Dogs and Humans in Ancient Greece and Rome

In ancient Greek literature the dog is frequently charged with moral flaws. Roman evidence is more eulogistic, yet the animal is far from being beyond reproach. In both societies the dog shared many spaces and activities with humans: dwelling places, food, outdoor sports, indoor entertainments. The paradox of the dog's bad reputation in the Greek and Roman cultures can be explained precisely in light of the canine inclusion into human society. The dog was held responsible for his/her actions and asked to comply with the human moral rules because it was coopted into the human social sphere of reciprocal obligations. Ancient evidence invites us to rethink the relationship with our dogs in terms of an "extended appropriate interaction", i.e. a social interaction with expectations on both sides, educational responsibility, and spaces for negotiation. This concept might help us reconceptualize the agency of the dog in the social environment.