Joanna here. My last posting looked at truly ancient dog collars and leashes. Paleoleashes. Classical collars. I promised to return to this vital issue and speak of the Medieval and early Renaissance versions of what the well-dressed dog was wearing.
We know there were extravagant dog collars out there in theMedieval world, continuing a tradition of lavish dog decoration that stretches back to the ancients.
The favorite greyhound of Louis XI of France (1423-1483), for instance — named “Cher Ami”— was decked out in a collar of scarlet velvet embellished with pearls and rubies.
(Some of these pictures are small, but if you click on them they get full sized.)
But leaving aside the follies of the nobility . . . what was the average dog wearing? The working dog? The any-old-dog-on-a-farm dog? The sheep-keeping dog?
Going by available images, it looks like about a quarter of house and farm dogs, all guide dogs, (yes, they did have them in Medieval times,) and a sensible majority of sheep dogs are wearing some sort of simple collar.
To get a good close look at the types and technology of dog collars we go to the hunting field.
There is a generous sufficiency of paintings of hunting dogs from this time
period, hunting being an endeavor practiced by those who can afford to hire artists. The process of hunting, as practiced by Medieval aristocrats, seems to have involved dozens of skilled field technicians and their even more skilled dogs, The leaading dogs seem to be the ones collared and leashed.
This was not so much like a Regency fox hunt. There, as I understand it, a pack of unleashed dogs was let loose to race across the countryside, yapping, followed closely by a pack of folks on horses, ballyhooing.
My intensive study of Medieval hunting practices— about ten minute’s worth — reveals that Medieval hunts were a relatively few folks riding horses while a great many more specialized dog handlers jogged about in the underbrush, untangling tangled leashes, being pulled along by the dogs. After the boar, deer, bear, wolf, unicorn, or whatever was sighted, the dogs were loosed to chase it down and jump on it.
Pounce bite chomp chomp went the dogs and everybody yelled enthusiastically and the mounted hunters rode up to shoot the beast with arrows or impale it with pikes, depending.
This is perhaps an oversimplification of historical hunting techniques. We will hurry right along and get back to talking about what the dogs were wearing. Back to the canine fashion show, as it were.
Medieval dog collars were leather with metal buckles and tongues. They
resembled the people belts of the period, or modern belts for that matter. Most were dyed black or bright colors — red or yellow. Many were studded with elaborate decorative metalwork.
The leashes were rope or braided leather attached to a metal ring in the collar. Sometimes, near the attachment, the leash would have little studs to keep the dog from chewing on it.
One thing that strikes me, looking at the collars, is how wide some of them were. With this we come to another way Medieval hunting differed from Regency hunting. As mentioned above, Medieval quarry were somewhat larger and more dangerous than anything roaming the English countryside in 1800. Medieval dogs were expected to attack formidable prey and bring it down. The wide collars protected vulnerable dog necks.
Which brings us to . . . spikes.
Spiked collars go a ways back. We have a few specific mentions of them in the Classical period and what may be a mosaic showing one, though I can’t get a sufficiently detailed image of it to make sure.
These first spiked-collar sources refer to dogs defending sheep. The earliest reference may be this one dating to the Phyrgians (750-300 BCE.)
". . . a graffito on a wall leading to an outdoor lavatory shows that most ferocious of Anatolian animals, the kocabas (big-head)) sheepdog with a spiked collar as a protection against wolfes."
Mellart, J., Archeology of Ancient Turkey, London 1978
Another Classical reference:
“In order to scare the wild beasts away, they are armed with ring shaped collars covered with nails”
Varro (116-27 BCE), De re Rustica II,9,15
We have physical evidence of spiked collars from Viking boat graves in Uppsala, one circa 750, one in the 900s, so the Viking lords took their dogs with them to Valhalla. I suspect it was to hunt wolves, rather than herd sheep.
And here are paintings of French hunting dogs, all spiked-collared up and raring to go, mano a mano, with the big guys.
Spiked collars lead us onward to where i've kinda been heading -- to early, rare instances of actual dog clothing.
Sometimes, when the Lord of the Manor sent his favorite hunting dogs out to face bear and wild boar and other thugs of the animal kingdom, he provided them a layer of protection. On the left is a sort of padded coat.
It’s hard to tell what those suits are made of. The one on the left looks like a mail shirt. Can it be that? The padded shirt above left . . . I’m guessing it’s quilted linen which provides protection without
sacrificing the nimbleness so useful in wrestling wolves. The foot soldier of the time went into battle wearing something not much better.
But among the many, many illustrations of dogs taking down dangerous animals we just don’t see many dogs in armor. They had the technology, but they didn’t use it. I think the final tradeoff between agility and protective dog clothing came down on the side of agility. This “dressing the dog up to go attack bears” never really took off.
But I have been looking for the origins of dressing dogs up.
Horses were caparisoned for festive, significant events. They wore their house colors. They became part of the display. Symbolically they were loyal servitors.
Dogs also got into the whole presentation bit. Here’s a couple of fine hounds showing off the colors of their house.
So. If you were a Medieval person, keeping your little sheep in a countryside that included a cast of hungry wolves and bears, would you stand your ground next to your bright-eyed dog and defend your sheep like a heroic protagonist . . .
or would you choose the better part of valor?
If you’re looking for my answer you may find me running downhill, back to town.
I love those dogs with the capes. Actually, I love capes and I don't see why dogs shouldn't get to wear them too.
