Victorian Dogs: Popular Breeds, Dog Shows, and Life in the 19th Century

For a Victorian-era society lady, owning a miniature dog was just as essential as carrying a handbag to the opera or having a calling card.

A woman could not imagine herself without her beloved pet, which accompanied her everywhere she went; the dog was fed and treated in accordance with special rules for dogs, just as exquisitely as an heir to a title and fortune. Despite the owners’ devotion to their dogs, the objects of that affection often varied, as the fashion for “lap dogs” changed just as quickly as that for women’s dresses and hats

At one time, throughout the London season, the most beloved miniature dog was the Schipperke, mainly because of its short black coat. Long-haired dogs, on the other hand, were banished from parlors and boudoirs, as white fur on dresses and furniture was considered absolutely unacceptable. Even the poodle was deemed intolerable, as it required its own servant to groom its coat.

“Lap dogs” is an old-fashioned term for miniature dogs kept for amusement, and it draws a whimsical line between them and other pets. Such dogs were small enough to sit on one’s lap and were undoubtedly parlor pets, requiring care from their mistress or a well-trained maid.

The Skye Terrier soon became a popular favorite—a funny little ball of fur that was so short that its coat practically swept the floor as it strolled around in a laid-back manner. The Skye Terrier’s lack of height was more than made up for by its length; being three times as long as it was tall, it closely resembled an ermine. The average height of a Skye Terrier was 9–10 inches, and its length was 25–30 inches (23–25 cm and 63–76 cm, respectively), while its normal weight ranged from 16 to 17 pounds (7.3–7.7 kg). Although the Skye Terrier was a small dog with a distinctive build and was often called a “toy,” it was simply an excellent dog in every respect: full of life, a good watchdog, well-mannered, loving, of a peaceful disposition (except when it came to squirrels), and very fond of children. The Skye Terrier came in two varieties: one with charming, long, drooping ears and a tail that hung down just as gracefully, and the other with small, perky, erect ears. Both types had long, coarse coats which, fortunately, despite their inconvenient length, did not mat or curl. Dogs of this breed came in various coat colors: black with white hairs scattered across the body, yellowish-brown with black or dark brown hair tips, and light gray with black tips—the latter being the most attractive and popular.

In addition, there were also Yorkshire Terriers, though opinions differed as to whether they were suitable for living with a human family. The Yorkshire Terrier was one of those dogs whose ownership was frowned upon, since it required more care than even an ordinary child. Not only did it have to be bathed, dressed, and fed just as carefully as a child, but it also had to be brushed and groomed from the tips of its pointed ears all the way to its tail. The Yorkshire Terrier needed a dedicated servant who, every day, had to spend an hour or two grooming its coat and training it for the same amount of time. If the fur on its tail became matted—which it particularly enjoyed doing—the dog was subjected to endless combing; if the Yorkshire Terrier scratched itself—and why shouldn’t a dog do that?—it was made to wear gloves so that it could not alleviate its own torment. When the grueling ordeal of the morning grooming routine was over and the Yorkshire Terrier was thoroughly cleaned and combed, he was perfectly suited to spend the entire day—or whatever time remained—peacefully dozing on a satin pillow in his fabric-lined dog basket.

Queen Victoria’s Dogs

The Queen’s first beloved pet was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Dash. She received him as a gift when she was 11 years old. Dash witnessed Victoria’s coronation and died in 1840, deeply upsetting the Queen. Victoria personally composed the inscription on Dash’s tombstone, which read: “Affection—without selfishness, playfulness—without malice, loyalty—without deceit.”

The Queen popularized the Skye Terrier. The first Skye Terriers (named after the island of the same name in Scotland) arrived at her court in 1842. The breed almost instantly became a favorite among England’s high society.

In paintings and engravings, Victoria is often depicted accompanied by Skye Terriers, which followed her everywhere.

Scotland also sparked Queen Victoria’s love for another breed of dog—the collie (Scottish sheepdog). A pack of 80 collies lived at the royal residence at Balmoral Castle. Sharp was her favorite among them. Photographs of the queen with him were sold to the general public as carte-de-visite (small photographic portraits).

