History of the Dog

by Daniel
quick read on the history of dogs.
There is no incongruity in the idea that in the very earliest period of man's habitation of this world he made a friend and companion of some sort of aboriginal representative of our modern dog, and that 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 in his dwelling, and grew to trust it and care for it.

Probably the animal was originally little else than an unusually gentle jackal, or an ailing wolf driven by its companions from the wild marauding pack to seek shelter in alien surroundings. One can well conceive the possibility of the partnership beginning in the circumstance of some helpless whelps being brought home by the early hunters to be tended and reared by the women and children. Dogs introduced into the home as playthings for the children would grow to regard themselves, and be regarded, as members of the family

In nearly all parts of the world traces of an indigenous dog family are found, the only exceptions being the West Indian Islands, Madagascar, the eastern islands of the Malayan Archipelago, New Zealand, and the Polynesian Islands, where there is no sign that any dog, wolf, or fox has existed as a true aboriginal animal. I

In the ancient Oriental lands, and generally among the early Mongolians, the dog remained savage and neglected for centuries, prowling in packs, gaunt and wolf-like, as it prowls today through the streets and under the walls of every Eastern city. No attempt was made to allure it into human companionship or to improve it into docility. It is not until we come to examine the records of the higher civilisations of Assyria and Egypt that we discover any distinct varieties of canine form.

The dog was not greatly appreciated in Palestine, and in both the Old and New Testaments it is commonly spoken of with scorn and contempt as an "unclean beast." Even the familiar reference to the Sheepdog in the Book of Job "But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock" is not without a suggestion of contempt, and it is significant that the only biblical allusion to the dog as a recognised companion of man occurs in the apocryphal Book of Tobit (v. 16), "So they went forth both, and the young man's dog with them."

The great multitude of different breeds of the dog and the vast differences in their size, points, and general appearance are facts which make it difficult to believe that they could have had a common ancestry.

One thinks of the difference between the Mastiff and the Japanese Spaniel, the Deerhound and the fashionable Pomeranian, the St. Bernard and the Miniature Black and Tan Terrier, and is perplexed in contemplating the possibility of their having descended from a common progenitor.

Yet the disparity is no greater than that between the Shire horse and the Shetland pony, the Shorthorn and the Kerry cattle, or the Patagonian and the Pygmy; and all dog breeders know how easy it is to produce a variety in type and size by studied selection.

In order properly to understand this question it is necessary first to consider the identity of structure in the wolf and the dog. This identity of structure may best be studied in a comparison of the osseous system, or skeletons, of the two animals, which so closely resemble each other that their transposition would not easily be detected.

The spine of the dog consists of seven vertebrae in the neck, thirteen in the back, seven in the loins, three sacral vertebrae, and twenty to twenty-two in the tail. In both the dog and the wolf there are thirteen pairs of ribs, nine true and four false. Each has forty-two teeth.

They both have five front and four hind toes, while outwardly the common wolf has so much the appearance of a large, bare-boned dog, that a popular description of the one would serve for the other.

Nor are their habits different. The wolf's natural voice is a loud howl, but when confined with dogs he will learn to bark. Although he is carnivorous, he will also eat vegetables, and when sickly he will nibble grass. In the chase, a pack of wolves will divide into parties, one following the trail of the quarry, the other endeavouring to intercept its retreat, exercising a considerable amount of strategy, a trait which is exhibited by many of our sporting dogs and terriers when hunting in teams.

A further important point of resemblance between the Canis lupus and the Canis familiaris lies in the fact that the period of gestation in both species is sixty-three days.

There are from three to nine cubs in a wolf's litter, and these are blind for twenty-one days. They are suckled for two months, but at the end of that time they are able to eat half-digested flesh disgorged for them by their dam or even their sire.

The native dogs of all regions approximate closely in size, coloration, form, and habit to the native wolf of those regions. Of this most important circumstance there are far too many instances to allow of its being looked upon as a mere coincidence. Sir John Richardson, writing in 1829, observed that "the resemblance between the North American wolves and the domestic dog of the Indians is so great that the size and strength of the wolf seems to be the only difference.

It has been suggested that the one incontrovertible argument against the lupine relationship of the dog is the fact that all domestic dogs bark, while all wild Canidae express their feelings only by howls. But the difficulty here is not so great as it seems, since we know that jackals, wild dogs, and wolf pups reared by bitches readily acquire the habit. On the other hand, domestic dogs allowed to run wild forget how to bark, while there are some which have not yet learned so to express themselves.

The presence or absence of the habit of barking cannot, then, be regarded as an argument in deciding the question concerning the origin of the dog. This stumbling block consequently disappears, leaving us in the position of agreeing with Darwin, whose final hypothesis was that "it is highly probable that the domestic dogs of the world have descended from two good species of wolf (C. lupus and C. latrans), and from two or three other doubtful species of wolves namely, the European, Indian, and North African forms; from at least one or two South American canine species; from several races or species of jackal; and perhaps from one or more extinct species"; and that the blood of these, in some cases mingled together, flows in the veins of our domestic breeds.

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What Will Your Dog Experience at the Vet?

