The turnspit dog was once an essential part of every large kitchen in Britain. Bred to run in a wheel that turned a roasting spit, the small but strong dogs ensured that the meat cooked evenly.

The saga of the turnspit dog—and other fun facts from The Weirdest Thing I Learned This Week. By Popular Science Team. Updated Sep 7, 2021 7:52 AM EDT.

Turnspit dogs were bred to be the work horse of the kitchen. The breed was popular in England and, to a lesser extent, America, from 16th century to the end of the 19th. Though there may be some ...

Turnspit dogs were generally thought of poorly—and were treated as such. In Anecdotes of Dogs (1846), Edward Jesse recalled the turnspits of his childhood being “long-bodied, crooked-legged ...

The turnspit dog was once an essential part of every large kitchen in Britain. Bred to run in a wheel that turned a roasting spit, the small but strong dogs ensured that the meat cooked evenly.

The turnspit dog was once an essential part of every large kitchen in Britain. Bred to run in a wheel that turned a roasting spit, the small but strong dogs ensured that the meat cooked evenly. The ...

The turnspit dog was once an essential part of every large kitchen in Britain. Bred to run in a wheel that turned a roasting spit, the small but strong dogs ensured that the meat cooked evenly.

The turnspit dog was once an essential part of every large kitchen in Britain. Bred to run in a wheel that turned a roasting spit, the small but strong dogs ensured that the meat cooked evenly.