Dogs in the middle ages

My wife and I share our lives with four Akitas...she trains and shows them in various disciplines...I get to enjoy their company...here is some information on dogs in the middle ages:

Feeding

Dogs were generally fed on bread, sometimes with blood or bits of meat mixed in to maintain health, especially if the dog were sick.

Meat was generally restricted to a reward after a successful hunt, however, in order to encourage the dogs to be ferocious and tenacious.

BREEDS

Most dogs would have been mongrels of one sort or another, however the various traits of certain types of dog were already highly valued.

Medieval dogs were not thought of in terms of breeds, but rather in terms of functions.

In appearance, the dogs took a number of forms; retriever sized long muzzled hounds, heavily built greyhounds, border collies, alsatian crosses and some forms of 'lap dog', probably small mongrels

Greyhound [Levrie]

Foremost among the hunting breeds was the greyhound.

A very ancient breed; in earlier times a greyhound was worth more than a serf. They were used for hunting and coursing because of their speed.

The greyhound had a peerless reputation among the medievals for its speed and for taking down quarry.

This breed was valued first and foremost for its speed, but also for its ability to attack and take down the game.

Since the greyhound did not have much stamina, it was essential that it be not released before the quarry was in sight, toward the end of the hunt.

Furthermore, greyhounds, though aggressive hunters, were valued for their docile temper at home, and often allowed inside as pets.

Bloodhound [Lymer]

Used to hunt wild boar and stag.

It was mostly prized for its scenting ability. Originally called a Lymehound, the Lymer was the leash securing it to the harbourer or dog handler.

Handled on a long leash, the lymer would be used to find the lay of the game before the hunt even started, and it was therefore important that, in addition to having a good nose, it remained quiet.

Silence in the lymer was achieved through a combination of breeding and training.

It was mostly prized for its scenting ability.

Talbot Hound

Talbot Hounds were brought to England from France during the Norman conquest and are considered the ancestors of the Southern Hound, the modern Beagle and the Foxhound. It was also a name often used as a given name to a dog. It is extinct today and appears to have had much in common with the bloodhound, and was probably white, being heavier in build than its descendants.

Alaunts

The alaunt, or alant, was a somewhat more robust animal than the greyhound, and therefore used against larger game, such as bears or boars. The alaunt was considered a reckless animal, and had been known to attack domestic animals, or even its owner.

Alaunts were the largest and heaviest of these, guarding the houses and flocks of their owners.

Their size, weight and powerful jaws made them a popular choice as attack dogs in the brutal pastimes of bear-baiting and bull-baiting.

They could also be used for hunting.

The alaunt, or alant, was a somewhat more robust animal than the greyhound, and therefore used against larger game, such as bears or boars. The alaunt was considered a reckless animal, and had been known to attack domestic animals, or even its owner.

What denotes the Alaunt seems to be that it is a biting and holding dog. It grabs the prey and holds it until its master comes. They were used in the hunt but notoriously hard to handle due to their aggressiveness:

“Alauntes will run gladly and bite the horse. Also they run at oxen and sheep, and swine, and at all other beasts, or at men or at other hounds. For men have seen alauntes slay their masters. In all manner of ways alauntes are treacherous and evil understanding, and more foolish and more harebrained than any other kind of hound.”

In France, Alaunts were separated into three main categories, based on physical appearance and the duties they performed:

1. The lightest type was the Alaunt Gentil, a greyhound-like dog, a lither, faster variant with much in common with the greyhound, which eventually became assimilated into the local hunting breeds with the Alaunt Veantre.

2. The original mastiff variety, known as the Alaunt de Boucherie, used to guard livestock was crucial in the development of the fighting and baiting dogs of France.

3. the Alaunt Vautre [Veantre], an aggressive hunting dog, also known as the running mastiff or as a boarhound. It was a cross between the lighter Gentil for its speed and the heavy de Bucherie. an aggressive hunting dog, also known as the running mastiff or as a boarhound. It was a cross between the lighter Gentil for its speed and the heavy de Bucherie.

The Alaunt de Bucherie is the progenitor of the mastiff and bull breeds.

Mastiff

The mastiff was an even more rugged breed, and though also used on the larger game, was mostly considered useful as a guard-dog.

The mastiff was a mixbreed (Mestiff), called a mongrel, and it was not considered a good dog for hunting. “They be of a churlish nature and ugly shape”.

The French matins were generally big, hardy dogs, somewhat light in the body, with long heads, pointed muzzles, flattened forehead, and semi-pendant ears ; some were rough and others smooth coated.

Edward Thinks it might be a good dog for those that just hunt meat for the household. In some ways they seem to share characteristics with the alaunt, but have more guard-instinct in them.

The mastiff was a mix breed (Mestiff), called a mongrel, and it was not considered a good dog for hunting.

The French matins were generally big, hardy dogs, somewhat light in the body, with long heads, pointed muzzles, flattened forehead, and semi-pendant ears ; some were rough and others smooth coated.

Historically, these sighthounds were used primarily for hunting in the open where their keen eyesight is valuable

Running Hounds

What all these dogs lacked was the ability to follow the scent of the quarry, and run it down.

For this purpose the running-hound was used. The running-hound was somewhat similar to today’s foxhound. This dog had, as the name indicates, excellent stamina, as well as a good nose.

Other Hunting Dogs

Other dogs used for hunting were the kennet (a small hunting dog, from ONF 'kenet', a diminutive of 'chien'), the terrier, the harrier and the spaniel.

Basset

Basset bred by monks in France to hunt rabbit in heavy cover where their short legs and powerful bodies were an advantage. ‘Bas’ means low.

Beagle

Beagle known as “chien” or little dog

This breed predates the Romans and may be very ancient indeed.

It was used to hunt the hare which does not go to ground as the rabbit does. The beagle’s tendency to ‘sing’ when it has the scent of its prey enabled a canny hunter who knew the terrain to guess where the hare might double back.