Show Some Restraint July 16, 2023

 The Museum of the Dog always has something interesting to see. Identity Restraint & the Art of the Dog Collar did not disappoint (although some of the collars were pretty scary.) Held in conjunction with the National Sporting Library and Museum in Middleburg, VA the exhibition brings together over 60 collars from the NSLM’s collection and 50 artworks belonging to the American Kennel Club and the AKC Museum of the Dog. The combination of the collars and artworks illustrates how they were used and evolved over several centuries. The basic design of the collar has not changed since the time of ancient Mesopotamia but variations on the collar, specifically ornamentation and style, reflect the values of the various world cultures that kept dogs. These subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, alterations to the central design can be quite telling in the role dogs played and how they were regarded in different time periods and cultures. For a brief history of the dog collar click here. This exhibit is on through September 3rd. Oh – by the way…the cutie pictured on top is my little guy, Mr. Pepe, wearing his restraint halter. Who’s a good boy?