Dogs as Pets

Dogs were saved from these cruel times partly thanks to monasteries that recognized that dog breeding was a good source of revenue. Many Saints in history actually are recognized for their breeding and developing of new breeds.

An eighth century man who became saint, Francois Hubert was one of those. An avid hunter, he didn't discover Christianity until a moment in the woods where he saw a shining cross above a deer. A voice called out, chastising him for hunting on the anniversary of Christ's death. Even after his wife died and he retired to a monastery, he continued to hunt and to breed his dogs. His dogs were the forerunner of today's Bloodhound. The hounds became so popular that nobility would bring their dogs to Mass with them. When the priests objected, the nobles would stand outside with the dogs in order to attend Mass. The Blessing of the Animals on the church steps still survives.

The bloodhounds Saint Hubert bred became known as Saint Hubert hounds, and he became known as the Patron Saint of Hunters. His feast day is November 3 and several European countries, including France, celebrate the blessing of the hounds on this day. The abbots in that same Ardennes abbey continued to breed these dogs even after Saint Hubert's death. In fact, the monastery was so known for their dogs that the King of France accepted three pairs of hounds each year. They were highly prized as gifts. In France, they still call these dogs "chien de Saint Hubert".