Friday, August 16, 2013

Considerations Regarding How A Dog Became The Best Companion Of Man

By Nicholas Manzano


Evidence shows that modern dog originates from a species of wolves (Eurasian gray) that lived on Earth fifteen thousand to forty thousand years ago. Before farming existed, canine races were domesticated by hunter-gatherers. Both dogs and humans were in a constant search for shelter and food. In many historic writings, the animal is mentioned as a helper in the activities of man, for protection, hunting, watching and fighting.

There is no clear data about what exactly happened in the history of the best friend of man. DNA examinations that were made on hundreds of dogs in 2002 revealed that the most diverse species from a genetic point of view is the East Asian one. In theory, the bond between humans and canines has formed in East Asia. There are researches who say that people tried to tame dogs even from the Ice Age Paleolithic period (32,000 years ago), when they were hunters.

It can be good to know the time of transformation of humans from hunter-gatherers to farmers, for discovering the real origins and evolution of man. The idea is that canines had an important role in the transition process. The transformation may have been impossible if plants and animals would not have been domesticated.

Even if there is a clear view on how cows, goats, sheep and pigs were tamed, there is no obvious perspective on canines. In order to uncover this mystery, studies are still being made. According to some researchers, the most recent wild dog originates from North America, from long before any humans lived there. The general idea is that the first dog had a wolf father and a jackal mother.

Recent research showed that canines have a high level of intelligence and this had an important role in the evolution of humans. Individuals were dependent on relationships with other species for reaching the current state of development. The real motives for choosing primitive canines as friends are not well known. There are theories about the requirements from the moment of transition and the environment from that time.

Because food and shelter was needed, people and canines were forced to hunt and they used stone hatches and teeth for this purpose. For being able to survive, families required a lot of food. Caves and tree trucks were the places in which the first dogs lived in. In the coldest period of a year, primitive dogs were attracted by fire camps, especially when they were in the search for food and they could not find anything. Getting some bones that man could not chew may have been a blessing for a starving animal.

Maybe one night the wild animal brought its family to the camp fire for feeling warmer. While hunting, humans could observe how wild canines had an advantage over them: their better sense of smell. A possible scenario can be the one in which an individual captured one of the puppies from a family and raised it. The adult animal could be trained and used as a hunting helper.

After reaching full maturity, the domesticated wolf could have realized how wonderful life among humans may be. Obeying the commands of a master and help provided in hunting sessions may be enough for getting a regular meal. The benefits of owning a dog were surely seen by other people and they become tamers themselves. At one particular time, there were many canines in human communities, almost equal to the number of people.

During thousands of years of evolution, the appearance and shape of dogs change a lot, but humans also look now different than before. Canines started to bark instead of howling and became more and more dependent on humans. After agriculture was invented, man found new ways in which dogs could be helpful, such as guarding other domestic animals: sheep, cows, goat, etc.

But, in order to be able to go hunting while dogs guarded sheep, people taught canines not to eat the domestic animals. Protecting sheep was not enough. Humans needed guardians for other things as well, such as homes, properties and families.

The development of a strong bond between dogs and their masters was not a problem after canines became guardians of people. Old reference about friendships between man and domestic animals exist in 1500 B. C. In history, it is well known that dogs were treated as and considered kings and gods. Evidence can be found in Ethiopia, ruins of Pompeii, or the old tombs of Egypt.

Other references regarding canines can be seen in the Bible and the Roman history. American Indian pottery, along with French and British tapestry can be considered proof. There are many species shown in images.

Canines can have similar qualities like humans: communication, empathy, good memory and intelligence. The loyalty and friendly nature of dogs is well known since ancient history. There are opinions about a self-domestication of wolves. The idea is that there was a nicer group, which took advantage of the kindness of humans.

While dogs became part of human families, people also can be considered now as part of the pack. Humans usually leave things that can be eaten by dogs and this provided a new and unique niche for primitive canines to explore. Today, people care so much for pets that they take them to salons, dress them and offer them special treatment.

The way dogs look and behave today did not come over night. The change happened genetically through selective breeding, during multiple generations. Because wolves became friendlier, they started to change their appearance gradually. People could distinguish between peaceful wolves and the ones that were more aggressive.

Studies can show that dogs became friends to humans during an extended period of time, which started in ancient history. Primitive dogs started to be friendlier, more protective and to enjoy the company of humans. How exactly everything happened may not be known, but there is a sure fact that people all around the world know it: dogs are the best friends of man today.




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