Dog art is a timeless passion for collectors and fans of any breed
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Andrews McMeel Syndication
On any given day, a quick survey of eBay turns up thousands of items depicting cavalier King Charles spaniels: some new, some old, some valuable. The dedicated cavalier collector might find such items as a 19th-century oil painting, a 14-karat gold pendant, a vintage photograph of an early member of the breed, an antique hand-colored engraving, a bronze figurine, trade cards and advertising featuring the spaniels, a Wedgwood teapot with a spaniel finial or hand-painted china featuring the dogs.
Such items are the continuation of a long history of dogs depicted in paintings and statuary. Unlike many breeds, some of which have existed only for the past 70 to 100 years, spaniels of various types have been around for several centuries and were often depicted in oils, bronze and porcelain because they were popular with people who collected fine things.
Spaniels are far from the only breeds featured in fine art over the centuries. Pugs, various types of hunting dogs and other toy breeds such as papillons appeared frequently in portraits dating back centuries.
The glory days of dog art were in the 19th century, especially the latter half. English artists such as Maud Earl, Sir Edwin Landseer, John Emms and William Barraud were in high demand to commemorate the beloved pets of royalty, nobility and the rising middle class. Their work was exhibited in the Royal Academy, the Society of British Artists and on the walls of palaces, estates and homes.
The frequent depiction of dogs in art over the centuries is due not only to their association with people of wealth and celebrity, but also because they are interesting art subjects in their own right. After all, no two dogs, even of the same breed, are exactly alike. They have distinguishing features that pique the artist’s eye, whether it’s their silky feathering, their wrinkled faces or their beseeching eyes.
Artist Terry Albert of Bear Valley Springs, California, who works in acrylics, says, “I love painting a lot of detail on animals, especially the fur and the many directions it takes over the body.”
While dogs are commonly portrayed in paintings, figurines and sculptures are popular as well. The well-known Staffordshire Potteries in England produced models of a number of breeds, including poodles, spaniels, Dalmatians and pugs. A number of unusual examples are collected in the book “A-Z of Staffordshire Dogs: A Potted History” by Clive Mason Pope.
Other well-known pottery and porcelain factories that produced figures of dogs were England’s Minton factory and Chelsea factory, which produced pups in porcelain. In France, the Royal Factory at Vincennes produced such items as a pair of cupids riding dogs and bird dogs painted on cups and saucers.
Bronze is also an excellent medium for depicting dogs. It allows artists to create the sleek outlines of sighthounds, the contours of a pug or spaniel face and the musculature of sporting dogs.
Dogs remain a popular source of inspiration for artists today. And if you’re a new collector, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. A nice print or drawing can be just as meaningful as an oil painting or a bronze.
You’re also not limited to purebreds. Contemporary artists are undoubtedly creating art featuring doodles, puggles, morkies and more.
Buy what appeals to you, and seek out information about your breed in art, or the general history of dogs in art. It’s a fascinating topic and the subject of many books, such as “Dogs in Art” by Susie Green, “Dog Painting 1840-1940: A Social History of the Dog in Art” by William Secord and “The Dog: 5000 Years of the Dog in Art” by Tamsin Pickeral. And if YouTube is more your thing, art historian Regina Haggo takes viewers on a five-minute look at dogs in art through the ages at youtube.com/watch?v=an37J2vHbT0.
Q&A
Anesthesia safer
than you think
Q: My dog needs to have her teeth cleaned under anesthesia, and I’m so nervous. Is it really safe?
A: No anesthetic procedure, medication or even natural remedy can have a 100% guarantee of safety, but the anesthesia protocols veterinarians use now with pets have substantially reduced the risks, even with pets who are seniors or who have chronic illnesses.
Today’s techniques emphasize safety and comfort before, during and after anesthesia. They include pre-op testing to ensure that pets don’t have any underlying conditions that could cause problems; monitoring by specially trained veterinary technicians; and improved anesthesia drugs and techniques.
Modern anesthesia involves an individualized combination of injectable medications (that often combine anesthetic drugs and pain medication), anesthesia-inducing gas and oxygen, all of which contribute to your pet’s safety and well-being.
Use of intravenous fluids helps to maintain blood pressure and hydration, as well as flush the anesthetic from the body after the procedure is completed. And having an IV line in place allows the veterinarian to react rapidly with appropriate medication if there’s an emergency. Warming procedures such as heated towels or pads -- to maintain core body temperature, prevent organ damage and allow your pet to recover more smoothly -- are another safety and comfort measure.
You can take steps on your end to protect your pet by following your veterinarian’s directions not to feed your pet or give water after midnight prior to the procedure. That helps to prevent aspiration of food into the lungs during the procedure, which can have serious consequences. If you forget, always let your veterinarian know so they can either make allowances or reschedule the procedure.
While there can always be some risk with anesthesia, don’t let your fears keep you from providing your dog with treatment that can dramatically improve her quality of life. You’ll both be happier. Learn more here: fearfreehappyhomes.com/pet-experiencing-dental-pain-how-to-know-and-what-to-do-about-it. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Could your dog
donate blood?
-- Blood donors are often needed for humans after disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes, but did you know that dogs and cats need blood donors as well? Veterinary blood banks provide blood for pets, or some veterinary practices may maintain their own in-house blood bank. Feline donors often live at veterinary practices, where they receive lots of love and attention and often are adopted into forever homes after short periods of “work.” Canine blood donors must be large and healthy. They may live on the premises, but sometimes they are volunteers. Some veterinary practices offer discounts on care to their regular donors. If you want to know if there’s a pet blood donor program in your area, do an internet search for "canine blood donor" and your city and state.
-- You’re likely to see more and more of a small, cute dog called a Mi-Ki (pronounced “mee-kee”). The longhaired toy breed is gentle, affectionate, smart and playful, with a size range of 3 to 11 pounds. Created by crossing several small breeds -- Shih Tzu, papillon, Maltese, Yorkshire terrier, Japanese chin, Pekingese and Pomeranian -- the dogs have a silky single coat that comes in many colors, including cream, red, silver, black, white and apricot. Puppies may start out one color and change as they move toward adulthood. Some are parti-color, meaning their coats are white combined with another color. If you’re interested in one, buy from a breeder who does health testing and raises pups in the home with a good socialization program.
-- A top racing greyhound running at full speed can hit 45 mph. Racehorses can go just a little faster, with quarter horses being clocked at 55 mph and thoroughbreds at 44 mph. The cheetah can smoke them all, though, hitting 70 mph at full speed. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.