whatilearned
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turnspit_dog?wprov=sfla1
TIL about ‘Turnspit dogs’, an extinct breed of small dogs that were trained to evenly roast meat over a fire by turning a spit
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Interestingly, there were mechanical devices which were created that replaced the need of a dog. These devices were called jacks and included bottle, clock and steam jack.
Is this the origin of the Underdog?
lol
>The dogs were also taken to church to serve as foot warmers. One story says that during service at a church in Bath, the Bishop of Gloucester gave a sermon and uttered the line “It was then that Ezekiel saw the wheel…”. At the mention of the word “wheel” several turnspit dogs, who had been brought to church as foot warmers, ran for the door.[6]
I was picturing the dog turning a spit handle in its mouth until I read the Wikipedia page and now I feel like a dumbass.
/r/dogswithjobstakenbyautomation
The first hot dog?
the goodest boys
That’s one heck of a well-trained dog, turning spits with its little paws and *not* eating the meat.
I saw this on YouTube. I couldn’t believe it, poor dogs… but also kinda funny and extremely sad.
Chef Doggo!
Today, it is possible that the genes of the Turnspit dog still lives through a Welsh breed called the Bowsy Terrier. As for the Turnspit dog, the last known specimen was placed in a taxidermy exhibit at the Abergavenny Museum located in Wales.
I don’t have a Disney scene in my mind on this one. I fear most of these dogs led very sad and cruel lives.
Imagine how many Instagram BBQ influencers would have these little fuckers BBQ’ing with them if they still existed
Queen Victoria kept many retired turnspits.
Her biographers passed them off as a different breed and their names weren’t recorded in any official record as, say Hector and Islay were.
They were considered so lowly and common that no pedigree was ever assigned to them, yet they met all the breeding requirements.
Gooder Older Fashion AI
Not to be confused with Spitz. Who are arctic dogs.
Looks like my dog.
They certainly were not a breed in the modern sense, more like groups of dogs that were broadly physically suitable for the job. Although they may have been subjective to some degree of selective breeding they wouldnt constitute a breed as we know the term today