First description of dogs

Everywhere, in order to survive, had to hunt or it was necessary to protect themselves from uninvited guests, a man used dogs, constantly improving and creating new species and providing them with proper nutrition.

Even before the classical period the Greeks were wolf similar and Egyptian dogs, as well as the Persian Molossian dogs. Greek philosopher and zoologist Aristotle mentioned in his writings existed when it dogs, dividing them into the rock under the name of places where they occurred. Thanks to him, we know that in 300 BC. e. already existed a dog from India, Egypt and Epirus (northwest Greece). However, the author has not left us more or less accurate descriptions, so we can not imagine how they looked.

Hunting dogs also highly valued in ancient Rome. Ovid wrote about how to make sure that the bitch will be good puppies. A writer Varro gave the first advice to a beginning dog. In particular, he wrote that he does not trust the dogs eat the leftovers. He believed that from this they get used to the taste of blood and then can attack live animals. Grek an Oppie, author of "Kinegetika" ( "Hunting"), he was engaged in breeding dogs, small size, which in his opinion, is better suited for hunting in the woods.

Thus, one could argue that for two thousand years ago there was interest in people, and perhaps even love for dogs. In Pompeii, the houses hung signs with the inscription "Cave Canem" ( "beware of dog"), which proves that here was taken to keep the guard dogs. Typically, the use of fierce dogs Molossian enormous size and with frightening teeth. During the day they sat on the chain, the night they were released, and they ran through the territory belonging to the owner. It was fashionable to keep the ferocious animals in the house or garden.