Europe
In Europe trading of companion dogs by barter seemed to evolve from 2,000 BC. At this time townships sprang up around the bays and inlets of the rugged coastal regions of Greece[1] .This gave rise to trading by ship, one geographical centre being the small island of Melitae which was later known as Malta.
Here a small white companion dog was known to exist possibly originally as a ratter. But when used for trade by barter for supplies and necessities, this small white dog spread through countries that could connect to Malta by sea. Additionally this small white dog could have spread through Europe with nomadic tribes.
The Companion Dog in Greek and Roman History
In both Greek and Roman history the dog was highly esteemed. In Greece around 500 BC Pythagoras taught that there was no animal that could perpetuate the virtues of intelligence and wisdom better than the dog. So at the death of Pythagoras' favourite disciples when the soul entered that of different animals, a dog would be held towards the dying man's mouth in order to receive its spirit.[2]
Another example in Greece was that Alexander the Great (circa 300 BC) built a whole city in honour of the dog.[2]
An example in Italy around 100 AD when the Emperor of Hadrian decreed a prayer of the most solemn rites over the tomb of a dog on account of his intelligence and wisdom. [2]
The Companion dog in Britain
One of the earliest references of companion dogs in Britain was the creation of the English Toy Spaniels for the benefit of the English aristocracy. The canons of Canute established Forest Laws in 1014 AD, reserving large areas of country for hunting for 'the King's princely delight and pleasure'. The 'middle class' was only allowed to keep a dog which was small enough to creep through a 7 inch gauge like the one pictured, because then the Spaniel was considered too small to hunt[3].
Origin of the Spaniel Gentle or Comforter according to Dr. Cauis (first written in1536 AD)
Dr. Johannes Cauis called this Toy Spaniel the Spaniel Gentle or Comforter in his classification that was written in Latin and translated into English by A Fleming in 1576 [4]. The original translation of this important work is in my opinion too difficult to read to be printed in its original form. So it appears here as my interpretation in modern English:
| Interpretation by Jane Harvey |
Source material |
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Now follows our English dogs of the Gentle Kind. Because of the use they serve, and what sort of people take pleasure in them, this section is much briefer. There is another sort of Gentle Dogs in England that are exempted from the previous classifications. The dogs of this kind come from the island Melita, in the sea of Sicily (which at this day is named Malta) where this kind of dog had their principal beginning. These dogs are little, pretty, and fine. They are sought to satisfy the delicateness of dainty dames, and wanton women's wiles, instruments of folly for them to play and dally with, to trifle away the treasure of time, to withdraw their minds from more commendable exercises, and to content and gratify their corrupted senses in a vain attempt to amuse themselves. A sly shift to shirk irksome idleness! The smaller these puppies are, the more pleasure they provide. Flirting mistresses hold them in their arms, keep company in their chambers, sleep in their beds, are nourished with meat, lay in their laps, and lick their faces as they ride in their wagons. For good reason it is so. For that plausible proverb said of a tyrant," he loved his sow, better than his son," may well be applied to this kind of person. He who delights more in dogs which are lacking all possibility of reason, than they do in children that are capable of wisdom and judgement is abuse unless there has been an issue of barrenness.
But many people make much of those pretty puppies called Spaniels Gentle. If the question was asked why they are so acceptable and precious, the answer would not be long in coming. But seeing it was our intent that the reader should reap some benefit by this, here is the service for which these dogs are fit. Among all other qualities of Nature, which are known we find that these little dogs are good to assuage the sickness of the stomach, being often times thereunto applied as a plaster preservative [!] or borne in the bosom of the diseased and weak person [!] which effect is performed by their moderate heat. Moreover, the disease and sickness changes place and enters into the dog [!] which is the truth as experience can testify. For this kind of dog sometimes falls sick, and sometimes dies, without any harm being outwardly enforced. The argument is that the disease of the gentleman or gentlewoman or owner entered into the dog by the operation of heat intermingled with the infection. |
Derived from pages 23, 24, 25 of A. Fleming's 1576 Latin-English Translation[4]
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References and Further Reading
[1] Bamber Gascoigne “History of Civilization” HistoryWorld. From 2001, ongoing
[2] William Youatt 'The Dog' published 1848 London Charles Knight Fleet Street (under the Superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.) Chapter 1 Page 4
[3] Robert Leighton 'The Book of the Dog' published circa 1905 Subscriber's Edition, The Waverley Book Co. Ld Pages 554 - 555 (written by Walter S. Glynn in a Chapter called 'The Dog and the Law')
[4] Dr Johannes Caius 'De Canibus Britannicus (of Englishe Dogges, the Diversities, the Names, the Natures, and the Properties)' pub. 1536 (in Latin). Trans. Abraham Fleming (1576).