Dogs as Pets

The history of domestic dogs dates back thousands of years, when man began to use dogs while hunting. The five breeds around 4500 B.C. were mastiffs, wolf-type dogs, greyhounds, pointers, and shepherding dogs.

The next task that dogs were trained for is guard duty.

The Greeks utilized them for this task in the 5th century B.C.. Dogs were then trained by the ancient Romans and Galls to fight in battles.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, interest in dog breeding and care dropped off. This neglect resulted in abandoned dogs forming packs and terrorizing towns during the Dark Ages. People began to blame dogs for the problems around them and superstitions arose, including those of werewolves and monsters.

However, dogs were held responsible for great things.

They helped their masters through good times and bad. They even helped Catholic Saints. Saint Roche set out on a pilgrimage to Rome, looking for guidance in what direction his life should go. He stopped to help plague victims and his dog would lick their wounds (scientists say that there is a chemical in dogs' saliva that seems to inhibit infections.) He would trace the sign of the cross on them and pray for deliverance. Sores began to heal and the people recovered.

Unfortunately he caught the plague and his dog was there for him. The dog would lick his wounds, and would run to a castle and steal bread for his master. An aristocrat decided to find out where this dog went with the bread that he stole, and he was impressed when he saw that the dog did not eat any for himself and went directly to his master with it. He arranged to have the Saint taken care of and the he recovered without any scars. The dog made such an impression that the aristocrat entered the service of the church himself. Saint Roche is pictured with a dog licking his face.

Dogs were saved from these cruel times partly thanks to monasteries that recognized that dog breeding was a good source of revenue. Many Saints in history actually are recognized for their breeding and developing of new breeds.

An eighth century man who became saint, Francois Hubert was one of those. An avid hunter, he didn't discover Christianity until a moment in the woods where he saw a shining cross above a deer. A voice called out, chastising him for hunting on the anniversary of Christ's death. Even after his wife died and he retired to a monastery, he continued to hunt and to breed his dogs. His dogs were the forerunner of today's Bloodhound. The hounds became so popular that nobility would bring their dogs to Mass with them. When the priests objected, the nobles would stand outside with the dogs in order to attend Mass. The Blessing of the Animals on the church steps still survives.