Columella, Lucius Junius Moderatus, Res Rustica, Books V-IX

Book 7

Chapter 12

Section 1-14

[1] Concerning herds and other livestock, as well as the overseers through whom the flocks of quadrupeds are cared for and watched over both at home and abroad, unless I am mistaken, I have discussed quite thoroughly. Now, as promised at the beginning of the previous section, I will talk about guard animals; although the dog is falsely called a mute guardian. For who among men proclaims a beast or thief more clearly or with such loud cries as this one does with its barking? Who is more devoted to their master than a dog? Who is a more faithful companion? Who is a more incorruptible guardian? Who can be found more vigilant as a sentinel? And finally, who is a more steadfast avenger or defender? Therefore, a farmer should, above all, buy and protect this animal, which guards both the estate, the crops, the family, and the livestock. But to acquire and protect it

[2] There are three types. For one type is chosen against the tricks of men, and it guards the villa and anything connected to it. But the other is for repelling the injustices of men and wild beasts; and it watches over the stable at home, and the grazing livestock outside. The third is acquired for the sake of hunting; and not only does it not help the farmer at all, but it also distracts him and makes him idle from his work.

[3] Therefore, we must speak of the farm-yard and pastoral dogs: for the hunting dog has nothing to do with our profession. A guard for the villa must be chosen, of the largest size, with a deep bark, so that it may first terrify the wrongdoer by its sound, and then also by its appearance, and yet sometimes it even chases away the lurking person with its terrible growl alone. And let it be of one color; and let white be more preferred in the pastoral, black in the farm-yard: for a mixed color is commendable in neither. The shepherd prefers white, because it is unlike a wild animal, and sometimes there is a great need for distinguishing in driving away wolves in the dim morning or even

[4] At twilight, so that it does not mistake a dog for a beast. The farm dog, who is opposed to the misdeeds of men, is seen as more terrifying when a thief arrives in broad daylight, he appears more formidable in black: or at night, he is not even seen due to the similarity of shadows, which is why a dog concealed in darkness has a safer approach to the assailant. It is preferred to be square rather than long or short, with a head so large that it seems the largest part of the body, with drooping and hanging ears, black or gray eyes shining with sharp light, a broad and hairy chest, wide shoulders, thick and hairy legs, a short tail, and very large foot joints and claws, which are called "δράκες" in Greek. This will be the status of the farm dog.

[5] Especially praiseworthy. However, their demeanor is neither excessively gentle, nor excessively fierce and cruel; while the former even flatters the thief, the latter even attacks domestic ones. It is enough for them to be severe rather than gentle, so that sometimes they may even regard their fellow servants more sternly, always being more incensed towards outsiders. However, they should be seen to be vigilant in guarding, not erring, but diligent and cautious rather than reckless. For the former do not indicate anything unless they have ascertained it for certain; but the latter, with idle clamor and groundless suspicion, they are agitated.

[6] They are agitated by idle clamor and groundless suspicion. I believed these should be remembered, because not only nature, but also discipline molds behavior, so that when the opportunity to buy arises, we may test such qualities, and when we will educate those born at home, we may shape them with such methods.

[7] It matters little whether farm-yard dogs are heavy-bodied and somewhat slow: for they ought to act more at close quarters and in degrees, than at a distance and in a spacious run. For they should always remain around the enclosures and within the buildings, indeed they ought not to go farther away, and they perform their duty quite well if they cleverly scent out anyone approaching, frighten them by barking, and do not allow them to come closer, or even violently attack anyone who persists in approaching. The first task is to not allow themselves to be approached; the second is to be attacked boldly and persistently avenged. And these are about domestic guardians; those about pastoral ones.

[8] A farm dog should not be so thin or agile as one that pursues deer and swift animals, nor so fat or heavy as the guardian of a villa or granary: but still robust.

[9] And somewhat ready and vigorous, since it is also trained for fighting and combat, as well as for running, since it should both repel the ambushes of wolves and chase away the wild robber fleeing with prey. Therefore, its stature longer and more stretched out is more suitable for these situations than short or even square: because, as I said, sometimes necessity requires speed in chasing the beast. The rest of its limbs similar to the limbs of a farm dog are equally approved.

[10] The food is almost the same for both types. For if the fields are so spacious that they can sustain flocks of sheep, all dogs can be easily fed with barley flour mixed with whey without discrimination. But if the field is sown with branches without pasture, they must be satiated with barley or wheat bread, however, mixed with cooked bean liquor, but lukewarm: because boiling creates rabies.

[11] Copulation should not be allowed for this quadruped neither to females nor males until after a year: for if it is granted to them too early, it wears out both the body and the strength and degenerates the spirit. The first litter of the effete female should be removed, because she does not feed the puppies properly, and the raising of the whole litter takes away their growth. Males procreate youthfully up to the age of ten: after that time, they do not seem fit for mating, because they produce lazy offspring. Females conceive up to the age of nine, and are not useful after the tenth. Puppies should not be separated from the mother for the first six months, until they are strengthened, except for play or playfulness. Afterwards, they should be kept on chains during the day and released at night. We will never allow those whose noble character we want to preserve to be nursed by another's udder: because both milk and maternal breath much more enhance the character and growth of the body. If the effete one lacks milk, it is most appropriate to provide goat's milk to the puppies until they are four months old. They should be given names that are not too long, so that each one called can be heard quickly: but not shorter than those that are pronounced in two syllables, as in Greek σκύλαξ, Latin ferocious, Greek λάκων, Latin swift: or female, such as Greek σπουδή, ἀλκή, ῥώμη: Latin she-wolf, deer, tiger.

[12] After the tenth. Puppies should not be released for the first six months, until they are strengthened, except for play or playfulness. Afterwards, they should be kept on chains during the day and released at night. We will never allow those whose noble character we want to preserve to be nursed by another's udder: because both milk and maternal breath much more enhance the character and growth of the body.

[13] And it also increases the body's growth. If the effete one lacks milk, it is most appropriate to provide goat's milk to the puppies until they are four months old. They should be given names that are not too long, so that each one called can be heard quickly: but not shorter than those that are pronounced in two syllables, such as Greek σκύλαξ, Latin ferox, Greek λάκων, Latin celer: or female, such as Greek σπουδή, ἀλκή, ῥώμη: Latin she-wolf, deer, tiger.

[14] It is appropriate to castrate the tails of the puppies after the fortieth day from birth. There is a nerve that extends through the joints of the spine to the end of the tail: it is bitten and pulled out as far as possible, and then broken off: by doing this, the tail does not grow unsightly in length, and, as most shepherds assert, rabies, a deadly disease for this species, is prevented.

Chapter 13

Section 1-2

[1] During the summer, the ears of dogs are often ulcerated by flies to the extent that they may lose them entirely. To prevent this, crushed bitter nuts should be applied. If the ears are already affected by ulcers, it is advisable to drip liquid tar mixed with suet onto the wounds. This same remedy causes castor-oil plants to wither upon contact. They should not be plucked by hand.

[2] So that they do not, as I predicted before, cause wounds. Remedies for a mangy dog are either crushed cumin in equal weight with hellebore, mixed with water and applied; or the juice of snake cucumber: or if these are not available, old olive oil poured over the whole body. If mange persists, mix an equal amount of gypsum and sesame, and mix it with liquid pitch, and apply it to the affected part: which remedy is also considered suitable for humans. If this plague is more severe, it is eradicated with cedar liquor. Other ailments, as we have instructed for other animals, will need to be treated.