The Bowes Museum Blog

National Dog Day recognises the importance of dogs and their impact on our lives. It celebrates them as treasured pets, as highly trained service dogs who work so hard for us, but it also reminds us that many dogs have sad lives, suffering abuse and abandonment.

There are estimated to be just over one million homeless dogs in the UK and over two million enter shelters each year.

Many dogs have happy lives and good homes though.

Joséphine Bowes was fond of her dogs. Bernadine, who is portrayed at the feet of Joséphine in the painting of her in the John and Joséphine story galleries on the first floor, is thought to have been one of the earliest ever Yellow Labrador Retrievers. Look out for her in a smaller painting in her kennel as well.

Another of Joséphine’s dogs has been identified in a portrait shown here, probably painted by Joséphine herself. This may be the Bowes’ dog ‘Palette’ (from the shape of the ears), which they had to leave behind in Paris during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.

In the UK, approximately 31% of households are thought to own dogs – 12 million of them!

Is one of them yours? Tell us about your dog on Instagram @thebowesmuseum