The history of pet keeping goes far back in history, maybe back to the cave man age. Archaeologists suggest that dogs may have been pets as far back as 12.000 years. Just pets or maybe, like today, kept for hunting and personal protection.
Throughout Britain pets kept for hunting and for personal companionship. This was way back in the 17th and 18th centuries. Aristocrats kept dogs for friendship and hunting showing others that the owners were of the elite crowd of society. Soon, by the 19th century, the middle class and upper middle class of society began keeping pets also. This seemed to be a sign of “movin on up” in society.
Popularity Grows in History of Pet Keeping
Having pets became even more popular during the 1800’s into the 20th century. They became worth more moneywise and also looked good as a decorative object with their owners. Pets became a fixture in a lot of households during this time. So some people saw an opportunity to cash in on the pet market and vendors, as many as 20,000, in London were soon in the pet business. This caused a new demand for “pet products” and even guides on how to keep and care for your pets. So it grew into a big business.
And of course the popularity of pets in the history of pet keeping and the big business they created, out came the underhanded people that always show up trying to make an under handed profit. They began burglarizing and stealing pets from well off owners that had become very attached to their pets. These actually known as professional dog stealers. They would steal a dog and hold it for ransom. As the dogs had really increased in value by that time. Soon the pets included in legal terms as property of their owners and laws created to more severely punish the burglers and thieves.
Breeds and Pedigrees
Dogs became categorized by their breed or pedigree, some breeds being worth more than others, and also held more of a cultural and social standing for the owners. But the middle class still socialized with the upper class because they owned and cared for their dogs sufficiently. One would rise up in respectability by being able to care for their dogs.
Soon dog owners would want to show their dogs and compete them against others. The very 1st dog show held in Newcastle June 28th 1859 and was mostly sporting and hunting dog breeds. More and more pet owners were eager to have their dogs compete and became included in the dog shows. The very first big dog show held in Chelsea in 1863 and over 1,000 dogs entered into the program. So to make things fair and have sort of a governing body for dog shows, The Kennel Club was created in 1873. They even produced a book of policies called the Stud Book and a national registry system for pure bred dogs. This really got dog shows off and running.
Check back for more interesting articles about pets right here in the very near future.
More Evolution of Pets
More evolution of pets also retreats back to the era some 12,000 years ago. Animals as pets used for food, clothing, transportation, herding and even for religious worship along with personal companionship. Read more HERE.
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