I've wondered how the design for the generic "no dogs allowed sign" came about, and how certain dog designs were used in different places. It got me wondering if the dog was based on a breed or just a generic image of a dog, like if at the point it was made there was a breed that was very common to own in that place. I did some digging but i haven't been able to find anything on the origin of dogs/no dogs allowed signs. The ones i see most often in DC at museums, the zoo, and important buildings are these two:


http://circlequirk.files.wordpress.c...s-allowed1.jpg

http://muchaboutmelbourne.com/wp-con...gs-Allowed.gif

There are lots of signs personally made for businesses and homes, but I've also seen that there are differences between signs put up by the government that vary from place to place, and that's what made me wonder if they were based on a breed most common in the area at the time the sign was made.