10 Fascinating Facts About Dogs in Medieval Times

Since the dawn of humanity, dogs and humans have lived side by side as friends, companions, and fellow hunters. Pet dogs have been depicted in prehistoric cave paintings, on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs, in ancient Roman mosaics... in practically every part of the world inhabited by dogs, you can find evidence of humans revering these beloved animals dating back thousands of years.

But while dogs have been beloved throughout human history, they were particularly celebrated in medieval Europe, especially among the royalty and aristocrats of that era. Let's take a trip back through the history of pet ownership with these 10 historic facts about how dogs fared in the Middle Ages.

1. Dogs Had Lots of Jobs

When dogs were first domesticated by prehistoric man, they were originally used as hunting animals, then later as herding dogs and pack animals as civilization developed. But in medieval Europe, the canine job market became a lot more diverse!

According to historical writer Joshua J Mark, medieval European dogs performed many services beyond hunting and guarding, including working as messengers, game-sniffers, turn-spits (literally turning the kitchen spit for roasting meat) and water-drawers who turned well-wheels to pull up buckets of water. Dogs were still used in large part for hunting, however, and hunting dogs would be equipped with special collars denoting their specific roles and breeds.

2. Greyhounds Were the Elites of the Canine World

Among all types of dogs, hunting dogs were the most highly prized, and greyhounds sat at the top of the hierarchy. These excellent, fleet-footed hunting dogs were prized by aristocrats and treated with high regard. 10th-century Welsh King Hywel Dda made the killing of a greyhound a crime punishable by death, and the English Forest Laws of 11th-century King Canute forbade the ownership of a greyhound by any "meane person" (commoner), reserving that privilege only for the elite.

3. There Was Even a Greyhound Saint (Kinda)

Yes, greyhounds were so beloved that one was even venerated as a saint in 12th-13th century France, at least for a time. TheGreyhoundSaint.com tells the tragic story of Saint Guinefort the Greyhound, as recorded by Catholic inquisitor Stephen of Bourbon:

"A nobleman and his wife left their castle one day, entrusting the care of their infant son to the family dog, Guinefort. Upon returning home the couple found the cradle upturned, the infant missing, and the greyhound’s mouth covered in blood. Assuming the dog had killed the child, the nobleman drew his sword and slayed Guinefort in a fit of rage. Moments later the husband and wife discovered the baby safe behind the crib, and a dead viper that was bloody from dog bites. Guinefort had risked his life by attacking the poisonous snake, protecting the child from a venomous fate."

In honor of Guinefort's selfless act and subsequent martyrdom, the locals reportedly sainted the faithful dog and prayed to him in times of need. After the Catholic Church formalized the canonization process in the 13th century, Guinefort's sainthood was denounced as heretical and his shrine destroyed. Yet despite losing his sainthood, the legend of Guinefort lives on, and he will always be remembered as a very good boy.

4. You're the Guard Now, Dog

Greyhounds weren't the only dogs you could get in trouble for killing. According to historian Carole Rawcliffe, guard dogs, or "house hunds," were very highly prized and afforded some legal protection in medieval Scottish law. If a person were to kill a guard dog "thruch villainy or agains the lawe," they had to stand watch over the owner's property in place of the dog for the next year. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime!

5. Aristrocratic Dogs Had Their Own Servants

Some pet parents may joke that we're actually our pets' servants, but in medieval Europe, some lucky dogs really did have their own servants!

14th-century French nobleman Gaston III de Foix wrote at length about the proper care and training of hunting dogs. According to historian Beatrice Johnston, de Foix wrote that the dogs were to be kept in kennels that were cleaned and dressed with fresh straw daily, given fresh water twice daily, rubbed down with straw every morning, and fed a fancy diet including bran bread, fresh game meat, and for sick dogs, richer stuff like buttered eggs and goat milk. These dogs were cared for by lowly child servants called "dog boys," who, in addition to handling all the kennel chores, had to sleep with them in the kennels all night to keep the dogs from fighting!

Related: Ancient Instincts: 5 Oldest Dog Breeds With Histories Deserving of Their Own Textbook

6. Lap Dogs Were Popular With Aristocratic Ladies

Not all dogs had to hunt or work hard to earn their keep. Small lap dogs were popular among medieval aristocratic ladies, who kept them for cuddles and companionship much like the pet parents of today. Not all critics of the time were as approving of them, though. In the collaborative historical account Holinshed's Chronicles, one 16th-century critic wrote that lap dogs were "instruments of follie," sought out to satisfy "wanton womens willes" and "withdraw their minds from more commenable exercises." There's always a critic...

7. Doggy Fashion Was All the Rage

Though dog collars had been in use for thousands of years, canine fashion really came into its own in the 14th and 15th centuries. According to historian John Block Friedman, 14th-century nobles started decking out their dogs in extravagant coats, collars, and capes made of fancy fabrics and jewels as a display of their wealth and status. The next time you see a wealthy person's toy pooch fitted with a fancy gemstone collar, just remember it's all part of a rich historical tradition!

8. Pugs Made Their Grand European Debut

For thousands of years, pugs were beloved in ancient China and held in high regard by Chinese imperial royalty. However, the popular toy dog breed didn't make its grand European debut until the 1500s, when pugs were brought to Europe by the Dutch East India Company. These pint-sized pups were especially beloved by William, Prince of Orange, who was heir apparent to the Dutch throne at the time. According to Continental Kennel Club, a pug supposedly saved William's life in 1572 by alerting him to an assassination attempt, after which the brave little pug became the official dog of the House of Orange. Man's best friend really came in the clutch!

9. They Had Some Interesting Dog-Related "Life Hacks"

Curious about what pet-related "life hacks" they had in the Middle Ages? The Distaff Gospels, a 15th-century collection of popular folklore at the time, has a few. For instance, if you wanted to breed small dogs, you should wash your hands, mix the water with bread, and feed the bread to your puppies, as this would supposedly keep them from growing large. If you wanted to avoid being attacked or barked at by angry dogs, try giving them a piece of "good roasted cheese" while saying "in camo et freno, et cetera" (a shortened excerpt of Psalm 32:9, which in the King James Version reads: "Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.").

Dogs could even help you sort out family drama, according to The Distaff Gospels. If a lady wanted her husband to get along with her family and friends that he never liked, she should find their dog, collect some of its urine, and secretly slip it to her hubby mixed with barley beer. After drinking this and giving the dog a friendly greeting, "he will be friendly with the people the dog loves." Well... that's one way to make your man get along with his in-laws.

10. They Had Some Top-Tier Doggy Names

Let's wrap up with a palate cleanser. A 15-century British manuscript titled The Names of All Manner of Hounds recorded more than 1,000 names for hunting dogs, and it had some absolute gems. HistoryFacts.com covered some of the best medieval dog names included in the manuscript, but these five were my favorites by far:

1. Letego (for dogs who loved tug-of-war)

2. Wellyfedde

3. Pretiboy

4. Goodynowze

5. Filthe

No matter how much things change, some things always stay the same, like humans giving their pups the absolute goofiest names. At least we don't name our dogs "Filthe" anymore!

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