Dogs were kept in the home and were treated in much the same way by caring families as they are today. (91)ĭogs are depicted in Mesopotamian art as hunters but also as companions. Although the expression `vicious dog' occurred, `dog' as a derogatory term was little used. The dog was often the companion of gods of therapeutics. The sources distinguish numerous sub-breeds, but we can only partially identify these. As far as we can tell, there were only two main breeds of dog: large greyhounds which were used primarily in hunting, and very strong dogs (on the order of Danes and mastiffs), which in the ancient Orient were more than a match for the generally smaller wolves and, for that reason, were especially suitable as herd dogs. Of course, the dog was also a carrion eater, and in the villages it provided the same service as hyenas and jackals. Despite the fact that dogs roamed freely in the cities, the dog in the ancient Orient was at all times generally bound to a single master and was cared for by him. The dog (Sumerian name, ur-gi Semitic name, Kalbu) was one of the earliest domestic animals and served primarily to protect herds and dwellings against enemies.
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