I don’t see ~たまえ in “Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar”, so it looks like it’s time to scour the web.
【N3文法】~たまえ | 毎日のんびり日本語教師 says:
目上から目下へ使う男言葉です。
It’s a word used by males from a superior to an inferior.
https://www.imabi.net/theimperative.htm says:
~たまえ is used by mainly older men and it is often demanding and taunting.
Japanese Verb Auxiliaries says:
Attach ~たまえ ( -tamae ), the command form of the verb たまう ( tamau , to give or bestow) to a verb stem to form a request that this action be done. This can be anything from a prayerful plea to an order that is expected to be followed, and is also fairly outdated. Using たまえ commands with subordinates apparently conveys an affectionate tone.
たまえ 【指示・命令】 接続・用法・例文 JLPT N3 | 日本語文型.com says:
指示や軽い命令を表す。
Expresses an instruction or a light command.
男性用語で、地位が上の人間が下の人間に使う。
A masculine term, used by a higher person to a lower person.
やや形式ばったセリフのような印象をあたえる。
It gives a somewhat formal impression.
With all this said, I officially join the side of everyone else. (Not that I was hesitant to or anything.)
If my original interpretation were correct, the guy would be telling Spitz to order his dog to 飼う. And we know that that’s not the case.
Edit: I did a search through subtitles I have on hand for some anime I own on DVD, and here's how many instances of たまえ came up:
Show |
Count |
Ao Haru Ride |
1 |
Cardcaptor Sakura |
1 |
Flying Witch |
1 |
From Up on Poppy Hill |
4 |
Hidamari Sketch Hoshimittsu |
2 |
Honey and Clover |
4 |
Kinmoza (season 1) |
1 |
Laputa Castle in the Sky |
12 |
Ouran High School Host Club |
5 |
Outbreak Company |
5 |
Porco Rosso |
1 |
Princess Mononoke |
4 |
Sailormoon (90’s) |
36 |
Sailormoon Crystal (season 1) |
3 |
Soul Eater |
3 |
Strawberry Marshmallow |
3 |
Toradora |
3 |