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Animals, History, Culture
The Invention of the Modern Dog: Breed and Blood in Victorian Britain
The story of the thoroughly Victorian origins of dog breeds. For centuries, different types of dogs were bred around the world for work, sport, or companionship. But it was not until Victorian times that breeders started to produce discrete, differentiated, standardized breeds. In The Invention of the Modern Dog , Michael Worboys, Julie-Marie Strange, and Neil Pemberton explore when, where, why, and how Victorians invented the modern way of ordering and breeding dogs. Though talk of "breed" was common before this period in the context of livestock, the modern idea of a dog breed defined in terms of shape, size, coat, and color arose during the Victorian period in response to a burgeoning competitive dog show culture. The authors explain how breeders, exhibitors, and showmen borrowed ideas of inheritance and pure blood, as well as breeding practices of livestock, horse, poultry and other fancy breeders, and applied them to a species that was long thought about solely in terms of work and companionship. The new dog breeds embodied and reflected key aspects of Victorian culture, and they quickly spread across the world, as some of Britain’s top dogs were taken on stud tours or exported in a growing international trade. Connecting the emergence and development of certain dog breeds to both scientific understandings of race and blood as well as Britain’s posture in a global empire, The Invention of the Modern Dog demonstrates that studying dog breeding cultures allows historians to better understand the complex social relationships of late-nineteenth-century Britain.
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
15 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 21, 2019
The Invention of the Modern Dog
The introduction of this fabulous book opens with a Jilly Cooper quotation “Why are mongrels a dying breed?”. Well on my walk with my four- legged princess, a lovely pure breed black Labrador, I saw a few mongrels, but being a northerner, we love our mongrels up here, might be different down there in Gloucestershire.
This book is an interesting history of the invention and categorisation of dogs since our Victorian forefathers. Before the Victorians started to categorise dogs and breeds, dogs had mainly been kept as working dogs, especially in the countryside. Dogs have been in Britain long before the Victorian era, but they were not defined by breed and they were generally not for our leisure, work and sometimes companionship.
This excellent book looks in depth we see three historians of science explore the ‘origins’ of what is referred to as the modern dog. They explain how for a thousand years before we started to categorise them how dogs were defined by the job that they did, such as pulling people out of snow, or chasing sheep or lap dogs for ladies of substance.
There are fascinating case studies throughout the book and I always knew that the Newfoundland had been developed to breed to specific specifications for body form, size and colour. Over eight chapters the exploration of the modern history of dogs is investigated and explained clearly and concisely for the general reader as well as social historians.
This is a well researched, well written book that has been written with a real passion for their subject.
The introduction of this fabulous book opens with a Jilly Cooper quotation “Why are mongrels a dying breed?”. Well on my walk with my four- legged princess, a lovely pure breed black Labrador, I saw a few mongrels, but being a northerner, we love our mongrels up here, might be different down there in Gloucestershire.
This book is an interesting history of the invention and categorisation of dogs since our Victorian forefathers. Before the Victorians started to categorise dogs and breeds, dogs had mainly been kept as working dogs, especially in the countryside. Dogs have been in Britain long before the Victorian era, but they were not defined by breed and they were generally not for our leisure, work and sometimes companionship.
This excellent book looks in depth we see three historians of science explore the ‘origins’ of what is referred to as the modern dog. They explain how for a thousand years before we started to categorise them how dogs were defined by the job that they did, such as pulling people out of snow, or chasing sheep or lap dogs for ladies of substance.
There are fascinating case studies throughout the book and I always knew that the Newfoundland had been developed to breed to specific specifications for body form, size and colour. Over eight chapters the exploration of the modern history of dogs is investigated and explained clearly and concisely for the general reader as well as social historians.
This is a well researched, well written book that has been written with a real passion for their subject.
December 10, 2019
2/5 (Would not re-read)
I wanted to learn more about the history of dogs and how our understanding of them culturally came about. This book had good facts, but it was so, so, so boringly written. Look at my profile and you'll see I like me a good history book. From the title you get the sense that it was someone's Doctoral dissertation; it's very clinical and academic. Sadly, that's the style of the whole book. I'm at the point in my life where if I find myself not wanting to finish a book, I don't because there's so much out there I'd rather read. I got about 1/4 of the way through and every night when I went to pick up the book to read it was dreading cracking it open so I just stopped. I learned some interesting history. The actual "facts" were good, so if you can look past the bone-dry writing you'll discover an objectively interesting story. But you'd need to be stronger than me to do that.
