Picture it: Victorian England, 1700s. There’s no electricity, internet––no modern-day appliances. So, how were people expected to ensure their meat was thoroughly cooked? By using turnspit dogs, of course! These dogs ran in devices that resembled hamster wheels, turning the gears that would rotate rotisserie chicken and other meat over an open flame.
So, what happened to them? And what kind of lives did turnspit dogs have? Read on to learn more.
Turnspit Dogs Were Cheap Labor, Not Pets
Kitchens prior to the advent of modern-day technology were cavernous, stuffy places with poor ventilation. Often, people toiled for days to create meals that most of us wouldn’t think twice about popping in the microwave. Turnspit dogs were used to help speed up the process of cooking by, again, running in giant wheels to turn food over a spit (an open flame).
The unfortunate news is that, as one can imagine, turnspit dogs did not enjoy a good quality of life. They weren’t beloved pets; they were seen as kitchen utensils, only taken out of their cages when needed to operate a turnspit. While historians are divided over the breed of turnspit dogs, they were likely terrier mixes. Some sources have linked these dogs to the Glen of Imaal Terrier, a medium-sized, scruffy dog hailing from Ireland.
A publication from 1809 describes turnspit dogs as having sooty, dirty coats, usually gray or black. They had short, crooked legs, although it’s unclear whether dogs were bred for this trait or suffered deformities from around-the-clock labor. National Public Radio (NPR) suggests that turnspit dogs may have had docked tails to distinguish them from pets. A side note: the practice of docking and cropping is controversial, as it’s considered an unnecessary procedure that unnecessarily alters a dog’s body.
When turnspit dogs weren’t running in wheels, they were sometimes used as foot warmers! It’s also said that Queen Victoria kept retired turnspit dogs as pets. A lover of animals, she reigned from 1837 to 1901. Some dog breeds she kept included a Pomeranian (who lay beside her when she died), Skye Terrier, and Pug.
So, What Happened to Turnspit Dogs?
The short answer is that with technological advances, turnspit dogs were no longer needed by 1900. Kitchen technology began relying on alternative forms of energy (such as electricity, gas, and steam) to operate. So, people stopped breeding turnspit dogs, and soon, they fell out of fashion. This is bittersweet. It’s always unfortunate when a dog breed goes extinct, but let’s face it: these dogs were not well-treated.
Today, there is just one turnspit dog left. Meet Whiskey, a taxidermied turnspit dog that resides at the Abergavenny Museum in Wales. This small dog looks like a cross between a Dachshund and small terrier. Unlike the wirehaired turnspit dogs described by many historians, Whiskey looks as though he has soft fur, plush to the touch. He also appears to have chondrodysplasia, a form of dwarfism. This condition is why some breeds, such as Dachshunds, Corgis, and Basset Hounds, are low to the ground.
One Good Thing Came from Turnspit Dogs
No, we’re not talking about perfectly cooked rotisserie chickens: we’re talking about the foundation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). The founder of the organization was appalled by the discovery of turnspit dogs being used in Manhattan hotels, and afterward made it his mission to prevent animal abuse and neglect. Today, along with the SPCA, there are countless organizations that dedicate themselves to ensuring that turnspit dogs never make a comeback. While many dogs are still used for working purposes today, there are many protections in place that ensure they have a good quality of life and safe working conditions.
Other Dogs Used for Now Non-Existent Jobs
Throughout history, humankind has used dogs for many jobs, from rescuing missing people to hunting large animals. However, like running in a mechanical wheel to operate a spit, some of these jobs have fallen out of fashion—pushing some dog breeds to the brink of extinction. These breeds include:
- Otterhounds. These large, scruffy dogs were bred for the now-outlawed practice of hunting otters. They were popular in medieval times and maintained their usefulness until otters were declared a protected species in the early 1900s. Today, out of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) 201 registered breeds, Otterhounds rank 189th in popularity.
- Dalmatians. Dalmatians were commonly used to guard the horses that pulled fire engines. Because one-third of Dalmatians have some form of deafness, they’re not easily frightened by the loud noises that accompany chaotic events. However, with the invention of fire trucks, Dalmatians are falling out of fashion in firehouses. Still, unlike the Otterhound, they’ve maintained their popularity, ranking 47th out of the AKC’s 201 breeds.
- Old English Bulldogs. These squat, flat-faced dogs were used for bullbaiting in this now-outlawed sport. Today these dogs are popular pets for people who live in apartments and other small spaces.
Could Turnspit Dogs Make a Comeback?
Even if turnspit dogs were bred and worked in humane conditions, there’s no need for them. Even basic, bottom-of-the-line appliances have more power and control than an antiquated turnspit. Still, people are still breeding dogs for unique purposes. For instance:
- Doodle mixes are becoming popular, allowing people with allergies to own dogs that don’t cause sneezing, coughing, and other flare-ups. While no dog is truly hypoallergenic, these dogs are known for their plush, low-shedding coats.
- Many people are enamored by the noble, dignified Borzoi, but unfortunately, they’re not known for living long lives. Enter the Silken Windhound, a pint-sized version of the Russian Wolfhound, created by mixing Borzoi, Whippets, and Shetland Sheepdogs. These mixes can live longer lives and need less space to thrive.
The turnspit dog is a perfect example of how people once used dogs for less-than-savory purposes. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way since then. The dogs of today are companions and family members—not kitchen appliances!
