A saintly voice goes forth, and the barking stops

When Fido or Felix is misbehaving, it is sagacity, rather than sternness, that is required, an expert advises

We are in a theater in downtown Beijing packed to the rafters with an audience whose members are transfixed by what is going on before them. The attentive, respectful silence is at times broken by gales of raucous laughter.

But this is a stage show unlike any other, for there are no acrobats, no actors, no dancers, no singers and in fact, no performers to admire at all.