Dog Museum in France: A dog-friendly space celebrating canine history and art

The Dog Museum , a dog-friendly space where dogs like Spartacus can accompany their owners during their visit, is the first of its kind in France and the second largest in the world, after the one in New York .

Spartacus, a large black-and-white Newfoundland, isn't intimidated by the attention from visitors and poses for photos . He came with his owner to tour the museum in Aubervilliers (on the northern outskirts of Paris), where dogs are welcome and actively participate in the public, making the space unique.

" We even have two small dog parks at the foot of the building so that visiting dogs can run around before entering," explains Dorothée Fabre, head of the museum and media library.

Located at the headquarters of the 'Centrale Canine', an institution that has coordinated the French canine community since 1881 , it brings together more than 500 square meters of collections ranging from sculptures, prints and tapestries to objects as small as a button, reflecting the importance of the dog as a companion and cultural figure throughout time.

The first work that can be seen at the entrance is the registration form of the French Book of Origins, which dates back to 1885 and includes the first dog, Marco , officially registered in France.

Next to it is a panel that reproduces a curious collection from 1912: trading cards of different dog breeds that were included in tobacco packets in England , with an image on the front and a technical sheet on the back detailing the breed, character, and origin of the animal. Modern advertising and pre-Columbian statuettes

The collection reflects the place that the dog has occupied and continues to occupy in history : from modern advertising objects to pre-Columbian statuettes, including a small traveling kennel from the time of Emperor Napoleon III.

Highlights include ballpoint pen drawings by artist Julie Salmon, which add a unique beauty to the collection.

Many of the pieces come from donations from military veterinarian Michel Contart , who bequeathed more than 2,000 books on the canine world, from the 18th century to 2008.

Musicologist Marcelle Benoît, for her part, contributed numerous pieces focusing on Chihuahuas and Chinese Cresteds , breeds she collected for years.

"That's when we said, 'This is incredible. We can add what we've already acquired at markets and auctions to these two magnificent collections,'" Dorothée Fabre explained.

The idea for the museum arose more than fifteen years ago, while preparing to open a specialized media library, which opened its doors in 2011. The final push came with a change in management at Centrale Canine and a clear desire to open up to the general public.

"We wanted this former 'Centrale Canine' home to become a real dog house," Fabre says of the five-story building where they're based.

Starting in September, themed visits and school workshops will begin , following the success of an open day with children from Aubervilliers, which included reading with dogs and art and awareness workshops.

"Many children arrive with a fear of dogs, but after a few hours, they end up brushing and walking them," Fabre said. He also emphasizes the therapeutic role of dogs : "We awarded a nurse in Brittany who accompanied her teenage patients with a Dalmatian. Sometimes it's easier to talk to a dog than to an adult."

The museum houses works by numerous artists , including several Spanish artists, such as Seville-born Chiqui Díaz, who won the 2021 Fine Arts Prize from the 'Centrale Canine' for his bronze sculpture of a moving greyhound, or paintings by naturalist painter Miguel Ángel Moraleda depicting breeds associated with different regions of France. International visitors

Although Aubervilliers "is not as well-known as central Paris," Fabre admits, the museum has aroused significant international interest.

In the first few days after its opening, the exhibition went viral on social media and has received visitors from Asia, the United States, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom, as well as from France.

"Many people come just through digital word of mouth," says the manager, who expects to receive between 400 and 500 visitors per month when the space is fully operational, with audio guides, internal signage, and a store.

"We want visitors to leave with a sense of gratitude toward dogs," Fabre confesses. "They're in our homes, in our stories, in our films, in literature... What we're doing here is recognizing the place they've held, and continue to hold, in human lives."