Dogs in recent history and different cultures

Hugh Dalziel
University of California Libraries (1 Jan. 1879)
ASIN: B0062P79KQ

This book is a copy of a work which originally appeared in 1879.  Dalziel is the main author, though he has been helped by ‘eminent fanciers’.  As this mention of ‘fanciers’ implies, he’s more interested in the world of show dogs than how dogs lived and worked, so there’s a lot about the appearance of dogs, and little about anything else.  This in itself tells you how much attitudes to dogs had changed during the nineteenth century.

Dalziel’s work has obvious limitations, but it is essential reading for anyone interested in how dog breeds evolved. At the start of the century, dogs were bred mainly for work, whereas by 1879, ‘breed’ was used in the same way as we use the term today, and dog shows had become dominant in defining what a breed was.  People who want to return a breed to its ‘roots’ need to go further back than the late nineteenth centure to trace the origins of breeds, but Dalziel gives an interesting snapshot of breeds in development. 

David Hancock
Shire Publications (2011)
ISBN-10: 0747803765 ISBN-13: 978-0747803768

David Hancock has produced some marvellous books on sporting dogs, such as terriers and gundogs. His passion comes through in his writing. His books aren’t dry texts, and they’re well-illustrated. ‘Old Working Dogs’ was first published in 1984, and is a short (32 page) account of British working dogs. Its strength is the large number of vintage photos, some of which show dogs from breeds that are now extinct. The photos are also interesting for showing how some breeds have changed over time. David Hancock is particularly interested in sporting dogs, like hounds, earth dogs, and gundogs, so these dogs have better coverage. There’s also a short section on ‘Pastoral Dogs’ with some vintage pictures. ‘Old Working Dogs’ is inexpensive, fun to read, and a good starter book on the subject.

Dogs of the Shepherds
David Hancock
Crowood Press (2014)
ISBN-10: 1847978088
ISBN-13: 978-1847978080

David Hancock is better known for his books on sporting dogs, but his ‘Dogs of the Shepherds’ is interesting and enjoyable, so long as you don’t take him too seriously. There are a lot of photos, some vintage, others new, of dogs classed by kennel clubs as being of ‘pastoral’ breeds, and some photos of working sheepdogs to which it would be difficult to assign a breed.

The book covers both mastiff-type dogs, and dogs that work closely with their handlers to control the movements of livestock. There are accounts of breeds from all over the world, though most of the focus is on Europe. This broad coverage helps with understanding the different conditions these dogs have worked in, which in turn affect the different roles they have played, and the popularity of breeds that suit local conditions.

David Hancock is much stronger on sporting dogs than on pastoral dogs. This isn’t an accurate history of the development of pastoral dogs, nor does it provide an in-depth understanding of their work. If you’re really interested in, say, the history of border collies, an author who is a specialist in the breed, such as Donald McCaig on collies, would be more informative. Even so, the vintage photos in ‘Dogs of the Shepherds’ are a treat, and Hancock has a lively writing style. Even if you don’t agree with him, he’s never dull.

Sydenham Edwards
Gale ECCO, Print Editions (9 Jun. 2010)
ISBN-10: 117015056X
ISBN-13: 978-1170150566

Sydenham Edwards’ book originally appeared with coloured engravings, which, alas, this version lacks. There are copies of engravings, but they are in black and white, and have sometimes lost detail. Even so, it’s a delight to be able to read a work on British dogs that was begun in 1800, brought out in six instalments, the last being dated 1805.

Edwards covers Newfoundland dogs, beagles, spaniels, bull-dogs, terriers, shepherds´dogs, drovers´dogs, blood-hounds, dingoes, Pomeranians, Danish dogs, pointers and mastiffs. He covered dogs found in Britain, rather than dogs originating here. Edwards gives an account of the introduction of Spanish pointers, though he’s unsure of where Danish dogs came from. He tells us that already Danes were being bred for colour – he mentions a Harlequin Dane.

Despite the frustration of the poorly reproduced illustrations, this is an accessible insight into an early stage of the history of dog breeds.

John Henry Walsh (Author)
Amberg Press (2009)
ISBN-10: 1444653601
ISBN-13: 978-1444653601

Don’t be misled by the publication date of 2009, this book was first published in 1867, with later editions, so is a useful source for people interested in the history of dog breeds, rather than a guide to dogs today! ‘The Dogs of the British Isles’ is especially interesting for people researching the history of sporting dogs. Other types of dogs are covered, but people researching humbler working dogs like sheepdogs are less well served. Walsh was inaccurate when it came to breeds that he did not know well, and this applied to most toy breeds. Vets and vet nurses will find it curious to see how veterinary treatment of dogs has changed over time.

John Henry Walsh, also known as ‘Stonehenge’, was a medical doctor, who became successful as an author on hunting dogs. He was editor of The Field magazine from 1857, drawing on his own experience from keeping and training greyhounds and setters for hunting, a sport that he loved. He was also involved in the birth of the modern dog show, as a judge, and a founder member of the Kennel Club. This particular version of a classic reproduces the original illustrations in colour, and the quality of the illustrations makes the book very good value for money.

Michal Piotr Pręgowski and Justyna Wlodarczyk (Eds)
Purdue University Press (2016)
ISBN-10: 1557537402
ISBN-13: 978-1557537409

Free-market Dogs explores changes in the bond between dogs and humans in Poland after 1989, when Soviet rule ended, and Poland became more open to influences from outside. The seven chapters explore different themes, such as training, dogs in literature, and dog cemeteries. The first two chapters are the longest, covering changes as a whole since 1989, and changes in approaches to training.

Chapter 1, by Michal Piotr Pregowski, tells of how dogs are increasingly seen as family members in Poland, rather than as useful animals, such as guard dogs. Breeds popular as pets in the Anglo world, like Labradors and Yorkies have become more popular. There’s a desire to ‘catch up’ with Anglo countries, as well as a move towards pet rather than working dogs. It’s now considered OK to lavish special food on dogs, which shows changes in attitudes, as well as greater affluence.

Read more: Free Market Dogs: The Human-Canine Bond in Post-Communist Poland