Editing Guard dog (section)

== History ==
[[File:Lilibeo. Cave canem.jpg|thumb|Roman mosaic of a large chained dog (with [[Cropping (animal)|cropped ears]] and [[Docking (animal)|docked tail]]) at the Archaeological Park of Lilybaeum, [[Marsala]], Sicily]]
[[File:A raggedly dressed man being bitten by a guard dog Wellcome L0049795.jpg|thumb|A raggedly dressed man being bitten by a house guard dog. Etching by [[Thomas Lord Busby]], ca. 1826.]]
Dogs have been used as guardians since ancient times. The ancient Romans placed ''Cave canem'' mosaics at the entrance of homes to warn visitors and intruders of the presence of dangerous dogs at the property.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33677957|title=Pompeii guard dog mosaic back on show|date=27 July 2015|access-date=17 July 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref>

One of the first dog types used as guardians were [[Mastiff]]-type [[landrace]]s of [[livestock guardian dog]]s, which protected livestock against large predators such as [[wolves]], [[Brown bear|bears]] and [[leopard]]s.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/sheep/facts/10-033.htm|title=Livestock Guardian Dogs and Their Care in Winter|website=www.omafra.gov.on.ca|access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref> In [[Greek mythology]], [[Orthrus]] is an example of a livestock guardian dog known for guarding [[Geryon]]'s red cattle. In more urban areas, some ancient guard dogs, such as the extinct [[bandog]]ges, were chained during the day and released at night<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/generalhistory00bewi|title=A General History of Quadrupeds: The Figures Engraved on Wood|last=Beilby|first=Ralph|date=1792|publisher=S. Hodgson, R. Beilby, & T. Bewick|language=en}}</ref> to protect properties, camps and villages.