The Origins of Dog Training

  

The origins of dog training date back far into history. As a species, the dog’s ancestry dates back to about 15,000 years ago. As we know, the dog has played an important part in human civilization. Being among the first species to become domesticated, man and dog learned to live and work together, and the origins of dog training were established. The rise of the agricultural society further strengthened the bonds between man and dog and contributed to a more stable society.

What are some specific origins of dog training? Well, history shows us that the origin of earlier dog training was related to the work that each dog performed. Working dogs learned to obey commands from their master, as they helped herd sheep or cattle. Sporting dogs were trained to work in the forests or fields as hunting companions to bring home wild game.

In some cultures, dog training origins were task specific jobs-dogs were trained to haul sleds, pull food carts to villages, or provide protection against wild animals.

The Pointer is among the oldest of the sporting breed dogs and has been bred for many centuries to be a bird hunter. This magnificent dog has often been shown in paintings dating back to the 1650's.

The sporting dogs either point, scent, flush, or retrieve birds on land and in the water. Other dogs in this group include the Retrievers, the Setters, the Spaniels, the Vizsla, and the Weimaraner.  

Dog training originated slowly as an organized activity, and its origins date back to the late 1700's and the 1800's in England, where informal dog competitions sprang up. Many shows were held in local taverns, as townspeople turned out to cheer their favorite canines.

English Taverns such as The Blue Anchor hosted informal dog events, and served as the headquarters for the Toy Dog Club.


1859-First Organized "Dog Show"- "First dog show, held in Newcastle-on-Tyne, open to pointers and setters alone. Judges gave the prize to a liver-and-white dog."--Arkwright,1906,
The Pointer and His Predecessors

The origins of dog training were aided by these organized dog shows-dogs needed to learn how to behave! The first such show held in June 1859 featured sixty Pointers and Setters, the popular sporting dogs of that time period. In 1870 the National Dog Club Committee was formed to further discuss and legislate canine affairs. The outcome of these meetings in London marked the formation of the Kennel Club in 1873.

Rules and regulations were developed to provide standards in dog showing, and by 1900, Championship Shows and smaller informal shows gained in popularity.

The evolution of dog ownership and subsequent origins of dog training was spurred by American interest in dogs, which also focused on the sporting breeds, the popular dog of its time. Hounds were brought over during the early colonization of the United States and included canines from Ireland, England, and France.

President George Washington was among many of the early colonists who bred foxhounds. His kennel at Mount Vernon included dogs imported from both England and France.

Competitions became popular among the setters, pointers, and hounds. As it did in England, the informal organization of competitions and shows eventually led to the formation of a centralized kennel club. The American Kennel Club was established in 1884. With the evolution of dog
kennel clubs, dog training's origins were firmly in place by the 19th century.

Read about the origins of dog training and the history of the American Kennel Club.