The History of DOGS

The History of DOGS

From: Dog History 101, 

The question remains:

If domesticated dogs have been around since about 12,000 B.C.,

when did humans begin to practice dog grooming?

Did cavemen set up shop in fissures and barter puppy clips? 

Not likely. The first instance is surely not documented. Maybe it consisted of matted patches of fur cut with sharpened whalebone, or yeast-filled ears cleaned with a cloth woven from animal fur?

What we do know is that documentation and depictions of dogs serving as princes and princesses of their owners' castles exist as far back as 4240 B.C. And, as you may imagine, they were not akin to Tramp. I'd bet they were more the class of Lady!

In 17th Century France, the poodle became the official dog of Louis XV's court, awarding her the rags-to-riches term "French Poodle". Many of the dos that the poodle donned long ago still live today - in the Continental and English Saddle clips. Around that same time, Terriers were considered to be prettier when their coats were trimmed of excess wiry hair.

In the 19th Century, the first documentation of how-to grooming guides serves as evidence of washing, trimming, and general maintenance of the aristocratic dog. Paintings from that same period depict both a lady shearing her companion and a professional performing the same in a village marketplace.

No matter the exact point in time when professional dog grooming was born, we can all agree - it's been a doggone long time. Our own hairstyles have changed - from the powdered wig to the mullet to the stacked bob. Our fashions have evolved from buffalo hides to hoop skirts to leg warmers to low-rise jeans. But one glance at a dated depiction of man and his best friend will reveal that dog style has changed little. In fact, if you look hard enough, you're likely to find a painting of a man wearing a beaver fur hat and a frock coat, accompanied by a little Yorkshire Terrier that eerily resembles your own little Yorkie.

Dog grooming is an art that has spanned centuries - and one that has never gone out of style.