Dogs

The Chinese Year of the Dog was from 29 January 2006 until 17 February 2007. According to Chinese astrology, people born during the Year of the Dog are loyal, faithful, honest, discreet, fair-minded, practical, stubborn, temperamental, confident and eccentric.

The dog is also recognised as a symbol of loyalty and other noble characteristics in Western art and culture. Such is the importance of "man's best friend" that many artists have painted portraits of actual dogs, including popular family pets and well known working dogs.

Online exhibition

This online exhibition includes dogs and dog-related items from National Museums Liverpool’s collections. Some are real dogs, others are mythical, symbolic or merely decorative. Other items are simply named after or used by dogs and their owners.

Detail of 'Fidelity' by Briton Riviere
Fidelity
Briton Riviere

sniffer dog photo courtesy of Liverpool Daily Post & Echo
Sniffer dogs

photo of wooden toy dog
Wooden toy dogs

detail of spiked dog collar
Spiked dog collar

photo of brindle dog
Brindle dog

detail of 'His Turn Next' by Morgan
His Turn Next
Frederick Morgan

detail of bronze bust of Jet
Jet of Iada

photo of rope dog collar
Rope dog collar

detail of blue pot
Jasperware canister

detail of 'Besieged' by Elsley
Besieged
Arthur John Elsley

photo of stone dog
Stoneware greyhound fairings

detail of print of Dog Roses
Dog Roses


More dogs

You can see lots more dogs in our collections, why not have a look for them in the following paintings from the art galleries at National Museums Liverpool, or try to find some more yourself?

There are also dogfish swimming around in the Aquarium at World Museum Liverpool, although these are actually a type of small shark!


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