By Kristi Carter
It is the owner's responsibility to notice changes that might signify a sickness in your dog. It would be much easier if your dog could say to you that he feels bad, but he can't. It is up to you to notice changes in your pet's behavior that may be signs of some sort of sickness. This might include having no appetite, changes in stools or just being abnormally tired. The more information you have for your vet, the easier it will be for him to determine the problem. Most of the time, your dog will receive a basic exam and the vet will ask you many questions about your dog and his health.

One of the things your veterinarian will look at is your dog's nose. You have probably heard that dog's noses should be wet and cool. This is true for the most part, however a dog with a warm and dry nose is not necessarily sick. However, if it's not, your vet will probably not be overly concerned. What will concern him is fluid, mucus or changes from the last visit. Your vet will also take a close look at your dog's eyes. Because eye diseases happen in many dogs, the vet will check to see if there are any warning signs that would warrant further testing.

Not necessarily in this order, your vet will take a good look in your dog's mouth. He will be on the lookout for gum inflammation or tooth decay. He can also check the blood pressure by simply pressing on your dog's gums. Pale gums can mean that you have an anemic pet, while a yellowish color can mean that your pet has a liver issue. Pink, healthy gums and strong teeth are a great sign. From here, your vet will also check the nails to see if there is damage in the nail bed or a wearing of one paw's nails. This can mean that the dog has an injury that is causing him to favor one leg. Flaky nails also may call for further investigating for some sort of metabolic disorder.

A healthy skin and coat will signify a healthy dog. However, a dull coat may mean that your dog has fleas, mites, or some other parasite. It can also mean that your dog has an infection somewhere else that needs to be found. Sometime during the examination, your vet will check your dog's genitals. For female dogs, the vet will check for discharge or irritation. There could be some sort of reproductive or urinary problem. A male dog will also be checked for swelling or inflammation in the genitals to ensure good health.

Through these different methods of checking your dog, your vet will be able to tell if there is some sort of condition that needs further looking into. Assuming that you have noticed no problems with your dog and each of these areas appears perfectly healthy, your vet will most likely present you with a clean bill of health for your four-legged friend!

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Training Dogs to Be Obedient

By Scott Williams
Ah yes, dog obedience training. All the while you thought, when the children were old enough, that you were free of teaching the young ones. Then you went out and got a dog. And then you learn, to your horror, that the furry little bundle of joy that crashed into the TV set, chewed up your slippers and destroyed your neighbors prized orchids needs to be trained. Otherwise, Fido could turn out to be your worst nightmare.

Dog obedience training is basically communicating with the dog in such a way that he understands what the master wants him to do. But this is easier said than done. Dog obedience training entails a lot of patience and commitment. It is communicating to the animal and teaching them what is right and wrong. The most essential ability required in dog obedience training is to have effective communication between you and the dog. In having effective communication with your dog the trainer or handler can now make the dog obey commands like "sit", "come", "stay" or "heel".

There are a lot of reasons why we want obedience training for our dogs. One of the main reasons is for the dog's own welfare. We would want our dog to act accordingly when we are out with our dog and surrounded by a lot of people and other dogs as well. This scenario could present some curiosity and, sometimes, stress for an unaccustomed or untrained dog. By simply giving the proper commands we can prevent our dog from biting someone or simply running away when frightened. Dog obedience training will give you an obedient dog that is going to be able to interact with people and other dogs minus the usual dog problems.

Before starting dog obedience training it is always helpful to look at the qualities of the dog that we can relate to. Dogs are pack animals that, like humans, thrive as part of a group. And as such, they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. So in a sense you, the trainer/owner, are the leader of the pack. And so must establish early on that we are the dominant animal in the relationship. Misunderstanding this concept could lead to a lot of dog behavior problems.

For dog obedience training there are two popular and effective styles that you can use: the collar/leash method and the reward method. The reward method is not as intense as the collar/leash method. The reward method is a motivating style as it rewards the dog after it was encouraged and has done some of the commands. While the collar/leash method is a corrective method that gives your dog some discomfort for an improper action that was done; like pulling at the leash or jumping on a stranger.

The collar/leash and treats, which are used as rewards, are also the tools used to help in dog obedience training. There are numerous kinds of collars that can be used; some examples are the choke collar and electronic collar. The same is true with treats. There are numerous treats that you can purchase or make yourself to choose from.

There are also some basic commands used in dog obedience training. These are:

• Heel • Sit • Stay • Down • No

These basic commands must be mastered by your dog to be considered truly trained. Another thing to remember in training your dog is to keep it consistent and to make it fun for your dog.

Giving dog obedience training to your dog will make your dog a better and fun family companion in your household, more so in homes with small children. It also helps in cutting down incidents of dog bites and dog behavior problems encountered by dog owners. Dog obedience training gives the owner more than just an obedient and willing pet. Training your dog the correct way will further strengthen the bond between the dog and his master. Now that, is really man's best friend.

Scott Williams is a freelance copywriter with a special interest in pets and an expert in dog training . For effective and easy dog training please visit http://dogpottytraining.blogspot.com. He has also been a frequent traveler and expert in finding cheap vacation packages and plane tickets at http://military-plane-tickets.blogspot.com

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