Among domesticated animals, the dog, always our faithful companion, is probably the creature closest to humans. The Latin writer Columella long ago stressed the importance of dogs in everyday life.
An extensive ancient literary tradition treats the behavior, both negative and positive, of the dog. In the Iliad, Homer portrays dogs as semi-wild beasts that prey on the bodies of warriors killed at the battle of Troy, as guardians of the flocks, and as hunters. Aesop, in several fables, describes dogs in situations that allude to human folly and greed. Aristotle’s De Animalibus Historia and Xenophon’s Cynegeticus are dedicated not only to the classification of dog breeds (the lists include about 60), but also to their habits and qualities. The dog’s major functions, as stressed by Columella, were household and herd guard, hunting assistant, faithful personal companion, and favorite pet.
