This is a tribute site devoted to dogs and their wild relatives; it is a quixotic and personal exploration of the science, history and philosophy linking canids and humans. Alas, probably nothing much about potty training them.

The name of the site is taken from a quote from the ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes, a founder of the philosophy known as Cynicism. The English words Cynic and Cynicism are derived from the Greek word ‘kunikos’, which translates as dog-like.

Over 2000 years later the words, if not the hardcore philosophy, are in widespread usage.

Because Diogenes lived on the streets, begged for food, barked at the pretentious and arrogant, and showed a determined fondness for canines himself, he was cast as dog-like.

Cynicism was an intensely skeptical philosophy, hostile to social mores and much human activity; Diogenes himself was noted as irascible and caustic, iconoclastic and contrarian. Plato, often the target of his contempt and mockery, called him “a Socrates gone mad.”

Despite any hesitation we might have in joining the Cynics ourselves, any philosophy or philosopher affiliated with the dogs of Ancient Athens cannot be all bad.