Guard dogs, which have five thousand years

To make sure that the dogs actually existed in ancient times, and understand what the social function performed Canis familiaris, to refer to the drawings made by ancient man.

However, the prehistoric artists more inspired by animals, which were the object of hunting. In the caves there are images of deer, bison, wild boars, and dogs do not. Perhaps the dogs were so common that it is not particularly interested in ancient art. However, later in the so-called prehistoric art has changed and people began to depict the jackals and hyenas. Around 4500 BC. e. came the first image of a dog: naturally, it helped the hunter. True, the outward image of the animal is like no one from the existing breeds of dogs. Ancient people portrayed not only hunting dogs: the handle of a knife, made 4-5 thousand years ago, shows a dog with a collar. Perhaps this is the first evidence that already existed at that time guard dogs.
Through ancient Egyptian paintings survived the first pictures of dogs, resembling modern. Initially portrayed hunting dogs and taxis. Later, mastiffs, perhaps imported from the East, then - hounds. Important role in the dissemination of new breeds in Egypt, Rome and Athens played the Phoenicians, who traded in the Mediterranean countries and Central Europe.