Today is National Dog Day.
Wales' tradition as a nation of dog lovers has its origins in their invaluable assistance in the hunting and herding of animals over Wales' rocky and mountainous terrain.
According to a Welsh legend, Gelert was the favourite hunting hound of Llywelyn the Great. His story tells us that, tragically, Llywelyn killed Gelert with his sword after mistakingly thinking that the dog had attacked his baby son. Immediately after a baby's cry was heard from under a pile of bedding that had been dispersed from the overturned cradle and when Llywelyn investigated he saw his son alive and lying next to the body of a large wolf that Gelert had slain. Llywelyn was devastated that he had killed his loyal friend and it is said that he never smiled again.
One of Wales' most famous dogs, was Swansea Jack, a black retriever from Swansea, who regularly responded to cries of help from anyone in difficulty in the water of the docks and riverbanks of the city, bringing them to safety.
Dog breeds originating in Wales include;
Welsh Corgi - There are two separate breeds of corgi, the Cardigan and the Pembroke. Historically corgis were used as herding dogs for sheep, horses and cattle. They are referred to as 'heelers' as, to keep the larger animal moving, they would nip them at the heels. It is thought that the Viking settlers brought over the Cardigan Corgi from the 10th century and Flemish settlers, the Pembroke Corgi around the 12th century. Queen Elizabeth II is a well-known owner of Pembrokeshire Corgis. All of her corgis are descended from Susan, the corgi given to her on her 18th birthday.
Sealyham Terrier - This breed was developed by Captain John Edwardes of Sealyham House, near Wolfscastle in the mid 19th century. They were originally used to hunt small game and badgers. At one time, the Sealyham was a popular pet dog, with famous owners including Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Agatha Christie, Cary Grant, Alfred Hitchcock, King George V and Princess Margaret.
The Welsh Hound - This breed may well have originated from Segussi breed which existed in Roman times. Because of its speed and stamina, it was bred primarily as a hunting dog, typically in packs. However, it is also placid and friendly making it a good house pet. The 'Laws of Hywel Dda' (942 – 948 AD) give the value of a trained Welsh Hound as 240 pence and untrained as 120 pence. This compares with a pack horse valued at 120 pence.
Welsh Sheepdog - Traditionally these dogs were used by Welsh drovers taking cattle and sheep long distances to market.
Welsh Springer Spaniel - This breed was first recognised by The Kennel Club in 1902. It is thought to have originated from the Land Spaniel, recorded as early as 1570, which was used to spring game for hunters using falcons.
Welsh Terrier - These dogs were originally bred for hunting fox, rodents and badger. President John F Kennedy's most loyal companion was Charlie, his Welsh terrier.
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