Our wants and needs don't always align
The Middle Ages are also known as the Dark Ages, but how dark were they for pets, really? Luckily, there are still a few documents around that give us some insight as to how pets were perceived and treated in medieval times. In fact, there were even laws that applied to pets, so it seems like they were taken seriously, at least in some parts of the world.
Curious to find out what pieces of advice people had back then regarding pets? Click on!
Don’t want your dog to grow bigger than your hand? One 15th-century manuscript has the answer to keep your pooch perpetually small. Hint: it’s all about a dirty and soggy bread diet.
Just soak bread in water and feed it to your dog. But don’t just use any water—you have to soak the bread in the water you wash your hands with!
Pets were not common among men in medieval times. Aristocratic women, on the other hand, would have them. And this included some unusual ones, such as monkeys and exotic birds.
If, however, you were a member of the clergy, then it would be okay to own a pet. This is because aristocratic ladies and clergymen would spend a lot of time indoors, and this was where most pets were kept.
A small dog is not only great company, but it can also be used as a heating pad. It was recommended that owners would press the animals against their bodies. This apparently helped dealing with pain and sickness.
A jewel-encrusted collar made of gold or silver is the way to go, if you want to show off how wealthy you are. It’s all about the accessories, right?
A medieval Irish document gives some insight into the value of pets back then. For instance, a cat that could multitask (i.e. purr and hunt mice) was worth three cows! Though the value of the feline would drop to just 1.5 cows if he was lazy and didn’t like to chase rodents.
Welsh King Hywel Dda had a peculiar way of valuing cats: kittens were worth one penny until they opened their eyes, and would increase in value as they got older and their feline characteristics evolved. A cat’s value could go up to four pence when/if he started hunting.
A medieval German law valued pets so much that if someone killed a cat, they had to pay the cat’s owner 60 bushels of grain.
Dogs, however, were priced based on their owner’s status (i.e. a nobleman’s dog would be worth a lot more than one belonging to a peasant).
Sure, they weren’t as pampered as the house pets mentioned before, but they did keep animals for both hunting and sport. From falconry birds to hunting dogs and, of course, horses, these were all kept outside of the house.
Everyone likes bread, right? Animals included, of course. They also indulged in a bit of meat, milk, and sometimes even porridge. Many of these pets had a richer diet than many people back then.
According to the collection of medieval popular beliefs ‘The Distaff Gospels,’ all you have to do is give your dog a bit of roasted cheese to stop him barking.
But there’s more! You also need to say the phrase “In camo et freno, et cetera” at the same time. This is essentially a shortened version of a psalm from the Bible that roughly translates to “with bit and bridle bind fast their jaws who come not near to thee.”
Fifteenth-century etiquette rules say that dogs should be kept out of the dining hall. Or as they used to say, do not make a dog “thi felow at the tabull round.” Get it?
In the winter, dogs should eat at sunset, so that they are fit and ready to go hunting the following day. As for spring and summer, feed your dog small meals multiple times per day.
A fat pet is a reflection of owners who care more for their pets than for poor people. As such, overfeeding was frowned upon in the Middle Ages.
Petting a dog in 15th-century Europe would have to be done sparingly. In fact, some claimed that too much petting would make the dogs lose their tracking ability.
This was quite the opposite in Islamic countries, where the petting and grooming of dogs was encouraged.
During training, hunters were advised to address their dogs as “brother” or “friend.” It’s all about positive reinforcement, right?
Well, sort of. Men wouldn’t own cats, but they could appreciate them. “Young men should not hate cats because they are the cause of great happiness and can assist in achieving success in matters of love with young and charming ladies,” according to the ‘The Distaff Gospels.’
The way to treat a dog’s wound with worms is to pour wild tansy juice in it. If your pooch happens to have a swollen limb, just apply a compress of ground marshmallow and water on it. Even dogs with rabies can be cured by simply drinking from a trivet...
Monkeys were kept as pets back in those days, and sometimes they’d bite! But fear not: if this happens to you, all you have to do is blend salt, onions, and honey, and put it on the wound.
According to the medieval Irish legal manuscript ‘Catṡlechta,’ a cat is not responsible for hurting someone accidentally who “had no business being there” while he was hunting a mouse or other rodent.
The secret is "to turn the cat three times around the pot hook and then rub his legs against their chimney wall." There, your cat won’t go anywhere after this!
Is your cat a sneaky thief? Here's how to change his behavior: rub his nose “three times in what it has damaged,” and he’ll never steal anything ever again.
How can a wife keep her husband focused on the family? Easy—just secretly put some of their dog’s urine in his beer or soup. That’s a whole new level of spiking!
Sources: (Mental Floss)
See also: The animals that sense disaster
The strangest medieval pet advice
For instance, there was a special diet trick to keep your dog small
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
The Middle Ages are also known as the Dark Ages, but how dark were they for pets, really? Luckily, there are still a few documents around that give us some insight as to how pets were perceived and treated in medieval times. In fact, there were even laws that applied to pets, so it seems like they were taken seriously, at least in some parts of the world.
Curious to find out what pieces of advice people had back then regarding pets? Click on!