I wanted to learn more about the history of dogs and how our understanding of them culturally came about. This book had good facts, but it was so, so, so boringly written. Look at my profile and you'll see I like me a good history book. From the title you get the sense that it was someone's Doctoral dissertation; it's very clinical and academic. Sadly, that's the style of the whole book. I'm at the point in my life where if I find myself not wanting to finish a book, I don't because there's so much out there I'd rather read. I got about 1/4 of the way through and every night when I went to pick up the book to read it was dreading cracking it open so I just stopped. I learned some interesting history. The actual "facts" were good, so if you can look past the bone-dry writing you'll discover an objectively interesting story. But you'd need to be stronger than me to do that.
March 11, 2019
This book was one of the most readable historical accounts (of anything!) that I have come across in a long time. Its arguments are fluid and carefully threaded, drawing upon vast archival materials. I include some of them below for someone interested in a summary.
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Worboys, Strange, and Pemberton argue that the modern dog was a Victorian invention. Until the birth of conformation dog show culture in the late 1850s, dogs were bred for function rather than aesthetics (as Harriet Ritvo had already shown in *The Animal Estate*). Thus, there was a great deal of difference between the way sporting dogs—namely pointers, setters, spaniels, and hounds—looked from place to place. Variations in size, build, color, etc. were plentiful based what qualities dogs needed to succeed at different styles of hunting in different topographies, for instance.
Unsurprisingly, then, there existed a great deal of tension between sportsmen and non-sportsmen in the early days of dog shows. Sportsmen believed that dogs should be judged on their skills in the field, not their conformation. Shows which featured great numbers of non-sporting dogs, especially toy dogs, were seen as inferior at best and failures at worst. Field trials, though introduced to conformation dog shows in the 1865, were only part of conformation for a short period of time before becoming their own, separate events. Instead, various physical features of dogs were taken to imply success in the field: muzzle length for scenting ability, for instance.
There were thought to be two strains of concern regarding dogs, which corresponded to the aristocracy and the working class (“the Fancy”*), respectively: the disinterested “improvement” of British dogs, and the economic and social benefits to be gained by producing fashionable specimens. Those putting on more elite dog shows, especially the Kennel Club, sought to keep out the working class by charging high entrance fees, even though dog shows were always sources of public entertainment for members of all classes.
The first breed standard was John Henry Walsh’s standard for the pointer in 1865, but breed standards were not widespread until the development of specialist breed clubs in the late 1870s/1880s. (A small number of breed clubs did exist before this time period: the Bulldog Club was founded in 1864. It should also be noted that clubs for sporting breeds were the last to develop.) Though a few shows in the 1860s employed Walsh’s point system for breed standards, the practice was not common, as the Kennel Club did not adopt breed standards of its own. Instead, breed clubs developed standards which they passed on to the Kennel Club. These breed clubs were widely accused of becoming too focused on individual “points” instead of on the overall health and functions of their respective breeds. Indeed, in the late Victorian period, an increasing number of people bemoaned the fact that certain breeds had become mere caricatures of what they had been only decades before, made unhealthy by new point standards and inbreeding and divorced from their original functions. (The Fox Terrier, for instance, had become so large that s/he was unable to fit in a foxhole.) It was always a question whether the Kennel Club was meeting its stated goal of improving Britain’s dogs.
*The Invention of the Modern Dog* also provides insight into differing views on breeding—so-called “experiential” breeding vs. “scientific” or “rational” breeding—and traces the history of women in the Fancy, namely by the founding of the Ladies Kennel Association.
*The terms “dog fancy” and “dog fanciers” were associated with lower class “dog dealers” until the 1870s, when they finally migrated to describing the upper and middle classes.
---
Worboys, Strange, and Pemberton argue that the modern dog was a Victorian invention. Until the birth of conformation dog show culture in the late 1850s, dogs were bred for function rather than aesthetics (as Harriet Ritvo had already shown in *The Animal Estate*). Thus, there was a great deal of difference between the way sporting dogs—namely pointers, setters, spaniels, and hounds—looked from place to place. Variations in size, build, color, etc. were plentiful based what qualities dogs needed to succeed at different styles of hunting in different topographies, for instance.
Unsurprisingly, then, there existed a great deal of tension between sportsmen and non-sportsmen in the early days of dog shows. Sportsmen believed that dogs should be judged on their skills in the field, not their conformation. Shows which featured great numbers of non-sporting dogs, especially toy dogs, were seen as inferior at best and failures at worst. Field trials, though introduced to conformation dog shows in the 1865, were only part of conformation for a short period of time before becoming their own, separate events. Instead, various physical features of dogs were taken to imply success in the field: muzzle length for scenting ability, for instance.
