Haylesbury on the wolf to the dog (Animal Welfare in general)

Name: haylesbury

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Product:	Animal Welfare in general
Date:	30.10.06 (710 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Well we all love dogs

Disadvantages: We took away the wolf's rights to chose and continue with natural selection

This review will allow the reader to develop a clear and broad knowledge of animal evolution, also explaining the role of breed development through domestication and in breeding animals for specific purposes. Also explained is the differing behaviour patterns and problems throughout the breeds.

The species described is a dog and there is depth put into explaining how over 150 completely different breeds have emerged from one ancestor; the wolf. First described will be the evolution and breed development of the dog, then how the dog has been domesticated into the current pets we own.

Common behaviour in the domesticated dog will then be compared with that of the natural behaviour of the dog in the wild. Any behaviour problems in the common breeds will then be identified and prevention of these behaviour problems will be offered.

The reason this review was chosen to be written on dogs is the fascinating variety of breeds developed and the uses for each breed and the way in which they work so effectively along side humans. The change from the wolf to the dog is vast and extraordinary, the changes even just from one close breed to another is drastic, but some look like they are not from the same species at all.

The way humans have bred and created so many assortments of the wolf is examined looking at the good and bad points in the domestication as so many problems arose from interbreeding to create the pure bred forms of dog found today, whilst so many breeds are used to save lives and provide a valuable service to humans which no other species could provide.

List of what is believed to be the earliest to the most recent relatives of the dog.

Creodants

Creodants were a small group of meat eating animals. They are believed to have appeared between fifty and a hundred million years ago. Their appearance is unknown

Miacis

Miacis are believed to have lived at least partially on
or in trees as they had wide spreading paws. They do
not look similar in appearance to the wolf or dog
today. It is believed that they first appeared around
between fifty-four and thirty-eight million years ago.

Hesperocyon

These are considered to be the most likely direct ancestor of the dog. They first appeared in North America and have many similar characteristics of which canines display. They are thought to have emerged between thirty-eight and twenty-six million years ago. They do not share the same appearance of the common day dog.

Tomarctus

Animals which are carnivores and are developed all around the world. They evolved in Eurasia and are assumed to be an ancestor of the dog. There is no evidence of this assumption however. They look similar to a fox or dog in appearance and appeared nineteen million years ago.

Leptocyon

The leptocyon is thought to be the true ancestor of the dog and many other current carnivores. They look similar to the wolf in appearance. They appeared around twelve million years ago.

Canidae

This is the most recent evolvement before differing breeds of fox’s and wolves appeared. There was at first a simple five groups; the jackal, coyote, wolf, hyena and fox. The canidae appeared two million years ago.

These relatives to the dog slowly evolved as a result of climate and environmental changes. Eventually they developed social skills and became able to hunt as a pack, which enabled them to kill animals of a larger size and kill more animals so they all survived and worked together successfully.

It is thought that the miacis and hesperocyon had no bark, but shared some characteristics with today’s modern day dogs; the ability to work together to hunt and the strong sense or bravery are just two named ones.

It is thought to be likely that the coyote, fox, jackal and hyena played a small part in the genetic make-up of the common day dog, but they do not share the same social behaviour as the closest ancestor of the dog; the wolf. The wolf is a social predator, there have been many different species of the wolf, but not as vast as the species which have been produced by humans in different forms of the dog.

The way in which the dog originally became a separate species from the dog, is believed to have occurred through natural selection. Wolves were attracted to human environments because of their instincts to scavenge food. This means that it is likely that some wolf cubs were raised by humans eventually. From the wolves which had been hand reared to be partially domesticated, the dog may have evolved. These were bred to guard and hunt.

Dogs quickly adjusted to living in close company with man as their natural instinct was to be a member of a pack, and man allowed this instinct to be fulfilled as the dog became a large member of many human “packs”.

Eventually dogs evolved to suit their breeding by mankind, but still kept their instincts originally seen in the wolf, and maintained some physical resemblance to the wolf. Eventually man chose to selectively breed and separate the breeds of the dog to suit their own needs. Dogs began to vary in size dramatically depending on mans preference and needs in the particular dog.

It is believed that today, between 300 and 400 separate breeds of the dog exist. These vary dramatically in size, coat type and abilities.

The dog is the only known domesticated species which existed before the fifteenth century.

The fact that the dog is thought to have survived through thousands of years and has many relatives, both distant and close makes it hard to distinguish exactly when domestication occurred, and it is often debated whether the wolf was initially domesticated as it is thought that the wolf came into contact and was perhaps even brought up occasionally by man, which would put domestication at an early date.

It is accepted in modern times that the domesticated dog descended from the wolf. It is thought that the dog was brought about around 14,000 years ago, but there is also evidence that the dog may have begun evolving from the wolf as much as 135,000 years ago.

Although dogs still display many of the same physical and behaviour patterns as the wolf, there are some differences which have occurred gradually though domestication.

