According to wikipedia, there used to be an official 'dog whipper' in villages, whose job it was to get rid of dogs that were disturbing the church service. My favourite thought is this - I quote: 'Dog whippers were usually provided with a whip (hence the title) or a pair of large wooden tongs with which to remove the animals.' My italics, but can't you picture the removal of dogs from the church as if they were sugar lumps?

I am profoundly phobic of dogs, so personally I'd like to see dog whippers employed in many more public places. Oh come on, it'd be worth it for the tongs alone.