This week I took my four-month-old Yorkshire Terrier Boudicca (aka Boo) for her first puppy swimming lesson. It may surprise you to know that not all dogs swim the first time they encounter water. Even a Labrador puppy may panic the first time they fall into a pool or pond, with disastrous results. Therefore, I decided…
The Yorkshire Terrier is a Victorian canine breed developed in my home county of Yorkshire. In the mid-nineteenth century, mill workers bred a small, energetic dog to combat the rats that ran rampant in the cotton and wool mills. The Yorkshire Terrier’s long, silky coat and bright, inquisitive character led to the breed becoming popular…
The Victorian preoccupation with scientific progress underlies the enormous catalog of animal paintings produced in the nineteenth century. A new understanding of the science of biology led to the development of specialized animal breeds both domestic and agricultural. Immortalizing the new breeds in oil paintings and engravings reflected the physical changes of the breeds….