Our Canine Friends

Whether you call your canine companion "Fluffy" or something less delicate, there's no doubt that he or she is an integral part of your family and a companion in the true sense of the word. They don't call dogs "man's best friend" for nothing. Their devotion to their owners is unmatched, as is their patience with said owner, in many cases.

You may or may not know that the dog is descended from the wolf, but this was some time ago. Although a blink of the eye in the space of evolution, 15,000 years on our calendar is quite a long time, and this is the best estimate as to when dogs were domesticated. It's not quite known how the transition itself occurred, but it's likely that the domestication started in East Asia, specifically China and Japan. When the earliest people immigrated to North America, they brought their dogs with them.

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There are many "newer" purebred dogs and more are being developed often. Of course, there is also the ever-changing "mutt," but the oldest purebred dogs are thought to be the Inu, Shiba Inu, Chow Chow, Shar Pei and Basenji. Many of the 14 ancient breeds come from China and Japan.

Dogs and Humans

Like humans, dogs are very social and are considered "pack" animals. Because of this, it is imperative for dogs' owners to establish themselves as the leader and "alpha" "dog," or the one in authority. If done properly, dogs are very trainable, playful, and generally make good companions that are eager to please. Their intelligence makes them one of the most adaptable animals to keep in human households.

Because they are pack animals, dogs are very loyal and devoted, and remain very close to the humans they identify themselves with. (Of course, dogs' human "parents" often just as fiercely consider them part of the human family.)

Dogs' Intelligence

Although most would agree that dogs are at least reasonably intelligent, many do not exhibit this intelligence in the same manner. Some dogs are very good at obeying commands, while others exhibit a much more independent streak.

Because they are so intelligent, dogs can fill a variety of domestic needs in society. For example, dogs have been trained to assist in hunting, transportation (such as dogsledding), assisting with the control of herd animals (such as the sheepdog does), and have usually also functioned as watchdogs for their owners. More modern uses of dogs include their function as Seeing Eye dogs or with other types of similar assistance. Other dogs function in law enforcement, including those that can track escaped convicts or sniff out concealed drugs or bombs in airplane luggage, for example.

New abilities are also being developed in dogs every day. For example, one of the most recent discoveries is that some dogs may be able to smell cancer. As time goes on, it's sure that this loyal, lovable friend of the human will only increase his usefulness to society.

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