The wildly popular Netflix show, Bridgerton, is currently airing its third season, and viewers are once again transported to a fictionalized early 19th century England. In the spirit of immersing ourselves in this captivating period, let’s explore the kinds of pets that the nobility of this era kept.
Background
Around 26,000 years ago, humans first domesticated dogs. Since then, many other animals have become our companions, even living with us in our homes. The Georgians and Victorians, who lived during the 19th century, likewise kept many pets, both for companionship and as working animals.
Birds
Birds like canaries, finches, and doves were popular Victorian pets; particularly in homes that were too small for a dog or cat. Noble families even kept “exotic” birds, like parrots.
Fish
Household aquariums have been around for centuries, but rose to popularity in Europe during the 19th century. In fact, the word “aquarium” dates back to circa 1847.
Rabbits
Rabbits became popular pets during the Victorian era, even being bred for exhibitions and shows. Notably, Beatrix Potter kept rabbits as pets and wrote many children’s books wherein the protagonist was a rabbit, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
Cats
Cats weren’t always popular among the British upper class as they were considered working animals. The stigma eventually began to lift, in part due to Queen Victoria keeping cats as pets. Eventually, the “image” of a cat beside a fireplace became an idealistic representation of a happy home.
Horses
Horses were indispensable animals during the 19th century and every upper class family had at least a few. Aside from being utility and transport animals, which we’ll discuss shortly, horses participated in dressage, show jumping, racing, and hunting.
Dogs
They have been man’s best friend for centuries, and it was no different during the 1800s. In season 2 of Bridgerton, we are treated to seeing two noble pets, including Queen Charlotte’s pomeranian and Kate Sharma’s corgi named Newton (whose presence is a little less than historically accurate).
Working Pets
Today, we have machinery that does a lot of our heavy lifting, but 200 years ago, animals were used to help with many labour-intensive and niche tasks.
Messengers: Birds
Birds have been used as messengers for at least 3,000 years, including during the 19th century. Homing pigeons, in particular, were extensively used for military communications.
Pest Control: Cats
Many working class homes were constructed out of wood, and along with wood comes pests like insects and rodents. Cats were used as a means of controlling the populations of pests in and around homes.
Sport Shooting: Ponies & Dogs
Clay pigeon shooting was a common pastime of the British nobility in the 19th century. Accompanying them on these activities were gun dogs, who would carry their weapons, and ponies or horses, who they would ride around the estate.
Hunting: Dogs
Beyond just target practice, dogs also accompanied people on their real hunts. Hunting dogs could track scents and catch small mammals like hares and foxes.
Shepherding: Dogs
Still today, shepherd dogs are used to corral sheep in and out of enclosures and protect flocks against wild foxes.
Utility: Horses
Horses were incredibly important working animals during the 19th century in every industry. They were the primary form of transport ahead of trains, either having a solo rider or also pulling a carriage. They formed the cavalry in the military and accompanied soldiers out to battle. Further, they hauled carts of building materials, crops and produce, and other livestock, and hauled ploughs on farms.
Bonus Image
Our pets have been pampered for centuries.
Conclusion
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