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Image: Library of
Congress #LC-DIG-ggbain-03014 |
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For a
fashionable woman in Victorian England a pet miniature dog was as
indispensable as an opera box or presentation at court. She
was nobody without her pet who accompanied her wherever she
went, and was fed and housed, according to canine
requirements, as daintily as the heir to the title and
estates. In spite of the devotion of mistresses to
their dogs, however, it must be admitted that they were
extremely fickle in their attachments, as the fashion in
lapdogs changed as rapidly as that in gowns and bonnets.
During one
London season, the favorite miniature dog had been the small animal known
as the Schipperke, mainly because its hair was short and
black. Long-haired dogs in drawing-rooms and boudoirs were
found to be incompatible because white hairs on furniture
and gowns were absolutely distressing. Even a poodle was
found to be a nuisance, and required its own valet or maid
to keep it in condition.
“Lapdog”
was the old-fashioned name for the miniature dogs called toys,
and quaintly indicated where the line was drawn between
household animals. They were dogs small enough to be held in
the lap, and they were emphatically pets for the parlor,
requiring the care of the lady herself, or of a well-trained
maid.
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Mineola Dog Show,
Pekinese "Pou-sa" belonging to Mrs. J.P. Morgan
Jr., 1908. Image: Library of
Congress #LC-DIG-ggbain-01898
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A popular
toy was the Skye, a droll little bundle of hair, who was so
short that his long hair almost swept the ground as he
waddled about. His deficiency in height was amply atoned for
by his length, for he came perilously near in resembling the
weasel, being at least three times as long as he was high.
Nine or ten inches tall and twenty-five or thirty inches
long was his approved measurement, and the weight considered
proper for these inches was from sixteen to seventeen
pounds. Though the Skye was little and of peculiar shape,
and though he was called a "toy," he was a genuine dog all
through — full of life, a good watcher, intelligent,
affectionate, peaceable in disposition, and not inclined to
quarrel, and, above all, fond of children. The Skye Terrier
came in two varieties: one with pretty, long, hanging ears,
and a tail which drooped gracefully to correspond; the other
with pert little standing ears. Both of the little beasties
had long coarse hair that, happily, notwithstanding its
inconvenient length, did not curl or kink. A dog of this
breed came in a choice in colors — black with sonic white
hairs interspersed; fawn color with black or dark brown tips
to the hairs; and light gray with black tips — which was the
prettier and more desirable was a matter of individual
taste.
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Natalie Barney
seated with dog.
Image: Library of
Congress #LC-DIG-ggbain-05315 |
Then there
was the Yorkshire — as to his qualifications for residence
in a human family, opinions differed widely. For he was one
of the dogs women were reproached with keeping, who required
more care than an average child. He must not only be washed
and dressed and fed as carefully as a child, but in
addition he must be thoroughly brushed and groomed, from the
tips of his sharply trimmed ears to the end of his docked
tail. The Yorkshire needed a special attendant, who could
give an hour or two daily to keeping his coat in order, and
as much more time to exercising him. If his hair tangled,
which it had a fatal tendency to do, he was submitted to
unlimited brushing; if he scratched himself — and what dog
does not? — he was clad in mittens so that he could not
relieve his torture. When the ordeal of his morning toilet
was over, and the Yorkshire was well brushed and combed and
put in order, he was eminently fitted to spend his day — or
what was left of it — sleeping on a satin cushion in an
upholstered dog-basket.
