Veterinarians, scientists and animal lovers alike, are forever pondering the nature of the special relationship between man and dog. The pet that earned the name of ‘man's best friend' following many years of successful coexistence, did not always exist as we know and love it today. In fact, it has evolved
from wolf to dog. A mysterious process of
evolution has led to the animal's
domestication, which took place thousands of years ago; but how did it happen?
The domestication of wolves solely thanks to man?
We are still a long way off from knowing with certainty how wolves became dogs, man's modern-day companions. In the short movie,
The Promise, directed by
Gabriele Salvatores and produced by
Almo Nature, gaps in scientific reconstruction are compensated by imagination, which surmises that in return for eternal compliance with the pack, man had the chance to coexist with wolves that evolved to become the dogs we know today.Until recently, the belief of much of the scientific community surrounding the canid's evolution was based on the theory formulated by scientist
Francis Galton. According to the British scholar, humans domesticated the wolf. This, he theorised, began when man took wolf pups back to their camp and raised them as pets.
From wolf to dog: the idea of self-domestication
Today, it is accepted that Galton's theory has some glaring weaknesses in understanding the complex relationship established between dog and man. For example, it overlooked the fact that the transition from wolf to dog likely occurred over the course of thousands of years. Scientists also believe that living together in human camps would not have been enough to completely change the nature of the wolf pups from wild to domestic. That's why now we talk about the
hypothesis of self-domestication. The way the self-domestication theory goes is that the first humans left some animal carcasses outside their settlements to attract predators such as wolves. The bravest among the wolves did not hesitate to approach, presumably marking the start of the millennial relationship with man. Thanks to the food provided by humans and their increasing confidence to approach and consume it, the wolves grew stronger, multiplied and took on the new, clearly defined role of
shepherd, keeper, hunting mate within the human settlements.Supporting this view is a study carried out by scientists from
the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. While comparing skeletons of dogs and wolves from private and museum collections from around the world the scientists found credible
evidence of domestication. Their studies revealed the flattening of the tips of the dorsal vertebrae of the ancient dogs, presumably a result of them being used to transport heavy loads on their backs. The researchers also found that the dogs' skeletons were missing pairs of molars in the lower jaw possibly indicating that the ‘wolf-dogs' wore bridles for towing. These new and intriguing theories don't end there: we have already talked in a previous blog post about another hypothesis concerning the
influence of humans on the hunting methods of wolves, all these theories and discoveries combine to further cement the special chemistry between man and predator.
This interest piece is part of a wider project by Almo Nature, Farmers&Predators, whose aim is to favour and harmonise the cohabitation between farmers and wildlife.Learn more by clicking here
The story of a dog stolen from a homeless man in Paris by animal rights activists from the association Cause Animale Nord has gone global. A passerby, Nghi Le Duc,...
Pork meat is considered a wholesome alternative to more traditional beef meat; it is the main ingredient used in our Holistic Grain Free dog kibble (dry food) and is...
The wolf, fearsome predator and loyal member of the pack, has always inspired the creativity of writers, painters and filmmakers. For directors especially, the ability...
Dirty and matted to the point of being unrecognisable and terrified of any human contact, Dave the dog began his very ‘public' story when he was discovered dumped in a...
A love of animals can be shown in many ways; volunteering to support initiatives in favour of animal charities and adoption are included in the ‘normal' category,...
Where has our search for a form of sustainability with a taste of the ancient, but combined with the most advanced scientific-technological knowledge led us? To a...
It’s winter! The cold and wet weather of this season is a real challenge for the immune system - threatening our health as well as our companion animal’s health,...
A vegetarian diet for cats and dogs: can the alternative dietary choice of a large percentage of the population be automatically extended to our four-legged friends?...