I’m a dog lover, and I’ve included dogs in all of my Regency books so far, which is period appropriate.
The people of the Regency adored dogs and often picked dogs that matched their personalities or were a symbol of their status.
In Highlander’s Hope, Yvette owns spaniels and in The Viscount’s Vow, Ian has harriers. If you’ve read the story, then you know, he gifts Vangie with a mutt she names Lancelot.
Of course, I had to carry on that tradition in The Earl’s Enticement. Roark has an Old English sheepdog, and Adaira rescues a dachshund.
I had to do a great deal of research to find out what kinds of dogs were common during the Regency era. King Charles Spaniels as well as pugs were enormously popular.
Byron had a Newfoundland that died from rabies and another large breed that was favored, was greyhounds.
Here are some very interesting posts about dogs in the Regency.
Dogs As Pets in the Regency: http://main.thebeaumonde.com/archives/category/regency
Dogs in the Regency http://networkedblogs.com/PZFIY
Dogs in the Regency http://regencyramble.blogspot.com/2007/07/dogs-in-regency.html
Regency Dogs: http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/tag/regency-dogs/