Article Title: Domesticating The Dog (Part 2)
Author: Van Hoffen
Eliminating monogamy was a major change made in order to
domesticate dogs, and thus increasing the speed of selectively
breeding dogs. The new traits that were bred into the domestic
dog can be maintained only under domesticity; they would cause
insurmountable social problems in the wild. Its no wonder there
are so many different breeds of dogs today, as different ancient
civilizations each had a different way of living life and
surviving off the land.
Companionship, an allegiance between two species, was actually
a by-product of the human-dog domestication mystery. Initially
the relationship between dog and man was symbiotic: dogs would
aid us in the hunt in exchange for access to safe shelter, a
reliable food supply, and protection from predators. But then
with the advent of herding for a living, humankind again called
upon the assistance of the dog. Some nomadic tribes found it
easier to build a stock of animals year-round rather than to
depend on the fortunes of the hunt. This pastoral way of life
created a more stable supply of food and clothing, encouraged
the establishment of semi-permanent villages.
Early Semitic tribes in Mesopotamia used breeds similar to the
present-day Kuvasz, a large, powerful white herd-guarding dog
that often prefers the company of sheep to that of people. Dogs
were now needed not to kill prey but to keep herds of sheep,
goats, reindeer, or cattle together; to move the herds from
place to place; and to protect them from predators and
poachers. These herding dogs had specific traits that allowed
them to do their job well.
As more jobs were needed to be filled by dogs, so the diversity
of dog breeds. One of the earliest breeds to be developed for a
specific task was the sight hound. Over 5000 years ago,
Egyptian and Assyrian kings and queens prized the Greyhound-
and Wolfhound type dogs, as hunting dogs in the desert depended
less on their noses, given the sandy soil's inability to hold
scent for very long. They were perfectly suited to their task.
In addition, the dogs' good eyesight could often see its prey
from a long distance, given the rolling plains and open country
topography. The arid, wide-open expanses also required these
dogs to be fast, lightly built, and short-coated so they
wouldn't be affected by the heat.
Heavier, mastiff-type breeds were first developed 1000 to 2000
years later in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) and gradually
exported to Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and Italy. These powerful
dogs were first used to take down large game; they would grab
the prey and hold on until the hunter arrived to make the kill.
Rhodesian Ridgebacks were used to flush lions for Egyptian
archers who were lying in wait. The Saluki, one of today's
beautiful silky-haired sight hounds, was used thousands of
years ago by Egyptian and Assyrian hunters to run down and
capture rabbits and small gazelles.
About The Author: For more dog information suggested by
Fredrick Van Hoffen, visit here:
http://furl.
http://www.spurl.
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