Turnspit Breed of Dog
Dog-powered machines became so common in the early 19th century that specific breeds of dogs were created to ensure they were small and strong, like the Turnspit dog pictured above.
The 1853 book The Illustrated Natural History (Mammalia) by John George Wood explained that automated roasting jacks had become common enough, that few people used dogs to turn meat in their homes anymore by the middle of the 19th century. And the author noted how new technology, in this case a textile device called the spinning jenny, had put previous sewing technologies out of use.
Just as the invention of the spinning-jenny abolished the use of distaff and wheel, which were formerly occupants of every well-ordained English cottage, so the invention of automaton roasting-jacks has destroyed the occupation of the TURNSPIT DOG, and by degrees has almost annihilated its very existence. Here and there a solitary Turnspit may be seen, just as a spinning-wheel or a distaff may be seen in a few isolated cottages; but both the Dog and the implement are exceptions to the general rule, and are only worthy of notice as being curious relics of a bygone time.
The Turnspit dog no longer exists here in the 21st century, but they were pretty cool-looking guys, even if they had to work like hell to survive.