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Two small,
long-haired Maltese dogs and trophy cups on
small table. Image: Library of
Congress #LC-USZ62-55845
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But the
Yorkshire did not take the prize either for beauty or for
care required to keep him in order — that belonged to the
snowy bundle of hair named the Maltese. The Maltese was
rarely seen in nineteenth century America and this creature
was truly a martyr to beauty. The tail of the Maltese was as
beautiful as the plume of the Persian cat, and was carried
gracefully over the back as the cat carried his. His weight
was seldom over six pounds. The whole animal looked more
like a bit of bric-a-brac to adorn a drawing-room than like
a dog. His coat was very long and light, and silvery white
in color. He could hardly move without tangling it, and a
tangle was a serious matter, requiring removal by drawing
out one hair at a time. By no means dared one resort to so
rude a process as brushing; indeed, so delicate is the
texture, that nothing harsher than the softest baby's brush
could ever be used on this dainty “creation.” If he had the
misfortune to get a spot on his precious coat, no vulgar
washing could remove it; it was cleaned as carefully as the
most delicate fabric in the Victorian lady’s wardrobe. His
regular bath was by no means a common washing; it was
performed with a soft sponge, using a particular fluid made
of fresh eggs and warm water, and administered with
extraordinary care, to avoid tangles and colds, to which
this pampered canine was exceedingly liable. The most
scrupulous care was exercised about his food — little meat
and no grease would go into his stomach. He would do without
regular exercise, and—unfortunate creature!—he too wore
mittens.
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Miss F.S.
Sternberg with "King Charles St. Anthony Sun
Spot." Image: Library of
Congress #LC-DIG-ggbain-06537
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The King
Charles and the Blenheim Spaniels were always beautiful and
charming pets, whether they happened to be in fashion or
not, and they had the advantage of not requiring such
absolute and exclusive devotion that their mistress or their
maid must sacrifice everything to their care. One could keep
either of these dogs and still have time to read a little
and entertain occasionally. The King Charles was a fine
black with rich tan markings; the Blenheim, white with
markings of red. Both had round heads, snub-noses, and
projecting foreheads; eyes large and dark and far apart;
ears set far down and very long, with heavy fringe of hair.
The dog would not weigh more than eight or ten pounds; the
hair of the body was soft and wavy but not curly, while on
the docked tail it was very long and silky. More intelligent
little fellows than these two Spaniels were hard to find.
They delighted in learning tricks and going of errands about
the house. They were devotedly attached to their friends,
and in every way desirable.
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Marion Simpson
and "Prize Bull" - dog. Image: Library of
Congress #LC-DIG-ggbain-15752
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The Toy
Greyhound, however beautiful, was never, except in very warm
weather, a pleasant object to have about, because he was
always miserable and suffering with cold. He would wear a
thick blanket out-of-doors, and even then it was painful to
see him shrink and shiver. His most desirable color was
clear fawn, of which there were no less than four shades—
golden, doves, blue, and stone. Other colors were cream, red
or yellow, black, and mixed. With this dog every pains were
taken with his diet in order to preserve his chief
distinction — a slim figure. He was lively and interesting
in the house, unusually affectionate and good-tempered, but
not remarkably intelligent. He was also painfully timid,
which was a part of his nature. He was not very satisfactory
as a pet, for he was always delicate in London climate, and
needed particular care, such as bathing with a damp sponge
only, followed by rubbing and careful wrapping up to prevent
chill.
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Susan Gerkhardt
with her Japanese spaniels, 'Ping Pong" and "Fiko." Image: Library of
Congress #LC-DIG-ggbain-01893
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A rare
choice in small house pets was the Japanese Spaniel, or, as
some called him, the Japanese Pug. He was graceful in form,
with a snub-nose, large dark eyes, long hanging ears, and a
tail curled up like a Pug's. His coat was black and white in
color and soft as silk. He could reach the weight of eight
pounds, though if he did manage not to exceed three he was
much more valuable. The aristocrat of the family had yellow
instead of black to set off the white of his exquisite wavy
coat. Both varieties were rare and costly even in Japan, and
very difficult to procure in Victorian London. In earlier
times none but the highest nobles were allowed to possess
one. This little Japanese was one of the most intelligent of
his race, affectionate, and exceedingly sensitive. He was
also very active, and altogether a most attractive pet. He
would be given the softest of cushions, the most comfortable
of quarters, and the best of care to nourish.
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Annie M. Nolan
seated with her toy Boston Terrier, "Massa." Image: Library of
Congress #LC-DIG-ggbain-03016
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