Dogs have been man’s best friends for centuries. They are loyal, protective, and playful in the modern age. But how were dogs treated in different eras? While we could examine different pieces of literature to understand how owners loved their dogs, the Renaissance grants us a unique opportunity to see how pet owners wanted their furry companions to be viewed for centuries after they were gone. Taylor Wagmore examines the pups and the mutts painted by the finest Renaissance painters in her book, “Renaissance Dogs: A Litter of Hilarious Pups, Mutts, and Hounds.”

I would like to thank Ten Speed Press and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. Last year, I read a similar book about medieval cats in artwork, since I am a cat owner of an orange tabby named Colby. I thought it was only fair to read a book about Renaissance dogs this year. 

Since this book is mostly images and silly captions, I will keep this review relatively short. The paintings included in this book were beautiful, paired with some interesting factoids. The captions that Wagmore included, while humorous, were often distracting and felt unnecessary at times. Overall, this was an okay read. It feels more like a coffee table book instead of a serious academic book. If you want a novelty book for those who love the Renaissance and dogs, you might enjoy “Renaissance Dogs: A Litter of Hilarious Pups, Mutts, and Hounds” by Taylor Wagmore.