”Many years ago in the lands of early man, a couple of dogs sat on a hill passing the time of day whilst watching a group of humans who were trying to round up a herd of Reindeer. Having watched the humans running around, waving their arms and yelling, the dogs declared: “We could do that better,” and they did. The question is, did the ancient man breed an irreplaceable helper or did the dog himself decide he wanted to help?”
There is no debate or doubt in the idea that during the very earliest period of man’s habitation of the world he made a friend and companion of some sort of aboriginal representative of our modern dog, and in return for its aid in protecting him from wilder animals, and in guarding his sheep and goats, he gave it a share of his food, a corner of his dwelling, and grew to trust and care for it.
It is thought that dogs were the first animals to live with people. The remains of dogs, estimated at 14,000 years old have been found in Germany, 13,500 years old in Israel and 10,500 years old in Idaho (USA). In Western Russia in an area known as Bryansk, evidence of dog remains have been found alongside bones of Reindeer, Mammoth and Artic Fox (pictured). All dogs, wild and domestic, belong to the Canid family. This family group includes wolves, jackals, dogs and foxes. There are thirty-eight species of wild canids living in habitats ranging from tropical rainforests to arctic tundra. Although they are diverse they do retain distinctive characteristics. Canids live in complex social groups. They hunt co-operatively and share their kill, the higher-ranking members eating first.
They bear live young, have similar dental structures and are homoeothermic (able to maintain their body temperature at a constant level). The present day domestic dog can be linked genetically to the Grey Wolf, (Canis Lupus). It is not known exactly why or how Wolves first started interacting with man. It is true that they would have shared a common characteristic in so far as both hunted and both did so in organised packs or teams for efficiency.
One can therefore easily conceive the possibility of the partnership beginning in the circumstance of some helpless cubs being brought home by early hunters to be tended and reared by the women and children. Primitive man would have been indifferent to the questionable advantage of harbouring such a dangerous guest. The young cubs would soon grow to regard themselves as members of the family, whilst obviously maintaining many of their natural instincts, in particular that of a pack structure.
It would not take long for early man to realise the benefits of the hunting instincts of the maturing animal. Treading the primeval forests he would appreciate the keener nose and sharper eyes than his own. The early dog in turn would find better shelter in his association with man and perhaps a more regular food supply. This mutual benefit would result in some kind of tacit agreement of partnership, and through the generations the wild wolf would gradually become gentler, more docile and tractable. The dreaded enemy of the flock developed into the trusted guardian of the fold. The evolution of the dog had begun.
Dogs developed rapidly across the world. They developed according to the needs of early man. Some were bred to assist in the controlling or gathering of sheep on rolling hillsides or in difficult terrains. Others would be needed to assist in the movement of large herds such as cattle, deer, or goats as man migrated to different lands. These dogs were large unruly, mastiff type dogs such as the Komandor, and the Kuvasz. These dogs had to protect the flocks from wolves and bears so they needed to be strong and aggressive.
Most European herding dogs’ origins lie with the Polish Lowland Sheepdog, which had evolved from the larger dogs from Asia and the Middle East. The Irish Wolfhound is probably Europe’s oldest herding dog, which remains true to type. Little thought was paid to the appearance of these dogs, as the shepherd was more concerned with the dog’s ability to perform. The ancestor of today’s herding dog does not come down a family tree but is more selective breeding by man to suit his needs.
Phoenician traders, the Celts and the Romans all contributed to establishing the dog as a working animal in Great Britain. Centuries ago Britain’s wealth lay in sheep farming, and shepherds with their sheepdogs tended large flocks. The dogs varied greatly depending on geographical location and climate. Areas with constant rain had dogs with rough wiry coats. Southern, warmer areas began to breed dogs with smooth coats. Where wolves prowled at night, the bigger dogs were needed for protection. It was a case of ‘function determines form’. Breeds emerged such as the Bearded Collie, Harlequin, Bob Tailed Sheepdog, and the Smithfield. Many of these ancient herding dogs of Great Britain are extinct in their true form.
The Scotsman, James Hogg, a shepherd and poet from Etterick, Scotland wrote: “Without the sheepdog the mountainous lands of England and Scotland would not be worth sixpence. It would require more hands to manage a flock of sheep and drive them to market than the profits of the whole were capable of maintaining.”
This evolution from wild wolves, originally a threat to mankind, into probably the single most useful animal in our modern everyday lives, shows just how much has been achieved in this relatively short time frame. Dogs as we know them today are loyal, servile, affectionate and tolerant of so many oddities which modern human lifestyles throw at them, but it is utterly imperative that all modern dog owners remember the relatively recent origins of their beloved pet dog. These are animals, they are not miniature humans.
Whilst the company and security many dogs offer to their owners is enormous, one must maintain a level of understanding which gives respect to their natural origins. Only through doing so, can we ensure that this transition from wolf to best friend, remains as beneficial and wonderfully rewarding as it has been for countless generations. Love your dog, but love him as a dog, and do not expect any more than an animal can rightly offer to a human. Keeping that attitude firmly in mind, is the only surefire way to have a perfect and accurate understanding between the two parties.
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