# 1 Main title: Dog

# 2 Opening: The Dog is the eleventh animal of the twelve zodiac animals. The Dog guards the direction west-northwest and the hours from 7 o'clock to 9 o'clock in the evening. Dog Month corresponds to the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

# 3 Dogs as we know today: Dogs are one of the most familiar domesticated animals in the world. Intelligent and loyal, the dog symbolizes loyalty to humans. Perhaps no other animals are as close to humans as dogs. Since the prehistoric times, dogs had been domesticated for various purposes in man's society, whereas their unique character, loving and sensitive, has helped fill the void in people's emotions. They say it takes three days to "repattern" the dog's brain – or make the dog accept a new owner.

# 4 The Korean native dogs: The Korean Jindo is a breed of hunting dog that originated in the south of Korea. The dog is known for its homing instinct, fierce loyalty, and brave nature. The dog’s loyalty to family members is known to last a lifetime. The Sapsali is another Korean breed of dog. As a Korean saying goes, "No evils can come around where the Sapsali is." To ancient Koreans, the Sapsali, or popularly known as "Sapsalgae," brought to mind mountain gods or gurus because of its shaggy appearance. Traditionally, these dogs were believed to dispel ghosts or evil spirits. The Pungsan dog is a rare hunting breed, a native of the Gaema highlands of what is now North Korea. Known for outstanding agility and endurance, these dogs were traditionally hunters. Its bravery and strength were so famous that people used to say, "With two Pungsan dogs you can catch a tiger." The Daenggyeon, or dog without a tail, became nearly extinct because of the superstitious belief that "an animal without a tail will bring misfortune." Even without tails, these dogs were known to be lithe and agile and to have highly developed olfactory and auditory senses.

# 5 Relics associated with dogs: The closeness of dogs and humans was evident in the murals inside ancient tombs. In such murals, dogs, in their typically loyal forms, were vividly portrayed as guardians for the dead or their tombs. In historic sites dating back to the prehistoric times, dog bones and earthen figurines in the shape of a dog were found, suggesting the animal's closeness with Koreans. Even in folk paintings, one can easily tell that dogs were often the center of man's affection. These dogs were usually part of the backdrop, not the central theme, of the painting, e.g., behind certain human characters. They are realistic and humble depictions of dogs in Korean society. On the contrary, in the "Minhwa" category, the image dog was often exaggerated for the purpose of dispelling ghosts or evil spirits. The exaggerated image of the Dog was believed to dispel evil spirits and prevent misfortune; thus bringing only good events. Another example is "Horyeopdo," which depicts a hunting scene. Here, dogs are included. This suggests that Koreans took along hunting dogs for hunting, and these dogs are vividly portrayed as brave and strong.

# 6 The Dog of Osu: There is an old Korean folktale about a loyal dog, suggesting that dogs were more than livestock but a special animal with a virtuous character, such as wisdom, courage, and filial behaviors. The dog is also an animal of gratitude and wisdom that can move the hearts of people, strengthening the emotional ties between the dog and man. Osu-myeon in Inchul County, North Jeolla Province made a monument for the loyal dog called "Uigyeonbi," regularly performing the "Uigyeonje" ceremony to commemorate the Dog of Osu every April. The event has taken root as a local cultural festival, promoting the high spirit of the loyal dog that sacrificed its life to save its owner. To promote the town as the destination for world-class dogs, local residents organize various events such as free pet grooming, pet beauty shows, and dog race and dog shows.

# 7 Use of dogs: Dogs have long been domesticated by man, and they have helped the lives of people. On the alert for danger and sensitive to movements, dogs are helpful in chasing or catching criminals at the scene. Their highly developed olfactory and auditory senses were compared to hi-tech equipment in various search functions. Dogs trained for the physically challenged became almost essential in the lives of people who need assistance, offering warm and sensitive companionship. According to an interviewee, "First, the guide dog must be well-behaved and in good health. Like people, dogs have a personality, too, suitable to become a guide dog. Since the guide dog lives with people, it must be naturally good-tempered, never aggressive. The dog is required to be considerate to humans. The hearing dog for the deaf is specially trained to aid hearing. While living with the owner, the dog hears various important sounds, such as door bells, phone rings, and clock chimes and the like and alerts its owner. Or the dog leads to the source of the sound." Traditionally in Korea, dog meat has been a representative stamina food. Dog meat is described as an essential diet in mid-summer. They say, "Only after eating boiled dog meat and sweating out on Bok days can one recharge." Thus, the dish was called "Bosintang," literally meaning "stamina stew." Dog meat is called "Xiang rou (香肉, fragrant meat)" in China and "dangogi" in North Korea. Dog meat is known as highly nourishing and is digested well. Eating dog meat is an age-old tradition in Korea, but modern-day controversies led Koreans to seek a point of compromise.

# 8 Ending: Times and cultures may change, but dogs are here to stay with us. Once it set its mind, the dog will never forsake its owner. The dog is a friend and a companion that helps and energizes us. Above all, the dog's unchanging loyalty is said to be able to make modern men, ever more indifferent, insensitive, and unscrupulous, want to look back on their true nature.