Medieval Dogs - Tapa dura

Dogs: man's best friend, both today and in the Middle Ages. This charming gift book presents images of dogs from medieval manuscripts alongside fascinating, strange and humorous stories - from the keen and agile hunting hound to the cosseted and overweight lapdog. The book features medieval dog names, canine loyalty, the assorted breeds of dogs, how to feed - and overfeed! - your dog in the Middle Ages, which saints are connected to dogs, the mysterious dog-headed race of people, how to train a guard dog, the (unsuccessful) fight against the keeping of dogs in monasteries and nunneries, royal dog collars, dogs in beds and begging scraps at the table, and the care of dogs in sickness and health (including some veterinary practices not to be attempted nowdays!). The stories are drawn from a wealth of medieval sources, and the book also features wonderful images of dogs from bestiaries, astrological treatises, travel accounts and many other rare and beautiful manuscripts.

Kathleen Walker-Meikle is a Wellcome Trust research fellow at the University of York, studying animals and medicine in the Middle Ages. Her previous books include Medieval Cats (British Library, 2011).