Our Canine Friends - an Occasional Series: 1. The Talbot

Today is National Dog Day. The dog appears in British and continental heraldry in a variety of breeds or types, most prominent being the greyhound, followed by the talbot, or "dog of chase". Canines are to be found depicted as crests, charges, supporters and on badges and banners and in a variety of attitudes. The next series of blogs, kindly curated by my colleague Lieutenant Colonel Ian Shepherd, is dedicated to them.

In this first post we consider the talbot, a dog well known to armory. But who is he? In what category does he appear at Crufts? Sadly, in none for he is non-existent. Some authorities suggest that the talbot originated as the St Hubert hound, a large, heavy, hound used to track large prey. It is said that the St Hubert was brought to Britain by the Normans and evolved into the breed known today as the bloodhound with the ones which were white being named the talbot. Although the modern bloodhound is not the identical dog it is still called le chien de St Hubert in Belgium.

Here is a modern crest of a talbot, dating from 1965 and belonging to George Bell-Barker of Ascog:

The blazon is: a demi-talbot Argent, langued Gules, gorged of a collar Vert having long spikes Or.

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Here is an image from the Talbot Shrewsbury Book of 1446:

A century earlier, Chaucer, who we remember was professionally involved in the great heraldic court-case between Scrope and Grosvenor, uses the word as the name for one of the hapless dogs who have been unable to protect the proud Chanticleer from the wiles of the Fox:

Ha, ha! The fox!" and after hym they ran,

And eek with staves many another man.

Ran Colle oure dogge, and Talbot and Gerland,

And Malkyn, with a dystaf in hir hand;