As for the spiked collars, why did it never occur to me that they were for the dog's protection? I always thought of them as threatening. Of course, when I think of a spiked collar, it's being worn by a large, sort of ugly, bulldog. The sort of dog you wouldn't want to mess with.
Posted by: Lil | Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 03:11 PM
It's interesting to see how people protected their hunting dogs. Just imagine how strong the dogs had to be to wear chain mail and to take down a boar!
Posted by: Pamela DG | Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at 05:05 PM
I, too, never realized the spikes were for the dog's protection. Thanks for that, Joanna! As for what I'd do in a perilous situation, I have no idea. I do know that several months ago, my dog spotted a buck and slipped away from me to take chase. I ran after him, screaming like a banshee, afraid he'd get hurt in any encounter (please note that I do NOT live in rural-landia, the way you do, Jo, but actually quite close to many heavily traveled roads). I caught up with him fairly quickly as the deer had disappeared into a heavily overgrown area, and my dog (pampered pet that he is), knew better than to try to make his way through bramble. We went home and both ate peanut butter to feel better.
But speaking of personalized collars, I am ashamed to say that I yielded to sports-mania and actually bought my dog a collar and leash to match my family's favorite football team. Our team will NOT be at the Super Bowl, so the collar and leashed have been stored away again until next year. Don't know what historians would think of that 500 years hence!
Posted by: Margaret | Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 07:00 AM
Ma'am,this is a truly informative post. I loved all the illustrations. I loved your honesty, 10 minutes sounds about right.
In another life, I was involved with showing dogs in confirmation competitions. I wonder if there were events like that for people to display their best dogs?
I am not sure what I would do in your scenario. Knowing me as well as I know me, I probably would have had the sheep living in the hovel with me. I am a sucker for nearly any animal I encounter.
In the past, I had two lady Boxers who lived with me. They loved to get dressed up in sweaters, coats and even a hooded sweatshirt. I bet those caped dogs were females and were lovin' it.
I do have a few question? Was there a unicorn hound? And if one were hunting a unicorn, was it to make it a pet? Display it in a faire? Be able to brag to the next shire? Surely not for the feast table.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Posted by: Annette N | Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 09:29 AM
I thought about this for a while before I concluded that the origin of spiked collars was dog protection, not a sort of brutal bragging by their owners.
When Medieval hunting dogs or sheep dogs are shown wearing spikes, it's to prevent damage from dangerous animals. Modern dogs walking suburban streets are unlikely to meet wild boar.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 02:32 PM
Taking down a boar -- Oh my, yes.
Brave and strong dogs.
I don't think they wore chain mail, though. We got many, many, many period books full of hunting scenes. I looked at hundreds of paintings. None of them show chain mail.
People look through Medieval prints and paintings endlessly to find chain mail or any sort of dog protections.
There are the two I posted.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 03:05 PM
Peanut butter is a cure for most things.
My dogs frequently take off after deer and come back in about three minutes, looking pleased with themselves, deerless.
It is not so much hunting, i think, as play.
Your footballers' leash, 500 years from now, will appear in somebody's dissertation.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 03:10 PM
My exceedingly ignorant take on dog shows is that whole "dog breed" and conformation thingum is Victorian.
So -- relatively speaking -- it's recent.
Animals are mostly okay with being dressed up, IMO, and some positively enjoy it.
When I was four or five I used to dress my Big, Mean, Terror-of-the-Neighborhood Tom Cat up in pretty pink doll clothes and a bonnet and wheel him around the neighborhood in the doll baby carriage.
At this late date I cannot decide whether he enjoyed or merely tolerated this.
Heck, but I loved that cat. Saw him born. We were together for 17 years.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 03:20 PM
That was a FASCINATING post. Loved all the details and pictures. Thanks so much for doing Part II.
Posted by: Vicki L | Thursday, January 30, 2020 at 08:05 PM
I frequently perform intensive studies of various topics; somehow your ten minutes seen far more productive than mine, Jo! Thanks for a fascinating post. And, yes, I'll join you heading downhill.
Posted by: Kareni | Friday, January 31, 2020 at 07:23 PM
I love the thought of sports-themed dog wear. I just know that 200 years from now a future grad student is going to find your family's leash and collar and add photos to her Master's Thesis.
My dogs used to chase off deer, but they didn't really mean to catch them. They just played at it for 100 feet or so and then came prancing back, so proud of themselves.
The deer would be back in the yard an hour later, so they don't seem to have been scared.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Saturday, February 01, 2020 at 02:19 PM
How could I leave out dog armor?
This is apparently a contentious subject.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Saturday, February 01, 2020 at 02:20 PM
I am like the fellow looking for his car keys ...
I go exploring "where the light is good" and write about what I find there, rather than tracking down the hard stuff. *g*
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Saturday, February 01, 2020 at 02:22 PM
I love the stance of the medieval guide dog. You just know he's picking up some delightful odors in the wind. Reminds me of Buster Keaton leaning into the wind.
Posted by: Dorothea | Wednesday, February 05, 2020 at 07:32 AM
I've seen Historical Romances -- can't remember author or title -- with guide dogs. Not the well-trained and accoutered ones of today, but guides and helpers nonetheless.
I think it's natural to some dogs. My own dog knows I have trouble on rough ground and turns back to keep an eye on me when we go over it. I can see these helper dogs far back in history, turning wie, intelligent eyes on their charges.
Posted by: Joanne Bourne | Wednesday, February 05, 2020 at 08:47 AM