Calgary·Photos

Calgary's dogs through the ages

Loyal friends, military mascots, brave trackers, skilled hunters. Whether they've been trained to help the North West Mounted Police, forced to sit with a biscuit on their nose, or dressed up in baby clothes and plunked in a pram, dogs have long been part Calgary's fabric. Check out these nifty photos of Calgarians and their four-legged friends through the ages.

From firehalls to front yards, military barracks to the backwoods, a photo history of Calgary dogs

Anna Gunn training her family dog, 1930. (Glenbow Archives)

This story was originally published Aug. 27.


There are about 99,500 four-legged friends living in our city these days, and dogs have been part of Calgary since before there was a Calgary.

We know that dogs make great companions, but social scientists say they actually help build the social fabric of a city. Huh?

Yep. Every time you take Rex, Bella or Rover for a walk, you're probably going to stop and chat with other people in a park, on the sidewalk, or just in your front yard.

Asking to pet a stranger's dog is a surefire way to strike up a conversation. Dogs help us bond to each other as a community.

So, on that note, here are a series of photos of Calgarians and their dogs through the ages. Enjoy.

Calgary Fire Department mascot wearing his fireman's hat, date unknown. (Glenbow Archives)
Alexander Ross and his dogs, c. 1886. (Glenbow Archives)
Mr. William Pitman, his family, and the family dog, c. 1900. (Glenbow Archives)
Insp. C. H. West, of the North West Mounted Police, and his dog, c. 1902. (Glenbow Archives)
Dorothy Ellis-Browne trains her dog, April 1907. (Glenbow Archives)
Grace L. Winter sits on her veranda with her dog, c. 1910-1929. (Glenbow Archives)
James Ivan Linton training his dog Pat, c. 1913. (Glenbow Archives)
The De La Vergne children and their dogs, c. 1913. (Glenbow Archives)
Greta Riddock takes her dog out in a pram, c. 1916. (Glenbow Archives)
1st and 2nd class warrant officers, staff sergeants and sergeants, 4th Canadian Field Ambulance with their mascot 'Paddy', July 1918. (Glenbow Archives)
Walking Buffalo (Tatanga Mani) with his dog outfitted for the trail, 1930s. (Glenbow Archives)
A Calgary dog show, May 3, 1954. (Glenbow Archives)

Calgary at a Crossroads is CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series at Calgary at a Crossroads.