There were thought to be two strains of concern regarding dogs, which corresponded to the aristocracy and the working class (“the Fancy”*), respectively: the disinterested “improvement” of British dogs, and the economic and social benefits to be gained by producing fashionable specimens. Those putting on more elite dog shows, especially the Kennel Club, sought to keep out the working class by charging high entrance fees, even though dog shows were always sources of public entertainment for members of all classes.
The first breed standard was John Henry Walsh’s standard for the pointer in 1865, but breed standards were not widespread until the development of specialist breed clubs in the late 1870s/1880s. (A small number of breed clubs did exist before this time period: the Bulldog Club was founded in 1864. It should also be noted that clubs for sporting breeds were the last to develop.) Though a few shows in the 1860s employed Walsh’s point system for breed standards, the practice was not common, as the Kennel Club did not adopt breed standards of its own. Instead, breed clubs developed standards which they passed on to the Kennel Club. These breed clubs were widely accused of becoming too focused on individual “points” instead of on the overall health and functions of their respective breeds. Indeed, in the late Victorian period, an increasing number of people bemoaned the fact that certain breeds had become mere caricatures of what they had been only decades before, made unhealthy by new point standards and inbreeding and divorced from their original functions. (The Fox Terrier, for instance, had become so large that s/he was unable to fit in a foxhole.) It was always a question whether the Kennel Club was meeting its stated goal of improving Britain’s dogs.
*The Invention of the Modern Dog* also provides insight into differing views on breeding—so-called “experiential” breeding vs. “scientific” or “rational” breeding—and traces the history of women in the Fancy, namely by the founding of the Ladies Kennel Association.
*The terms “dog fancy” and “dog fanciers” were associated with lower class “dog dealers” until the 1870s, when they finally migrated to describing the upper and middle classes.
February 26, 2023
This book is a little too dry and academic to be an exciting for anyone but the true student of the history of dog breeds. To sum it up: "breeds" of dogs started as types of dogs used for different purposes. People started showing them the same way livestock and poultry were shown. Then people realized they needed standards or the judges would just give the prizes to whichever dog they liked best for whatever reason. Then began the fight, which continues today, about whether form or function is more important. That was also when the argument about outcrossing (which also continues today) started. If you outcross in one generation, you widen the gene pool and can have the offspring's appearance looking 100% pure in 4 generations, so there is seriously no reason not to outcross, purebred snobs. My takeaway is that there has always been snobbery in dog breeding and it was as unpleasant back then as it is now.
March 15, 2019
A decent read. The authors were perhaps too keen to sound respectable when the real fun of the book is the scandals, quarrels, rivalries and the narrative of how we all got suckered into *believing* in breeds. (I’m a Basset hound fan myself and I too swallowed the bloodhound story).
The best reason for reading this book tho may just be because it’s all *so* familiar. I’ll look forward to seeing the cockapoo win Best in Show sometime in the near future.
The best reason for reading this book tho may just be because it’s all *so* familiar. I’ll look forward to seeing the cockapoo win Best in Show sometime in the near future.
January 20, 2021
Meticulously researched and full of really interesting facts that describes the beginning of post-industrial relationships with dogs. Fascinating book.
September 30, 2019
I got this book with a more scientific interest: to what extent did the Victorians really change the 'nature' of dogs through breeding? How was the breeding done? How rapidly were the effects obtained? How strong were the selection pressures they applied? No answers to these questions were really obtained.
The book is primarily a history of dog shows in Victorian Britain. It is interesting as a period of history when a vast plethora of civil societies were being created. One does get an insight into the character of the period when you read how the clubs for each new 'breed' was created. It is also quite amusing reading about the clashes of cultures within the dog show world between the high and low born folk. One does get a glimpse of a concept which clashes with prevailing modern dogma: that the Victorians actively disliked events which were run for profit, and that it would be better if events/societies were run by independently wealthy people who were just interested in the matter and willing to loose money.
The book is primarily a history of dog shows in Victorian Britain. It is interesting as a period of history when a vast plethora of civil societies were being created. One does get an insight into the character of the period when you read how the clubs for each new 'breed' was created. It is also quite amusing reading about the clashes of cultures within the dog show world between the high and low born folk. One does get a glimpse of a concept which clashes with prevailing modern dogma: that the Victorians actively disliked events which were run for profit, and that it would be better if events/societies were run by independently wealthy people who were just interested in the matter and willing to loose money.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews