Which ancient civilisation showed the greatest respect for dogs?

The ancient civilizations that showed great respect for dogs were both ancient Persia and ancient Egypt. In ancient Persia, dogs were believed to guard the bridge between the living and the dead, with their treatment impacting one's chances of attaining paradise; they received funerary rites comparable to humans and played a key role in mortuary rituals^[1]. Similarly, in ancient Egypt, dogs were considered sacred and were often depicted in art and mythology. Anubis, the jackal-headed god, was revered as the guardian of the dead, and the Egyptians mummified dogs to accompany their owners in the afterlife, showcasing their significant reverence for dogs^[2][3].