Brass rubbings often show a beloved dog. Here is Ralph St Leger and his wife, from the V & A site here: 'Brass rubbings are one of the major sources of evidence in early costume trends. The hobby was so popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries that many of the original brasses have worn away, making the rubbings even more important. Take Ralph St. Leger and his very fashionable wife. She is wearing a butterfly headress, a brief trend from the late 1400’s. Hair was dragged back from the forehead, and a large framework of wire was attached.  A light gauze veil then covered this framework, creating a most attractive effect. On a side note, instead of a heraldic animal at their feet, this couple each have a favourite dog.