Mary Allen
Introduction: The Forgotten Working Dog
The history of working dogs is a fascinating but often overlooked aspect of human-animal relationships. While some breeds are still used for their original purposes today, others have been replaced by modern technology and left to obscurity. Among these forgotten working dogs are the Turnspit dogs, who played an essential role in the kitchens of the past.
Historical Context: The Role of Turnspit Dogs
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Turnspit dogs were a common sight in European kitchens. They were small, short-legged dogs with a long body and strong shoulders, bred specifically to turn the spit in a fireplace. The spit was a tool used to rotate meat evenly over an open flame, a necessary process for cooking large roasts. Turnspit dogs were the perfect size to fit inside the wheel of the spit and run in a continuous circle for hours at a time, making sure the meat was cooked to perfection.