Toward the end of her life, Queen Victoria grew fond of Pomeranian Spitzes. Her favorite, Marco, brought from Florence, became a true celebrity and helped popularize the trend for toy breeds. Another Pomeranian, Turi, was by the Queen’s side when she passed away in January 1901. At the dying Queen’s request, Turi was called to her deathbed, which shows just how important dogs were to the monarch even in the final moments of her life.

During the Victorian era, dogs among the aristocracy evolved from functional animals into complex symbols of social status, wealth, and good taste. The choice of breed was just as important as the choice of clothing or a carriage—it spoke to the owner’s standing in society and financial means.

For an aristocratic gentleman, owning purebred hunting dogs was an integral part of his lifestyle. Moreover, historically, the ability to keep a hunting dog was a privilege of the aristocracy. Setters, beagles, and greyhounds remained in constant demand throughout the Victorian era.

Another key trend in aristocratic circles was the fashion for decorative dog breeds. For a Victorian society lady, owning a small dog was just as essential as having an opera purse or a calling card. In Victorian drawing rooms, these fashionable pets often served as living ornaments: one could see ladies showing off their lap dogs adorned with ribbons that matched their dresses.

Dogs Among the Middle Class

Among household pets, Japanese Spaniels—or, as they are also known, Japanese Hinas—were occasionally found. They were graceful in build, with snub noses, large dark eyes, long, drooping ears, and a curled tail, like that of a pug. Their coat was black and white and soft, just like silk. A Japanese Spaniel could weigh up to 8 pounds (3.6 kg), but dogs weighing up to 3 pounds (1.3 kg) were the most prized. The aristocratic variety had yellow fur instead of black, which particularly highlighted the perfect whiteness of their wavy coat. Both varieties were very rare and expensive even in Japan, and it was very difficult to find them in London. In the old days, only the noblest were allowed to own Japanese Chin. These little dogs were the most intelligent among their kind, loving and extremely sensitive. They were also very active and the most attractive pets. They were given the softest pillows, the most comfortable quarters, and the finest treats.

As prosperity grew, the middle class began to actively emulate the aristocracy, including in their dog-keeping practices. A dog in the home became a symbol of comfort, stability, and sentimental attachment—qualities so highly valued in the Victorian era.

However, unlike the purely decorative dogs of the aristocracy or the strictly working dogs of farmers, middle-class dogs were often multifunctional. They served as companions for wives, who spent most of their days at home.

Although police forces were already active in cities, a small but alert terrier, capable of barking at the sight of a stranger, was by no means superfluous. It served as a living “alarm system,” guarding property—another important pillar of the middle-class worldview.

With the advent of dog shows, participating in them became an engaging hobby that allowed people to make useful connections and compete with others over the quality of their pets.

Among the middle class, terriers were the undisputed favorites: Fox Terriers, Scottish Terriers, and Airedale Terriers.

On June 28–29, 1859, the world’s first official dog show took place in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The event was held at the New Corn Exchange and was a rather modest affair by today’s standards—only 60 dogs participated: 27 setters and 23 pointers.

The emergence of dog shows helped kickstart the process of establishing breed standards. The early shows faced serious challenges. Dogs were often “doctored”—their coats or eyes were dyed, their ears were cropped, or the animal was even replaced altogether. The lack of agreed-upon standards for different types of dogs created chaos in judging. Each show had its own standards committee, consisting of “gentlemen with knowledge of a specific class of dogs,” but this did not resolve the problem of differences between shows.

The situation changed with the founding of the English Kennel Club in 1873. The club published rules for dog shows, including the appointment of judges, and—adapting the concept of “points” from livestock shows—proposed specific shapes, sizes, and colors for various parts of a dog’s anatomy.

Dog shows radically changed the approach to dog breeding. While the traditional emphasis had been on functionality—breeding dogs capable of performing specific tasks—in the 19th century, with the emergence of Victorian dog enthusiasts, the focus shifted to creating the “ideal physical specimen.” Breed clubs established detailed standards that precisely defined what the ideal pointer, bulldog, or foxhound should look like. They identified dogs that met these criteria and officially registered them as representatives of their respective breeds.

Middle-class pet owners purchased dogs with carefully documented pedigrees from breeders. These dogs offered their owners more than just utility or companionship—they offered prestige. Purebred pets became status symbols—no one wanted to be seen walking a mutt!