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In the modern day world dogs serve many functions. They are used for protection, for hunting, for helping the disabled and handicapped, for companionship, or if you're anything like me, you own a dog just to drive your cats nuts. But while our canine friends serve in many roles to the modern man, throughout history they have been primarily for three main functions.
Ancient Rome was a much different world than we live in today. Certain similar threats still exist today between our culture and theirs. But civilization has safeguarded us much more than those living two thousand years ago. Our two cultures also share a love and appreciation for dogs. Romans loved their animals, as can be seen by their religions. Dogs were often symbolized in their religious practices. But dogs were far more in the Roman culture than just religious symbols. In every day life they served many useful purposes. Their two primary functions were to hunt and protect. They fulfilled their obligations both at home and, like some of their human counterparts, on the battlefield.

According to Pets in Rome, the Romans were familiar with many different breeds of dogs but their canines were classified according to their two main functions on the homestead. The hunting dogs could be hounds, particular hounds that used sight in their hunting methods. Beagles, greyhounds, wolf hounds, and other hounds were represented. The hunting dog needed to be swift and able to chase animals in the hunt. Sometimes wolfhounds were pitted in fights with other dogs or even wolves in an arena for entertainment purposes, unfortunately as pit bulls are today,

The other primary type of dog was known as the Molossi. They were large, protective dogs, usually of the Mastiff family. Their primary function was to guard and protect the homestead. The House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii is famously known for its mosiac floor, a tile proclaiming "Cave Canem" or Beware of the Dog in English. It was not uncommon for dog owners to announce that their house was protected by a large Molossi, even if they didn't own a dog. Apparently just the warning alone could ward off potential burglars.

In their most interesting historic role, Roman dogs served a third function, away from home as canine soldiers. These dogs literally helped expand the Roman empire on the battlefield. According to Dogs of War, whole companies in the Roman Army consisted of dangerous dogs, usually Molossian dogs specifically trained for battle. The Romans would dress these dog soldiers in spiked collars and knives, and sometimes even starve the dogs before a battle so they became more vicious. In Britain, a Mastiff breed proved even more efficient in battle than their western Molossi cousins.

The Romans had other dogs as well, but they are less documented for obvious reasons. Smaller dogs weren't uncommon in Rome, but they usually belonged to women for companionship. And any dog, whether it be a large Molassi protector, a swift hunting hound, or a pocket dog, had the potential to become a loyal member of the Roman family. They probably didn't dress them up in cute holiday outfits like we do today, but the Romans loved their dogs all the same.http://voices.yahoo.com/dogs-roman-history-protectors-hunters-soldiers-7504654.html