The food we give to our dogs today is a carefully engineered product, designed to meet the nutritional needs of modern canine companions. However, dog food as we know it is a relatively recent invention. For thousands of years, dogs largely ate whatever humans provided, from kitchen scraps to hunting spoils. Recreating dog food from the last 2,000 years gives us insight into the evolution of the human-dog relationship and how dogs’ diets have shifted alongside human civilization. Ancient Dog Diets (0 - 500 CE) In ancient times, particularly during the Roman Empire and earlier civilizations, dogs were seen as valuable for hunting, herding, and protection. Their food reflected their roles: dogs ate whatever was available, often sharing meals with their human masters. Archaeological evidence suggests that dogs in ancient Rome and Greece were fed scraps from the human table, which typically included bread, grains, meat, and bones. For wealthier households, dogs may have received more speci...