The Turnspit Dog: The Forgotten Hero of the Kitchen

The partnership between dogs and humans has resulted in highly specialized dog breeds. Some breeds excel at hunting in general. Others have been bred to target small burrowing animals, while some focus their energies upon retrieving downed fowl. Some dogs have been bred to race. Others for protection. The list is endless.

None, however, can quite compare to the adorable and peculiar turnspit dog. Although now extinct, the turnspit was once as common in the kitchen as a microwave oven is today.

Also known as the Vernepator Cur, the turnspit was more than a companion; it was a vital part of the Renaissance kitchen. Not much taller than a loaf of bread, the dog served as a powerhouse by scampering inside a large hamster wheel which, in turn, rotated a spit over the fire. This freed housewives from having to oversee the cooking of the family’s roast, allowing them to focus on other responsibilities.

In our era of fancy gadgets, we can take a lot of pride in the latest kitchen hack. The turnspit dog was a true renovation for the overworked housewife. These canine marvels were specially bred for their unique physique and unwavering energy. With their elongated bodies, sturdy frames, and adorable short-crooked legs, they were the perfect fit for the job.

These pups were so beloved that even the great Bard himself, William Shakespeare, gave them a nod in his play, The Comedy of Errors. In it, Shakespeare described somebody as being a “curtailed dog fit only to run in a wheel.” The beloved pups even found their way into the heart of Queen Victoria. She kept several retired turnspits as royal pets.

Turnspits served another, unexpected function. Many families took them to church in the winter months to perform the role of foot warmers. Although well-behaved, their presence in the sanctuary caused an occasional disturbance. According to one account, the Bishop of Gloucester preached a sermon on the book of Ezekiel at a church in Bath. As he read from the Bible and said that Ezekiel saw “wheels within a wheel,” all the turnspits jumped to their feet and ran to the door, thinking they had been summoned for kitchen duty.

Despite their prevalence throughout England, the 19th century saw their numbers decline rapidly. Like many modern workers, the turnspits saw their jobs replaced by automation, thanks to the Industrial Revolution. The dogs were once a status symbol, but by the 1850s, they were associated with impoverished homes that could not afford the latest automated alternatives. As a result, by the turn of the 20th century, the once popular breed had become extinct.

The turnspit dog may have vanished from our kitchens, but their legacy lives on in the annals of history. From humble beginnings as the unsung heroes of roast dinners to fading into obscurity, these pint-sized pooches remind us of the curious ways humans and animals have worked together throughout the ages.

So, the next time you fire up your state-of-the-art oven or pop a meal in the microwave, take a moment to appreciate the paw-some pioneers who came before us. After all, who knows what other quirky culinary companions history has yet to reveal?

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