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Dogs are our constant companions: models of loyalty and unconditional love for millions around the world. But these beloved animals are much more than just our pets – and our shared history is far richer and more complex than you might assume.
Here, historian and dog lover Chris Pearson reveals how the shifting fortunes of dogs hold a mirror to our changing society, from the evolution of breeding standards to the fight for animal rights. Wherever humans have gone, dogs have followed, changing size, appearance and even jobs along the way – from the forests of medieval Europe, where greyhounds chased down game for royalty, to the frontlines of twentieth-century conflicts, where dogs carried messages and hauled gun carriages.
Despite vast social change, however, the power of the human-canine bond has never diminished. By turns charming, thought-provoking and surprising, Collared reveals the fascinating tale of how we made the modern dog.
Chris Pearson is Professor of Environmental History at the University of Liverpool. A specialist in human-animal history, he is the author of Dogopolis and a contributor to Dog Hearted: Essays on Our Fierce and Familiar Companions. He is currently researching the lives of Indian street dogs in a project funded by the Wellcome Trust. He lives in Chester with his family and his Bedlington-Whippet, Cassie.
"An enthralling account of the transformation of dogdom from blue-collar worker to human alter ego. Essential reading, especially for anyone who added a dog to their family during lockdown"
– John Bradshaw, author of In Defence of Dogs
"From the caves to our sofas – the long and eventful canine journey explored with compelling anecdotes and deep affection. If we still had tails, they'd be wagging at this sweeping and enchanting account"
– Simon Garfield, author of Dog's Best Friend
"A fascinating read [...] a real and searching piece of social history that tells us perhaps more about ourselves than our canine companions. Chris Pearson is wonderfully unafraid of revealing some of the harder truths as well as the more uplifting elements of our relationships with dogs [...] intriguing, compelling"
– Ruth Goodman, author of How To Be a Victorian
"Collared absolutely thrilled me. Pearson nails the balancing act between dog lover and historian as he navigates tales of how dogs and humans are entwined: from canine workers to public health, lap dogs to lavatories. This is an essential deep-dive into how contemporary dogs came to live the good life"
– Jessica J. Lee, editor of Dog Hearted: Essays on Our Fierce and Familiar Companions
"Pearson's is a history of how dogs have shaped us, as much as how we have shaped them. As a historian and life-long dog lover, I couldn't put it down"
– Madeleine Pelling, author of Writing on the Wall
"Splendidly instructive and entertaining [...] every aspect of our long, close relationship with dogs – historical, political, military, emotional and more – is illuminated in this book in close, fascinating and often very funny detail in a way which will delight and intrigue anyone who loves dogs"
– Esther Woolfson
"A fascinating social history of humanity's most enduring inter-species relationship. The research is formidable, the writing accessible, and the tale always wags the academic dog"
– Alwyn Turner, author of Little Englanders
"A love letter to the dogs who share our lives, and how history made them"
– Fern Riddell, author of Sex: Lessons from History
"Pearson's dog-eye view is unflinching. Between brilliant anecdotes, he takes us through the best and the worst of human-dog history"
– Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of Starling Days
"Collared is the captivating tale mankind's oldest and most loyal companion. This meticulously researched book traces the evolution of dogs from ancient strays to prized pedigrees, revealing caring and working relationships between humans and their canine friends. From the development of various breeds and their specific roles in human society to the significance of the humble collar in the history of dog domestication, Chris Pearson highlights the unique bonds we share with our four-legged companions. The result is a celebration of the enduring and remarkable relationship between humans and dogs, making Collared a must-read for dog-fanciers and pet-owners alike"
– Emily Cockayne, author of Rummage
