Delightful Dogs 

  Salt and pepper shakers are a relatively recent phenomenon.  And dog  salt and pepper shakers are even more modern.  Salt and pepper shakers date back roughly to the 1860's in England.  The 20's saw increased popularity and by World War II they had become the people's collectible--mass manufactured and marketed and designed for whimsy.  The range is wide, from Occupied Japan to Limoges, from plastic to porcelain to metal.  Some are clearly designed to imitate other collectibles, such as these imitation Staffordshire dog salt and pepper shakers  (upper right) I bought years ago from an upscale catalog.

But don't be fooled:  if it looks like another collectible, check it out in sources such   as The Collector's Encyclopedia of Salt & Pepper Shakers and Miller's Staffordshire Figures of the 19th & 20th Centuries : A Collector's Guide  before you overpay.  You can learn and research prices here. 

It is often said that dogs eat, sleep, and look cute.  Cute is the operative word with dog salt and pepper shakers---they were designed to be appealing rather than protective or territorial.  Some are crudely detailed, a few even vulgar  and many are intriguingly creative  mass art. There are more dogs greeting fire hydrants than you can imagine.  The sheer range itself is intriguing to collectors.  Check out the variety in Great Shakes:  Salt and Pepper for All Tastes.  Truly there is something for everyone in the world of dog salt and pepper shakers. 

Dog salt and pepper shakers are a great area for children to begin forming a collection and learning about collecting.  They are cute, appealing to children, and   often can be found at garage sales if the child is not ready for antique shops and not touching.   A little collection goes a long way.  And kids can join an online community of   kid collectors  at About.com and learn how to organize and show off their collection of dog salt and pepper shakers. 

Adults  will want  to learn to recognize values, how to form a cohesive collection, such as all one breed  or even all fire hydrants before  setting out to buy.  A good low cost way is through new mass market salt and pepper shakers such as these.   Pretty soon the  tail will be wagging the dog and you will just have to have that special set on your dining table.  Bone appetit!