Bologneser, Pudel und Windspiel in der Residenzstadt Wien: Hunde im "Wiener Diarium" des 18. Jahrhunderts

The primary source for the following paper is roughly one hundred notices for
lost dogs in Vienna printed between 1740 and 1816 in the Wiener Zeitung (until 1780 Wiener Diarium). Expensive dogs and small breeds in particular were sought through the announcement printed in this newspaper. Dog breeds such as greyhounds, poodles, Pomeranians, pugs and Bolognese gradually became fashionable in the residential city of Vienna in the 18th century. The notices detail coat patterns, colours, special features, and even collars. The high level of the owners’ emotional attachment to the dogs is also illustrated by the substantial finders’ fees – more than one owner was willing to pay roughly the equivalent of a servant’s annual salary for the return of their beloved pet. The situation in Vienna can be compared well to London’s “dog fancy” and the example of Gdansk in the 18th century.