Dogs have been helping man with his herding, hunting,
safety and companionship for the past 14,000 years. Canine
history is a history of the friendship between us and our
pet dog (Canis lupus familiaris). In times of famine this
friendship would have been beneficial for the dogs diet and
possible survival.
Early man sometimes used his new 'best friend' as camp meat
to offset famine (In some current societies it is still a
practice.) and in between he brought him into the cave to
add his body heat to the group in cold weather. Early
association between the two allowed the canine species to
survive through famine and drought.
It is also fair to conjecture man brought his new subject
into the cave as a source of warmth on cold nights and this
may very well have led to 'companionship' being added to
the list of 'pluses' garnered from the relationship.
Scientists have argued for many years about the evolution
and history of the domestic dog. Most now agree that our
four legged pet is a direct descendant of the Grey Wolf.
DNA research conducted by Dr. Robert K. Wayne, canid
biologist and molecular geneticist of UCLA indicates that
dogs are closer to the Grey Wolf (Canis Lupus) than
previously suspected.
In fact, due in large part to Dr. Robert K. Wayne's genetic
research, the authors of the "Mammal Species of the World"
the internationally accepted reference source on mammal
species, reclassified the dog in 1993 from Canis Familiaris
to Canis Lupus No one knows for sure when this all started.
Canine history has been studied using mitochondrial DNA.
This research tells us that wolves and dogs went different
directions about 100,000 years ago. It is not clear if man
had a hand in this or not.
What research also tells us is that our total canine
population of today is descended from three females in the
China area some 15,000 years ago. Existing science does not
give us the luxury today of determining which leg of the
research is correct or if they will someday merge.
Archeological History does not go back that far.
Research at this point does not tell us what happened to
Canis lupus familiaris between the parting from the wolves
100,000 years ago and the parentage established from the
three bitches 85,000 years later.
There's a burial site in Germany called Bonn-Oberkassel
which has joint human and dog burials dated to 14,000 years
ago. China registers the earliest domestication between
7000-5800 BC.
Danger Cave in Utah exhibits the oldest cases of dog burial
in the United States at about 11,000 years. When science
brings us more on the subject we will bring it to you.with
his silver haired lady in Memphis, TN
----------------------------------------------------
See interesting fiction by Rus Morgan on Kindle. Visit
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our periodic newsletter for info on dogs and doggy
bargains. Add warmth to your day, put a smile on your face
by ordering your free copy (normally $14.95) of 'Truthful
Teddy' -- the tender short story of the friendship between
an ugly three foot rag doll and a tan Teddy Bear. See you
there or email us at minischnauzersx2@bellsouth.net
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