I’ve heard that dogs were especially beloved in Ancient Rome, and were frequently adorned with religious charms to improve their health, hunting ability, etc.
Do we know what a day in the life would have looked like for a Roman dog? Are there any examples of the charms they wore? We’re there particular breads that were valued? We’re all dogs respected or was it just dogs of rich families? We’re they treated like modern pets or like working animals?
Did they get toys and fancy beds like we give them now?
A day in the life of a Roman dog would have varied quite a bit depending on the breed, the socioeconomic class of the owners, and the location[1, 3, 4, 5]. The large body of contemporary writings praising dogs-- including Cicero and Pliny the Elder-- and the widespread presence of dogs in art, religion, and literature indicates that dogs were generally viewed in a positive light in Roman society and culture across social classes [1, 2, 3, 5, 6]. Dogs of all breeds were honored with funerals and even carved epitaphs on their graves, demonstrating bonds with their human companions that went beyond the utilitarian [2, 6]. Studies of canine remains from the period show that a typical Roman dog was in good health, and no more likely to have experienced infection, major injury, or dental issues than modern dogs; there is also little to no evidence of physical abuse by humans [5]. The daily life of a particular dog, however, would have depended on its breed and job.
Hunting dogs were popular with wealthy Romans. Hunting hounds were kept in kennels during the day, with regular turnouts to relieve themselves and stretch their legs [8, 9, 11, 14]. These dogs are believed to be similar to modern mastiffs, and were used to hunt large game such as boars [14]. They were fed twice daily with wheat bread, bean porridge, or oatmeal supplemented with oil, organ meats, or bones, which the author Verro recommended to strengthen their teeth [7, 8, 9, 11, 12] . Some were fitted with studded or spiked collars to protect them from attacks by wolves [12].
Greyhounds, called vertragus, were seen as a particular status symbol due to the fact they had to be imported from Celtic tribes, sometimes as far afield as Ireland, and were owned only by the wealthiest Romans [8, 9, 10, 11, 13]. In his short treatise “On Coursing Hares,” Arrian identifies the emphasis on positive reinforcement that is still recommended for handling the breed, writing “Always pat your Greyhound’s head after he catches a hare… For like men of generous spirit they love to be praised” [10, 11, 13]. While some greyhounds appear to have been kept in kennels, provided with “thick and warm bed[s]”, Arrian recommended that greyhounds sleep in bed with their human handlers. A typical greyhound would be kept indoors to rest, but be let out to play and relieve themselves three or four times a day with at least one other hound. If the weather was chilly, they were provided with “parti-colored” clothing and even leather booties for their feet [10, 11]. They were fed once a day with a mixture of grains and fats, supplemented with meat, fish, and eggs [10, 11, 12]. Collars were broad, soft leather, similar to the modern Martingale collar[6, 10, 11, 12, 13].
The aforementioned mastiffs were also valued as guard dogs in urban and rural areas. Contemporary accounts suggest that guard dogs were kept on leashes or chains during the day, usually in the atrium of the house, and allowed to roam the house or property at night [1, 2, 3, 4]. Large dogs with a loud, deep bark were favored [6, 7, 12]. The prevalence of black dogs in the famous “Cave canem” mosaics is due to the belief that dark-colored dogs would be superior watchdogs due to stealth, and were also considered more visually intimidating [7]. Verro, however, suggested that guard dogs should be light-colored, to better be seen at night and scare off potential intruders on sight [12]. These dogs would often wear a leather collar studded with metal, closed with a buckle or leather strap, or a collar made of metal [6, 7]. Pliny describes some dogs as having collars made of gold [6]!
In the countryside, Romans used large, white sheep-guardian dogs similar to the modern Maremmano or Pyrenean Mountain Dog [6, 7, 12]. Columella considered these dogs essential to a successful farm, and recommended that acquiring one was the first task one should undertake after setting up the household [7]. Most contemporary accounts indicate that these dogs lived full-time with the sheep, and their primary function was to protect the flock from predators. To better protect their dogs from wolf attacks, some shepherds fitted their dogs with spiked collars made from leather and nails [7, 12].
Finally, the toy dogs which were wildly popular as pets generally led pampered lives-- keeping small dogs as pets was seen as distinctly feminine, but did not diminish the number or popularity of toy dogs. Both Seneca and Juvenal complain that these dogs were given the run of the house, including being allowed to climb on furniture and clamber into guests’ laps; small pet dogs seem to have slept on furniture or in their owners’ beds, rather than having beds of their own [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Both contemporary accounts and archaeological records indicate these dogs generally ate “people food” and were regularly fed directly from the table while sitting on their owners’ laps [5, 6]. These dogs often wore delicate metal collars, sometimes decorated with bells. The modern Maltese was developed during this time, and was one of the more prevalent breeds. Italian Greyhounds, the result of crosses between greyhounds and existing toy breeds, were also prized as they combined the convenience of a toy dog with the prestige of a full-size greyhound [6, 13]. It was also believed that a small dog could help a sick person recover by snuggling with them in bed, preferably curled up on the afflicted area of the persons’ body [6].
Altogether, the average Roman dog, particularly if it was a pet or a prized hunting hound, would live a healthy and luxurious life akin to that of a pampered modern dog.
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