| Man's best friend. That's how we know them. Our | | | | companions. Moreover, this ability of dogs to fit into |
| canine pets that we let in our house, to sit at our | | | | human households and social situations puts them in a |
| feet by the warm fire or just keep us company as | | | | unique position among interspecies relationships. |
| we work the night away. Who knew that this tame | | | | Dogs, being descended from wolves, have pack |
| animal was once descended from wolves? But that's | | | | instincts. These instincts are humanly interpreted as |
| how the story goes, and that's what DNA research | | | | loyalty and devotion, which are close to the very |
| and fossil evidence say. | | | | human emotions of love and friendship. This is the |
| As recently as 15,000 years ago, dogs were | | | | very reason why so many dog owners consider their |
| domesticated from wolves. More recent genetic fossil | | | | canines as full-fledged family members. Conversely, |
| evidence also shows that they might even be | | | | many canines seem to consider their human |
| domesticated earlier than that. In one study, it is said | | | | companions as part of their packs. |
| that dogs are domesticated from wild dogs, which | | | | Intelligence |
| had diverged from wolves. | | | | Both anecdotal evidence and scientific research reveal |
| Where Dogs Come From | | | | that dogs have reasonably high intelligence. In fact, |
| It is said that canines originated from East Asia. | | | | many dog lovers especially value this intelligence. |
| Specifically, evidence points to China and Japan as | | | | However, not all dogs exhibit their intelligence in the |
| the first places where people domesticated dogs. | | | | same manner. While some breeds are very good at |
| When the first peoples entered North America, they | | | | obeying commands, others are not so keen on |
| took the dogs with them. | | | | obeying. Instead, they display their cleverness by |
| According to genetic research, there at least 14 | | | | devising ways to escape the yard or steal food. |
| breeds of ancient dogs and among the oldest are the | | | | Because of their intelligence, dogs have come to fill a |
| Chow Chow, Shar Pei, Akita Inu, Shiba Inu and | | | | variety of roles in human society. Some breeds are |
| Basenji. Considering that many of the 14 ancient dog | | | | especially trained to recognize dangerous situations |
| breeds come from China and Japan, it is most likely | | | | and avoid it, and this ability is very useful for blind or |
| that the theory that dogs come from Asia is true. | | | | deaf people. There are other canines that are very |
| Interactions with Humans | | | | useful in law enforcement, including attack breeds, |
| Dogs, like humans, are highly social animals. It is | | | | sniffers, or search-and-rescue. There are also those |
| because of this distinct behavioral pattern that they | | | | that serve as guards for livestock, work as herders, |
| are highly trainable, playful, and generally good | | | | or as arctic exploration sled pullers. |