Dogs can display piebald coats, floppy ears and curly tails, which have gradually formed through natural selection and are not seen in the wolf.

Wolves are seasonal breeders and the male and female only become fertile once a year, this is not continued in the dog. The dog is fertile all year round and the bitch comes into season roughly two times a year.

Dogs are now able to form a social bond for a longer period of time when they are young, whilst the wolf generally won’t at a young age.

It is thought that these differences were not specifically bred for by breeders, and they were just the result of breeding for tameness.

An experiment was started in the 1940’s to look into domestication, this was by Russian geneticist Dmitri Belyaev, he gathered a pack of fox’s and whilst they were young he tried to offer them food and pet them. He put them into three classes.

Class 3 were the fox’s which would flee from humans or attempt to bite them, Class 2 fox’s would allow humans to touch them, but would not approach humans, Class 1 fox’s were friendly towards humans and would approach them.

After 6 generations of breeding only the tamest of fox’s there became a new group; Class IE, these were domesticated. These fox’s behaved in a dog like manner; they would seek out human attention, lick the humans and even wag their tails like dogs.

After this experiment had continued for twenty generations 35% of the fox’s being produced were domesticated. Now the experiment continues and 70% of the fox’s produced are domesticated.

After several generations of selective breeding for tameness in fox’s, new traits began occurring, which are only rarely seen in a wild fox; after ten generations of breeding the fox for tameness the fox developed piebald coloured or coloured matted fur.

After further continuing the experiment it was proven that some of the fox’s ad developed floppy ears or short or curly tails. This is all similar to that seen in the common dog in relation to comparing with the wolf and the effect domestication as had.

This is due to a hormonal change in the dog/fox’s system because of this breeding for tameness and the effect that it has on the animal.

Common Behaviour in the domesticated dog

Growling

Growling is often considered to be a sign of aggression from one dog to another or from a dog to a human; this is often not the case.

Many dogs growl as a warning signal, they are not intending to cause harm and simply want to warn the person or animal away.

A growl will with other dogs often work to warn the other dog away and it should not be punished as the dog growling and the other dog moving away is normal behaviour and results in neither dog being harmed or bitten and avoids actual conflict behaviours between the two animals.

Continual growling or growling as a sign of dominance is not normal behaviour, particularly when directed at a human, the best way to solve this is by ignoring the growling and continuing with what you are doing and praising the dog when it does not growl or does something for you.

Chasing

Dogs will often take turns to chase each other. They will possible bark or lower their front legs to the floor or roll on the floor as part of the game.

This is normal behaviour and allows the dog to interact with another dog and release energy, which helps prevent this energy from being exhibited in problematic ways.

Neck Biting

Dogs will often “bite” another dog’s neck during play. It is extremely rare for a dog to harm another dog by doing this action and is simply another form of play. The dog does not have hands to grab with do it uses its mouth

Barking

Barking excessively is not normal behaviour and should be prevented, but a dog barking during play is usually just a way of expressing excitement and encouraging the other dog.

Submission or domination

It is in the domesticated dogs nature to adopt a role in the family which it becomes a part of, the dog may attempt to become the leader and demand things from members of the family or rebel against them, whilst the same dog will cower in the corner if a member of the family has seen them eat something they wanted!

This is natural instinct, the dog will always maintain pack instincts and will adopt a role as part of the pack it is born into.

Stealing food

This is normal behaviour, not abnormal. It will always be the dog’s instinct to scavenge for food. It may be irritating and most owners long to be able to train their dog not to, but if food is in the dogs reach, the dog will eat it, they do not possess rational thoughts or know what belongs to who.

Training

Most domesticated dogs are easy to train. Many have been bred for this talent and given the time and patience the dog will adapt and learn to do certain things to achieve a reward or to avoid punishment.

Tameness

Domesticated dogs have been bred for tameness and contact with humans. For this reason domesticated dogs are very tame and will often have an instinct to approach humans and be happy with them unless they are given a reason not to be.

Natural behaviour in the wild dog/ wolf

Howling

The wolf has a strong reputation for howling. The wolves will howl in harmony and the whole pack will join in the affair as they draw near to their desired place.

This will usually be started by a wolf; not always the leader, which has the urge to howl, the other dogs will then follow suit and howl together.

The pack instinct


The wolf is a pack animal and will travel or live with up to 40 members to hunt or in a designated territory for them. They will fight other animals that aren’t part of the pack to maintain their territory and their food.

The wolf enjoys other wolves company and there is a definite higher achy, there is always a leader, and many of the other wolves will maintain an order of the most dominant down to the most submissive.

Stealing food

The wolf has a strong instinct to scavenge and will find food wherever possible with no thought of who’s it may be or any logic or rational thought, if the wolf is hungry and sees food, the wolf will eat.

Killing

The wolf will naturally kill and eat its own prey. It is a survival technique and the wolf benefits from it, by interaction and a role with other wolves whilst hunting and by the food retrieved.

