This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of Victorian Culture following peer review. The version of record Nick Freeman, Even the dogs are shocked!, Journal of Victorian Culture, Volume 27, Issue 1, January 2022, Pages 174–176, https://doi.org/10.1093/jvcult/vcab047 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jvcult/vcab047