History of Herding with Dogs

[ImWithAlice]

Anyone know of references to dogs used for herding in ancient times and outside of Europe? Specifically in Biblical times in the middle east? If not, how DID they move their sheep?

[desertranger]

With dogs. Yo9u can read biblical passages about shepherds and their dogs tending the flock.

[Rebecca, Irena Farm]

Shepherds lived with their sheep much of the time in the eastern Mediterranean (and still do). They act as "flock leader" and the sheep group around him or her and follow when they move around. Youngsters learn from their elders. Much is done with old "pet" sheep - if the flock is uncooperative, these sheep can be led either because they are more willing, or because they are broke to lead on rope. At important long journeys, sheep breeders would enlist the help of contract shepherds to keep the flock in line in less-traveled areas, and moving a bit more efficiently. They'd also be employed to give larger breeders some time away from their sheep, or by the wealthy.

 

Dogs were primarily (and still are) watch dogs. Dogs are unclean animals in the context of Islam, and to some extent Judaism as well (because they are scavengers). But they are tolerated for their value as alert animals.

 

Using dogs in a herding sense seems to have come into recorded history via the cultures that moved into the northern coastal Mediterranean region. Some northern Attic peoples used herd dogs - generally in association with pigs and cattle though, not small ruminants. Thus they were tough mastiff-like driving dogs rather than the sheepdogs we are familiar with today.

 

Here is a Roman treatise on agriculture. This is the section on dogs. It's very interesting. It exclusively addresses the dog as a tending and guardian. Again, it describes a mastiff breed.

 

Large property owners used slaves for "herding" - but it's known that dogs were used by drovers, some of which were professionals and some of which were specialized slaves owned by corporate concerns.

[ImWithAlice]

Shepherds lived with their sheep much of the time in the eastern Mediterranean (and still do). They act as "flock leader" and the sheep group around him or her and follow when they move around. Youngsters learn from their elders. Much is done with old "pet" sheep - if the flock is uncooperative, these sheep can be led either because they are more willing, or because they are broke to lead on rope. At important long journeys, sheep breeders would enlist the help of contract shepherds to keep the flock in line in less-traveled areas, and moving a bit more efficiently. They'd also be employed to give larger breeders some time away from their sheep, or by the wealthy.

 

Dogs were primarily (and still are) watch dogs. Dogs are unclean animals in the context of Islam, and to some extent Judaism as well (because they are scavengers). But they are tolerated for their value as alert animals.

 

Using dogs in a herding sense seems to have come into recorded history via the cultures that moved into the northern coastal Mediterranean region. Some northern Attic peoples used herd dogs - generally in association with pigs and cattle though, not small ruminants. Thus they were tough mastiff-like driving dogs rather than the sheepdogs we are familiar with today.

 

Here is a Roman treatise on agriculture. This is the section on dogs. It's very interesting. It exclusively addresses the dog as a tending and guardian. Again, it describes a mastiff breed.

 

Large property owners used slaves for "herding" - but it's known that dogs were used by drovers, some of which were professionals and some of which were specialized slaves owned by corporate concerns.

 

Thank you! Would you happen to have any sources about Early Middle Eastern shepherding techniques?

 

Always curious,

Barbara

[BustopherJones]

The Pariah Dog (ancestors of the modern Canaan Dog, or Kelev K'naani) of Israel dates back thousands of years, and was a herding and flock guardian dog of the ancient Israelites; it is believed that the Pariah Dog dates as far back as 2200-2000 BC. The breed became for the most part feral when the Romans invaded and all but destroyed the Israelite homeland. Some remained semi-domesticated as shepherds and guardians for Bedouin tribes or guards for the Druze religious sect on Mt. Carmel. During the intervening centuries, the Arabs kept an eye on these semi-feral dogs, sometimes stealing male pups to be used as flock herds and guards.

[desertranger]

The amount of knowledge the members have here is frightening. :D