William Secord is the first author to explore the presentation of the dog, from its origins in Greek, Roman and later European art, to the remarkable paintings of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries up to modern times. In this splendid work he traces the evolution of some fifty breeds, using carefully selected illustrations by outstanding nineteenth and twentieth century artists, ranging from depictions of hounds and sporting dogs in the field to Victorian portraits of pampered pets and highly-bred favourites. From the diminutive chihuahua to the massive St Bernard, this fascinating account of most of the popular breeds provides an original and penetrating artistic record of mankind's faithful companions. It is also an invaluable reference work about the many superb painters who specialised in dog painting, providing an essential index for art historians, dealers and galleries requiring a directory of names and examples of the exponents of this popular genre.