The Great Dog Wars: Fleshers vs. Strangers in Culross’ Markets

In the mid-17th century, the Scottish town of Culross was no stranger to political upheaval, economic hardship, and the struggles of everyday life. But among the many disputes recorded in the town’s burgh records, one particularly strange and amusing conflict stands out—a battle not fought with swords or muskets, but with butcher’s dogs and visiting merchants.

This was the Great Dog Wars, an ongoing struggle between the local fleshers (butchers) and strangers (outsiders who came to trade in the market). At its core, this conflict was about competition, control of the town’s meat trade, and a rather unorthodox use of aggressive dogs as economic enforcers.