The Stool Spaniel

WARNING: Just a bit of seasonal fun and a poke at the often murky history of dog breeds, made up for the best part by dog dealers to sell them.

Stool spaniel depicted seated beneath its master's stool after warming it, Tomb of Nebamun. A lactating bitch (as in this case) would indicate her Master was of a particular high superior status

Polly demonstrates the purpose of the Stool spaniel

The Stool Spaniel (aka Spaniel of the High Stool) is an ancient spaniel and was used for warming of stools of those with superior status. Evidences of High stools have been found in ancient Chinese tombs and later in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians used stools; a high stool indicated your superior social status.
By using elevated seating, humans distinguished themselves from the animal kingdom and thus these little spaniels warming the seats of humans of superior status gave them elevated status and were very prized and sought after. Ancient edicts proclaimed that harming one of these little fellows could see your way to the gallows. 
​Renowned for their ability to jump up on the highest stools and curl up like a small nug 'lump', some called them affectionately "Nugget spaniels" and with their precious status it is thought this is where the origin of the word 'nugget' came from.
Thought to be the ancestor to the much later lap spaniels of Europe.

The Stool spaniel position known as "nuggeting"and Polly showing her ability to "nugget."