Every afternoon he could be seen returning on horseback, with his hunting dogs, and his double-barreled shotgun and a string of rabbits hanging from his saddle.
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
Much as we love furry companions today, the dogs of yore tended to be hunting dogs or guard dogs rather than house pets and were often considered vicious or unpleasant.
And there's also a cooperative element, because as you find in many carnivals, like lions and hunting dogs, they kind of different, different individuals head them off and ambush them.
And apparently some dummies decided they wanted a hunting dog and didn't want to spend any money, but they wanted a dock tail and ears and everything, so they tried it themselves.