A Dog Collar Museum spanning five centuries from Medieval Times (no, not the restaurant) to the Victorian Era can be found at Leeds Castle in Kent. Some would say this is pointless and somewhat ridiculous, but it can be really interesting to learn the history of a particular object through the ages.
Collars originally started to protect dogs from wolves, bears and wild boar while hunting. Can you imagine your toy poodle in a broad iron collar covered in spikes? Engraved silver collars were common in the 18th-19th centuries. One inscription says, ‘I am Mr Pratt’s Dog, King St, Nr Wokingham, Berks. Whose Dog are You?’
