About 800 till 100 before Christ, in Fore-Asia,
the first written proofs of dogs used for war, where found. They where very big
fighting-dogs who where very important for the army's in that time. Kyros, King of Perzians, was the first to let all his dogs wearing a panzer or harness to
fight together in the frontline of the battle. He, together with other
conquerors has brought big dogs into Europe. The Romans have used about 200
before and 200 after Christ also dogs for several reasons. They had two types
of dogs: the heavy build, mollossoide type and the lighter, more elegant type.
From that time on, the dogs where bred and used for a certain aim. The heavy
Mollosser was used as weapon in battles, the lighter type was used as
herding-guarddog and also preferred by the later poor farmers for two reasons:
they where more efficient to help with the cattle, and they where cheaper to
feed. Centuries later about the years 1500 some dogs where used to guard the
frontiers, in England to catch cattle or horse thieves, later in America to
track runaway slaves.
In Belgium about 1700 was the first time they
used dogs to help the city guards. These dogs where not trained, they only
companioned the "policeman". Also between 1700 and 1900 a light type
of dog was used for herding sheep's. They where middle sized, very intelligent
and fast dogs. Al colors and coats where present. This is where the real
beginning starts, because the "Belgium Shepherd" is at the foundation
of the Ringsport…
from the article "The history of the Belgian Ringsport "by Guy Verschatse
/To be continued/