Strength

The wolf is fully capable of working for him/her to collect food and battle for mating rights, this means that the wolf is built to have good agility, speed and remarkable power and drive strength.

The wolf also has an urge to attack and chase to survive so these skills have been increased through natural selection; the strongest fastest most capable wolves would be the most appealing to the female and would mate with her, and they would also get more food, so would be healthier and live longer.

Natural Selection

The wolf continued in strength and power to avoid facing distinction through natural selection, which means in the mating the female will select the strongest male with the best survival rate given to the young. This is done by the male giving the female food or protection so that the female will select the most powerful.

The Human Bond

The wolf was not a “pet” the wolf would, if it needed food, possibly attack a human, but, the wolf does have many legends of tame versions of its species, where the wolf has befriended a human and it is thought that some would live in houses with people according to many tales and legends.

This is not proven, but due to the growth of the wolf to the dog which is now a household pet, the possibility can not be completely ruled out, that there may have naturally been some domesticated versions of the wolf, however if we were to generalise, the wolf is not on living terms, nor a form of company to man.

Behavioural Differences in the Domesticated and Wild Dog

The domesticated dog has limited access to other members of their own species and will interact with humans unless given a reason not to. The wolf lives and works with members of its own species and will not interact with humans unless given a reason to.

The domesticated dog will have the instinct to chase and kill and some dogs are bred to chase animals, but generally most have been taught or bred not to do this. The wolf will do this to survive and most wolves will kill daily.

Both the dog and the wolf use noise as a way of interacting with each other. The dog will bark or growl, whilst the wolf will howl. This shows that this need to make noise to warn or reassure remains in both species.

Both the dog and the wolf maintain a pack order. There will be a leader and members more dominant or less dominant than other members. Both species display this instinct.

The domesticated dog do not usually have the choice of their mating partners, they will either be in a situation where they are not used to being with other dogs, so they will mate with whoever they come across, or selective breeding will take place, this is how all pedigree breeds are formed.

The dogs from that particular breed are put together to mate to form a new line of pedigree dogs. This differs from the wolf as the wolf mates using natural selection and will mate with the strongest wolf with the best survival skills to create the best offspring with the highest chance of survival so that the wolf’s genetics continue on.

The wolf is strong, agile and built to fight with a strong fighting urge where as the domesticated dog will not fight unless they have been bred and taught to do so, it is a part of their instinct, but they have no sense of urgency or need to do so as food and everything they need is provided for them.

The human bond in dogs to humans has become strong as most dogs are not given the option of being wild anymore; they are bred, sold and tamed to live in harmony with humans. The wolf has a few legends of the human bond, but there is no factual proof that wolves have been found to live in close company with humans as our domesticated dogs do.

Different types of abnormal behaviour seen in the dog and their causes, prevention and management

Disobedient

Cause: the dog has become dominant over the owner and feels there will be no punishment or difference if obedience is not shown. Lack of training.

Prevention: Go to obedience training from a very early age with the dog, if the dog does not obey a command immediately continue asking until the dog responds correctly and issue no punishment, just a big reward as soon as what was needed is done.

Treatment: Stop the disobedience immediately. Be dominant, try to train the dog by using an extension lead and teach the dog that it will be rewarded for obeying. Use repetition to try to enforce the things you would like done.


Pulls On The Lead

Cause: A dog will pull on the lead if no training to walk to heal has been given and they always walk the same way and know where it is they are going. Dogs may also be made excessively excited before a walk, so they will have more energy than necessary.

Prevention: Teach the dog to heal from an early age, give variety to walks and don’t let the dog decide which direction you will go in.

Treatment: Be dominant over the dog, change the walk you would normally do to cross the road, or walk the wrong route and turn suddenly round corners.


Aggressive

Cause: Lack of training or interaction with other dogs/humans. The dog has become dominant over the owner and is behaving aggressively as an outcome of this.

Prevention: Castrate male dogs at an early age, do not play rough games with big dogs; especially guard dogs like boxers. Attend training classes and allow dog to interact with other dogs and humans so they are not seen as a threat.

Treatment: Castrate Male dogs. Do not reward aggression or play any aggressive games. Become dominant.


Hypersexual

Cause: Usually a male dog which has not been castrated. No punishment from behaving in this manner. Amusement value often stops owners from immediately stopping these tendencies.

Prevention: Discourage these actions immediately. Be dominant. Give dog exercise regularly.

Treatment: Instant punishment, Remove temptations, Castrate dog.


Excessive hand licking

Cause: Owner has become overly dominant of the dog and the dog is permanently seeking approval from owner.

Prevention: Discourage behaviour, don’t punish puppies to much

Treatment: Stop dominance exercises and treat the dog for a while.

I personally do own two dogs, but looking at the facts I think it is pretty sick that we have taken the wolf and turned it into the largest variety of species, most of which would not be recognisable as coming from the wolf.

Summary: Fasinating