Someone wrote recently that the sleeve on the "not dominant" arm and the stick on the dominant arm, was perhaps descended from the shield and sword concept of medieval times. I have no idea...but it piqued my interest.

Does anyone know with any historical precision how dogs were used in war? How they were trained? Did they obey?

Regarding breeds, I guess they were quite large dogs...period. I couldn't find anything that nails the breed(s) down. Most people call those dogs Molossers.

It had to be a very tough proposition...for the dog...to go out towards a bunch of screaming, sword, battle axe, mace wielding, bearded savages...to engage. Talk about nerves!

Anyone know links to this sort of history?

All I have been able to find is very superficial, or post WWI.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> This would definitely fall in the category of "VERY" General Dog Conversation...

You can see mastiff type dogs with the legions on Roman columns, I think Will is our resident historian. I'm sure they were used in the middle ages.
"Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war" and they were most certainly used by the conquistadors in the conquest of of South and Central America. I'm off to google it now

I'd contend that the use of "war dogs" is probably a bit sensationalized. There really isn't much historical evidence that dogs were used often in combat. Although there is ample evidence that they were used by military for guarding, tracking, eating POWS <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />, and droving/guarding stock.

The few verifiable historical examples we have for war dogs show that they were used to harass cavalry (scare, chase, and bite horses to limit the effectiveness of the soldiers on them. . .not to knock riders down and eat their guts out), harass skirmishers, or guard and follow around soldiers rich enough to feed and keep a big mean dog.

I think deploying significant numbers of war dogs onto a battlefield would be a nightmare.

Probably would have been cheaper and more effective to keep a number of slaves and hand them spears with an incentive of freedom.

By most estimates the average human being in ancient times subsisted on significantly less fodder than it would take to feed a 120lbs dog who's only use would be to bite people when war happened. LOL


I think the whole concept is pretty rediculous, but makes for a great story. . .which is what most of written history is about.

Some info, take it for what it´s worth.
http://www.geocities.com/ericsquire/articles/dogshist.htm

 Quote:

I'd contend that the use of "war dogs" is probably a bit sensationalized. .....By most estimates the average human being in ancient times subsisted on significantly less fodder than it would take to feed a 120lbs dog who's only use would be to bite people when war happened. LOL.....I think the whole concept is pretty rediculous, but makes for a great story.... which is what most of written history is about.

Yep.........the winner is the one who gets to record the war. Wonder why it's skewed toward the glory of the vanquisher? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The Roman wardog thing is cool, though -- like The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Is this the sort of information you were looking for?

http://www.bulldoginformation.com/molossers-mastiff-breeds-history.html

Quote:"Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war"

Everyone knows they were not talking about dogs, but Marines. Didn't they teach you guys that in the Navy? It was one of those premonition/wish things. They saw us in a dream and were so terrified they had to write about us before we even occurred. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Quote:"Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war"

Everyone knows they were not talking about dogs, but Marines. Didn't they teach you guys that in the Navy? It was one of those premonition/wish things. They saw us in a dream and were so terrified they had to write about us before we even occurred. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Or maybe it was YOU specifically they saw in a dream and were so terrified they wrote about you before you even occurred! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Have we met? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />