During the 16th century, dogs were more than just companions. There was a dog breed for nearly everything: herding sheep, tracking wild game and even warming up cold laps on chilly days.

But in Wales, England, there was a dog that found a role as the kitchen dog in large and small homes. It was known as the turnspit dog or spit dog. They were long and stocky and had short legs and their job was to turn the wooden wheel on the roasting spit in the hearth.

What Is a Turnspit Dog?

Before the arrival of the automated roasting spit, open fire roasting meant the wooden cooking wheel had to be cranked continually by hand for evenly cooked meat. That is until someone figured out that you could make a dog do it. The small cooking dog was bred to run on a wheel that turned the roasting spit. Th

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