In praise of medieval dogs

[Imperial Dave]

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/dogs-middle-ages-0020260

Woof

[Nick Harbud]

Where does Baldrick fit within the hierarchy?   

[Imperial Dave]

Pond scum 

[Keraunos]

Fascinating the use of mongrels to turn the spits in the kitchen.  The only recorded use of a steam engine between Hero of Alexandria and Newcommen that I have come across was an ingenious Turkish food merchant in 17th century Istanbul who developed one to turn his Kebab spit!  Evenly cooked food is clearly a burning issue for inventors.

[Imperial Dave]

Very important stuff clearly 

[DBS]

IIRC, there is the argument that two distinct classes of dogs are clearly depicted on the Bayeux Tapestry; smaller tracker dogs, head down, sniffing, and big hounds, head up, heavy collars. In modern British military vernacular, cute, playful "wagtail" sniffers, vs decidedly uncute, insanely aggressive, "furry crocodiles / land sharks."

[Imperial Dave]

called Spike or Butch