What is the club policy on canine breeds? I know that life is tough on Pern (though, not as tough as it could be as there's bits and pieces of convenience making technology in use here and there) and that the lower classes might be too busy for a lapdog, but does that mean that no one breeds lapdogs? I, personally, have a difficult time imagining it. There were people breeding lap and toy dogs for nobles to snuggle with during the middle ages, after all. Like the Bichon Frise - which got started in the 1300s and this thing on them I read said that they were spread all over the Mediterranean because sea captains kept them on board to buy favors from noble ladies with. And later, when royalty went out of favor, they became favored circus dogs.
So, yeah, if little lap dogs could be bred and enjoyed during the plague and war filled middle ages, they could on Pern, I think!
The reason I bring this up, is I have an idea in mind for when SWE becomes the bonus location (I'm going to be pitching the full idea to the Council, of course) but first I wanted to see if small, cute, pointless except for entertaining and being lovable, canine breeds were permitted. The gist of the idea is that of a band of traveling performers - like a circus. None of them are actual harpers, though a few might've gotten some training as youths. Actual harpers might even look down on them, that'd be fun. Anyway, besides traveling around to Gathers and spending rest days at major Holds providing overpriced and pointless entertainment (which may or may not be welcome - sort of like circuses back in the day) they also breed and train small dogs for show, and of course, if any Ladies or well off crafter's wives found them irresistible (and since they're bred to be adorable, they would), well, that's profitable too.
I will, of course, be pitching my 'circus troupe' idea either way, but I think it would be added fun with the little canines, so I wanted to see about that first. :D
I think this is one that the Council really needs to talk about. So it might take a couple days to get back to you about this ;)
That's cool! :D
If you are given the go ahead on this, let me know! It sounds like fun - if you'd like to have me along for the ride.
Dawn
Some lapdogs weren't originally lap dogs. Dachsunds were bred to hunt Badgers while rat terriers to hunt, you guessed it, rats - and other vermin and were also used as watch dogs, surprisingly enough. :)
I had read that about weenie dogs being bred to hunt badgers! :bounce:
I'd also be interested in getting in on this... I do kinda imagine there being some small dogs around already to go after tunnel snakes and the like perhaps... however, I do picture them as very mutty-scruffy things... bred to hunt, rather then for looks.
Why would they necessarily need to be scruffy and mutty? Dachsunds aren't particularly scruffy or mutty.
And dogs bred to entertain and tempt rich ladies would, by definition, need to be attractive and adorable.
yorkies were ratters too. yay for small dogs having purposes.
The Council has discussed this, and this is pretty much what we've come up with:
First, as far as lap dogs, there were smaller breeds bred on Pern to combat Tunnel snakes. As people moved into caves and homes, however, those canines were not needed as much. Felines were probably more suited to catching them indoors. Since those smaller dogs had no purpose any longer (and at that time they didn't have the resources to keep around animals with no purpose), they probably would have been bred with larger breeds in order to make a canine that could serve a purpose (big enough to turn the spits in the kitchens, herding, guarding, etc). However, it's possible that someone who was very rich could have decided to waste valuable resources on a useless pet (not saying anything about my personal feelings towards yappy dogs, just saying they weren't there to earn their keep in the usual way). So, there probably are some dogs small enough to be considered "lap dogs".
However, these dogs would be very expensive and generally not sought after. They wouldn't be a pet that just a Holder would have. It would have to be someone with a lot of marks. Also as such, it's improbable that a trader would waste time on a canine that valuable to train it to do tricks. They could probably make a lot more marks by selling it than by keeping it.
As far as "circuses", the Council was asked that question a long time ago, and the conclusion that we came to at that time still stands - there are no circuses in Triad's Pern. There are a few reasons for that. We felt that the population would not be large enough to support them. Also, if there HAD been circuses at one time, they probably would have been the first people to die out in any form of the Plague that came through during the last Interval and would have been bared from any Holds for fear of what they were bringing in with them, and therefore would have died out. So there are no circuses.
But, that is not to say that a trader can't make a few extra marks here and there with some kind of gimmick. They might have a firelizard or canine (of a regular breed) who can do tricks. Or they might have some juggling or acrobatic skills. However, that is a side job, not their main job. And they wouldn't have a whole wagon full of canines, because remember, they would have to FEED all of them while traveling great distances. They probably wouldn't make enough off of them to make it worth it.
So, to sum up - Extremely expensive little yappy dogs - Ok. Circuses - Not ok. Canines doing tricks - Ok. A pack of canines doing tricks - Not ok.
Ah, well. Thanks for the reply! I don't think I necessarily agree with you all about all the points on the dogs and I'm disappointed about the circus, but it's all good. :D