#typevs.breed

[caninesofthewest-blog]

“Sailor Jack, ship and dogs,” 1875.

In this early stereograph, a man named Sailor Jack is shown sitting on the front porch of fellow sailor Ben Holladay’s home near Lake Tahoe in California, with three dogs sitting and laying down at this feet. Next to him on the porch is a large naval reconstruction of a ship sending the impression this is a naval community. Although Sailor Jacks attire does resemble a traditional naval uniform, it is not a United States Navy uniform meaning he was likely a private sailor transporting goods and even possibly people. The dogs he is in the company of are mixed breeds that were likely his sailing companions as transporting goods long distances would be very lonely.

This item resides at the New York Public Library.

[caninesofthewest-blog]

“Roy Lee and Dogs,” 1909.

Photographed against his makeshift tent comprised of a tarp tied to the bottom of a wagon is Roy Lee, a shepherd working on the Baes family ranch on the Diamond Mountain Range bordering Utah and Colorado. It is interesting that he uses hound breeds other than collies or shepherds to herd sheep, which is very much the norm in the American old West. In the image description, Lee is noted to have been able to quickly and easily train any dog. Given the large carnivore straps behind the group, perhaps the purpose of Lee’s job was to keep the flock safe from large predators, resulting in his use of hounds.

This item resides at the Mountain West Digital Library.

[caninesofthewest-blog]

Type of dog versus breed of dog

During the late 19th/early 20th century dog owners began to move away from breeding preference rooted in skill or work type (ex. bear hunting, stag hunting, herding) towards preference based on aesthetic breed specifications. The Kennel Club was established in 1873 in London, England to define the standards of such breed specifications for governing and judging dog shows and trials.

[caninesofthewest-blog]

“Northern Surprise and Jessamy,” 1903.

This stereograph was taken at Lowes Kennels in Lawrence, Kansas depicting two top greyhounds, noted to be the sire and mother of America’s best coursing hounds. It is uncertain who the man in the image is, likely their owner, but he is wearing a U.S. Military standard issue hat implying he was a current or retired military officer. U.S. military officers formed a notable portion of greyhound owners engaged in coursing in the U.S. towards the end of the 19th century.

This item resides at the Library of Congress.