptics claim that by including non-human climbers we are rolling over to woke sensitivities.

"Is this fur real?" scoffed professional curmudgeon Fi Lines.

"It's well known that pampered pooches would do bugger all without excessive praise and encouragement from their human masters. They effectively follow everything they climb. Some even get carried, a real pet hate of mine. When does a helping hand cross the line into full-blown aid? I wouldn't like to say, but one thing's for sure, by celebrating dogged ascents UKC is barking up the wrong tree. We all know that cats are the real climbers. It's the descents they often have trouble with."