Dog Whip Item Number: 3169/1 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Dog whip. Used with sled dogs, the whip has a wood handle with curved grip and three faceted sections each showing a different animal. Bottom section has an incised wolf or dog on either side; central section has a seal; and third shows a fish. All are filled with grey paint. Top side of facets have a green diamond, red arrow, and a red hook carved into them. Carved squares between the sections are painted red. The whip is attached to the end of the handle through holes in the wood. It is made of looped strands of black and brown leather woven to create a hard but flexible cord that diminishes in diameter toward the tip.

Narrative

The original owner of the whip is said to have been Judge John Thompson of New Carlisle, Quebec, who traveled by dog sled into northern Quebec and Labrador. It is thought that he acquired the whip on one of those trips.