The dog collar has an 8,000-year history!
Did you know that the basic design of the collar has remained unchanged since the time of ancient Mesopotamia? The Sumerians were likely the first to invent the collar. According to a 2022 study by the organization diaNEOsis, in collaboration with the Hellenic Veterinary Association, 43% of Greeks own a petOf these, 66% have at least one dog, and 42% have at least one cat.
The oldest depiction of dogs wearing leashes comes from the Shuwaymis region in present-day Saudi Arabia. Over 1,400 rock inscriptions depicting hunting dogs have been found there. In one of these, two dogs are connected to a hunter by lines interpreted as leashes. This image is dated to 8,000 years ago!
In ancient Persia, dogs of the upper class wore gold necklaces, while those of lower social strata wore simple leather or fabric collars. In Egypt, dogs wore elaborately decorated collars, and in the tomb of the noble Maiherpri, two collars were discovered adorned with brass studs, lotus flower images, and hunting dogs. One of these even bears the name of a dog: Tantanuit. In Greece, the collar became a tool for protection. The ancient Greeks created spiked collar to guard against wolves, while the Romans further developed them into military gear for their Molossian dogs, which were used in battles and for guarding.
In the East, the use of collars had spiritual significance.
In China and Japan, collars featured charms and bells, as it was believed that dogs repelled evil spirits. From then until today, the collar remains a symbol of the bond between humans and dogs—a relationship that has endured unbroken for thousands of years.
