Big Dogs, Small Dogs

Incredibly, all dogs--not just police and assistance breeds--once served a real purpose in society. Terriers were rat killers, dachshunds burrowed after badgers, and working dogs performed slave labor, pulling delivery carts and turning industrial revolution wheels. Even those miniature mutts posing on the laps of royalty in 18th century portraits had a bona tide function: attract fleas off the king and queen. This top-quality A&E documentary dons the Biography format to illustrate the Canis species' not always so illustrious past, using fossils and mummified carcasses to plot the dog's evolution from its wolf-like ancestors, and cave paintings, Egyptian idolatry, and Renaissance art to trace the progression of man's best friend into more recent times. At some point in the 19th century the concept of "pet" sprang forth and, well, you know the rest--gravy train, dog shows, dog Prozac, etc. Anyone who loves dogs will love this video, as the saying goes, which provides the max mix of history, trivia, and four-footed footage. Those amazing frisbee dogs are shown in glorious action, and presidential pooches, from George Washington's "dogges" to the incumbent (as of this writing) Buddy, are profiled as well. A good choice even if you already own this video's closest facsimile, National Geographic's 1989 Those Wonderful Dogs. Aud: P. (W. Pierce)