Performing animals captured the Victorian imagination; nothing, it seems, so delighted an audience as an animal acting as if it were human. Dramatic acts, such as diving horses and even diving elk, were also popular. (Diving horse acts actually continued well into the 20th century.) This section looks at unusual animal performances, working animals, and animals with unusual jobs.

Animal Performers & Performances

The Training of Performing Animals, by E.A. Brayley Hodgetts (The Strand, 1894B)

"The notion that animals are taught to perform tricks by dint of cruelty, by blows and starvation, is among the most illogical fallacies of the day. 'Patience, patience, always patience' is [the trainer's] formula, his magic..."

Lord George Sanger's Circus, by W.B. Robertson (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1896)

The Dog Orchestra, by John West (The Strand, 1897B)

A look at six dogs who, yes, actually play musical instruments!

An Educated Monkey (The Strand, 1897B)

An orangutan who became a San Francisco sensation!

The Champion Horse-Breaker, by Albert Broadwell (The Strand, 1898B)

Norton B. Smith trained horses to perform in shows and circuses.

A Burlesque Bull-Fight, by Arthur Broadwell (The Strand, 1899B)

Queen Victoria required personal assurance that this Southend performance was, in fact, all innocent fun...

Bears at School, by Albert Broadwell (The Strand, 1900A)

How performing bears are trained.

Diving Horses, by Arthur Broadwell (The Strand, 1900A)

Football Dogs, by Albert Broadwell (The Strand, 1900A)

Dogs trained to play soccer.

The Training of Lions, Tigers, and Other Great Cats, by Samuel Hopkins Adams (The Strand, 1900B)

A Novelty on the Race-Course, by M.F. Toler (Strand, 1901A)

A pair of race-horses driven by a pair of spaniels.

Boxing Horses, by H.J. Holmes (Windsor Magazine, 1903A)

Yes, horses that have been trained to box!

Working Animals & Animals with Unusual Jobs

Mountain Sheep, Sheepherding, and Shepherds' Dogs, by Ruth Lamb (Girl's Own Paper, 1882)

A look at the lives of hard-working dogs in Cumberland and Westmoreland.

Smuggling by Dogs Between Switzerland and Italy (Girl's Own Paper, 1886)

Dog Smugglers [of Gibraltar], by Charles Pelham (The Strand, 1896B)

On the use of dogs and other contrivances to smuggle tobacco from British-owned Gibraltar into Spain.

Elephants at Work, by L.S. Lewis (The Strand, 1897A)

Ambulance Dogs in the German Army, by Frederick Talbot (The Strand, 1900B)

Dogs of War, by Irving Montagu (Windsor Magazine, 1900B)

The many uses of dogs on the battlefield.

On the Trail (Strand, 1901A)

Dr. Fulton's pack of bloodhounds, trained to track criminals and fugitives, "the terror of Nebraska evildoers."

Sheep-Dog Trials, by William T. Palmer (Windsor Magazine, 1902A)

On Show

The Crystal Palace Poultry, Pigeon and Rabbit Show (Illustrated London Almanack, 1860)

On Show, illustrated by J.A. Shepherd (The Strand, 1897-1898)

A comical look at animal shows.

1: Poultry (1897)

2: Dogs (1897)

3: Dogs (1897)

4: Birds (1897)

5: Birds (1897)

6: Rabbits (1898)

7: Cats (1898)

A [French] Sheep-Dog Competition, by James Walter Smith (The Strand, 1898B)