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THE DOMESDAY BOOK OF DOGS

Cosdawg.

Costog

   Cosdawg appears to have been an old name for the Welsh rough-haired Mastiff (or Cedenog Gafaelgi).  The breed is mentioned in The Laws of Hywell Dda, King of the Britons (c880 - 950) as being worth fourpence, but it's possible the name could have been used for any dog of 'inferior' breeding (costowci) in later years.

  The Cosdawg is sometimes mentioned as being a companion of Shepherds so it's possible the breed was the Welsh equivalent of the large European flock guardians.  Once the wolf had been eradicated from Wales the Cosdawg disappeared too.

History of the Mastiff, M. B. Wynn, 1886
Published by William Loxley.

The Mastiff and Bullmastiff handbook, Douglas B. Oliff, The Boydell Press, 1988

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