Tiny the Wonder facts for kids
Tiny the Wonder was a very famous dog in London, England, during the 1800s. He was a small English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan). Tiny became well-known for his amazing speed in catching rats. People would watch him in special "rat pits" in the city. He was so fast that he could catch 200 rats in just one hour! Back then, another dog named Billy held a record for catching 100 rats in 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
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Tiny the Wonder: A Famous Dog
Tiny was born around 1848 or 1849. He weighed only about five and a half pounds. His owner was a man named Jemmy Shaw. Jemmy ran a pub called the Blue Anchor Tavern in Bunhill Row, London. This pub is now known as the Artillery Arms.
Tiny's Amazing Feats
Jemmy Shaw kept many rats, sometimes up to 2,000, under his pub. He brought them from Essex because they were healthier than rats from London's sewers. Tiny was so small that he wore a woman's bracelet instead of a dog collar!
Tiny once held a world record for catching rats. He caught 300 rats in just under 55 minutes. This was a truly incredible feat for such a small dog.
Tiny is even shown in a painting from around 1850-1852. The painting is called Rat-Catching at the Blue Anchor Tavern, Bunhill Row, Finsbury. It shows Tiny trying to catch 200 rats in an hour. He actually did this twice! He succeeded on March 28, 1848, and again on March 27, 1849. Both times, he finished with time to spare.
What Was Rat-Baiting?
In the 1840s, "rat-baiting" was a very popular activity in London. It was a type of contest where dogs would catch rats in a pit. While it might seem strange to us today, it was a common form of entertainment back then.
Jemmy Shaw, Tiny's owner, even made a special rule for these contests. It was called the "no-touch rule." This meant that neither the dog nor the rat could be removed from the pit until the contest was over.
About Tiny's Breed
Tiny was an English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan). This dog breed was developed to be very good at catching rats. They have a narrow head and strong jaws. This allowed them to catch a rat quickly with one bite. They didn't waste time chewing.
The way their fur was colored also helped them. They had tan spots on their face that were brighter than their black eyes. This pattern could confuse the rats. It also helped protect the dog's eyes from being bitten.
Tiny's Legacy Today
Tiny the Wonder is still remembered today! His life story was part of an exhibition called "Beasts of London." This exhibition opened on April 5, 2019, at the Museum of London. It celebrated the lives of many famous animals from London's history.
