Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution - Softcover

Coppinger, Raymond

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0226115631 ISBN 13: 9780226115634

Verlag: University of Chicago Press, 2002

Inhaltsangabe

Biologists, breeders and trainers, and champion sled dog racers, Raymond and Lorna Coppinger have more than four decades of experience with literally thousands of dogs. Offering a scientifically informed perspective on canines and their relations with humans, the Coppingers take a close look at eight different types of dogs-household, village, livestock guarding, herding, sled-pulling, pointing, retrieving, and hound. They argue that dogs did not evolve directly from wolves, nor were they trained by early humans; instead they domesticated themselves to exploit a new ecological niche: Mesolithic village dumps. Tracing the evolution of today's breeds from these village dogs, the Coppingers show how characteristic shapes and behaviors-from pointing and baying to the sleek shapes of running dogs-arise from both genetic heritage and the environments in which pups are raised. For both dogs and humans to get the most out of each other, we need to understand and adapt to the biological needs and dispositions of our canine companions, just as they have to ours.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Raymond Coppinger is a professor of biology at Hampshire College. He is the author of Fishing Dogs and coauthor of Wheelchair Assistance Dogs.

Lorna Coppinger is the award-winning author of The World of Sled Dogs. Together they founded Hampshire's Livestock Dog Project.

Von der hinteren Coverseite

Biologists, Breeders and trainers, and champion sled dog racers, Raymond and Lorna Coppinger have more than four decades of experience with literally thousands of dogs. Offering a scientifically informed perspective on canines and their relations with humans, the Coppingers take a close look at eight different types of dogs—household, village, livestock guarding, herding, sled-pulling, pointing, retrieving, and hound. They argue that dogs did not evolve directly from wolves, nor were they trained by early humans; instead they domesticated themselves to exploit a new ecological niche: Mesolithic village dumps. Tracing the evolution of today's breeds from these village dogs, the Coppingers show how characteristic shapes and behaviors—from pointing and baying to the sleek shapes of running dogs—arise from both genetic heritage and the environments in which pups are raised.

Aus dem Klappentext

Biologists, Breeders and trainers, and champion sled dog racers, Raymond and Lorna Coppinger have more than four decades of experience with literally thousands of dogs. Offering a scientifically informed perspective on canines and their relations with humans, the Coppingers take a close look at eight different types of dogs—household, village, livestock guarding, herding, sled-pulling, pointing, retrieving, and hound. They argue that dogs did not evolve directly from wolves, nor were they trained by early humans; instead they domesticated themselves to exploit a new ecological niche: Mesolithic village dumps. Tracing the evolution of today's breeds from these village dogs, the Coppingers show how characteristic shapes and behaviors—from pointing and baying to the sleek shapes of running dogs—arise from both genetic heritage and the environments in which pups are raised.

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

Dogs

A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and EvolutionBy Raymond Coppinger

University of Chicago Press

Copyright © 2002 Raymond Coppinger
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9780226115634

Chapter Seven

Household Dogs

Working dogs may enjoy a mutualistic relationship with people. But once evolvedinto a working shape and behavior, these dogs also get adopted as pets. And herelies a dark side to the association of dogs with people. Just what is theecological status of people and household dogs? Household dogs ? also known aspets or companion animals ? are usually considered to be beneficial for people,providing unquestioned love, constant loyalty, eager companionship, and avariety of what people perceive to be positive additions to their lives. But inthe scheme of biological survival and perpetuation of the species ? any species? what counts is not what we perceive to be beneficial, but what really isbeneficial, biologically. For living things, survival depends on a trio ofabsolutely fundamental needs: food, safety, and reproduction. Unless dogsprovide measurable quantities of these essentials, they are not strictlybeneficial to the survival of humans.

At the same time, people are usually considered beneficial for dogs, furnishingtheir food, safety, health care, jobs, and, often, well-arranged opportunitiesto reproduce themselves. However, as a biologist looking closely at dogs, Ibecome more and more uneasy. At the very least, I think the symbioticrelationship of pet dogs with their owners is seriously unclear. Perhaps that isbecause there is more than one association between them. Part of the pet-ownerrelationship is mutual, in the direction of the working dog and its owner. Butsometimes I see the population of pet dogs acting like parasites on people. Andat other times I see humans treating dogs really badly.

Maybe people don't knowingly treat dogs badly. It could easily be that petowners are just not biologically good for their pets, sustaining a relationshipthat ecologists call amensalism.

Amensalism describes the biological relationship in which one species is notaffected by the association, but the other species, by accident, is hurt by it.An ecology book describes the relationship between bison and prairie chickens asamensalism. Prairie chickens live in bison country, not really affecting thebison, but as the bison search for food they step on prairie chicken eggs. Theydon't mean to, but nevertheless they are bad for the birds. Amensalism isusually contrasted with parasitism, in which the parasite purposely lives offthe host and saps the host's strength.

Can I cite an example of amensalism? Easily. Take just one case ? that of thebulldog. From active and noteworthy employment as the butcher's working dog, andthen as a sporting dog, the breed has been adopted as a pet and show dog. Inorder to enhance its robust, highly unusual appearance, breeders have selectedfor those traits that emphasize the essence of bulldog ? the thick, massivehead and short, pug nose. What they have achieved, probably accidentally, aredogs that often can barely breathe, can barely chew, whose puppies are hard todeliver, and females that have to be artificially inseminated. Such animalscannot be living a comfortable life. Their "enhanced" abnormal shape traps themin a genetic dead end. Being caught and bred as household dogs is detrimental totheir long-term reproductive survival.

Likewise, I can easily cite an example of the dog being a parasite on humans.Parasites do not usually kill their host, but they do decrease the fitness ofthe host, and reduce the energy available to the host for its own survival. Thetwo species live together, and one gets its food at the expense of the other. Inits simplest form, I go to work, earn a salary, and part of my salary is spenton dog food to feed my pet dog. At its worst, my dog has a disease or an injurythat costs me hundreds of dollars to try to cure. Or, it bites someone and I getsued. Or, the dog has behavioral problems and ruins furniture. The dog is adrain on my resources and my energy. The dog takes time and money that I shouldbe investing in my children. It makes me less fit for survival.

The fifty-two million dogs living in households in the United States wereprobably added to those households as the result of a conscious decision by thehouseholder. People ask me, "What kind of dog should we get for a pet?" Whatthey are really saying is "What kind of dog do you think would benefit us themost?" Often the questioners have been thinking purebred dog. It could be thefirst time they have purchased a dog, and many people consult friends,relatives, books, and the occasional dog expert for advice.

I often start my answer with "Whatever you decide, get a pup before it is eightweeks old, and spend a lot of time with it during the next eight weeks." I guessmy assumption is that if they ask the "what kind of dog" question, they think abreed is a package of behaviors that comes prearranged. They are usually unawarethat any and all puppies need an informed and thoughtful owner to shape thepup's course toward well-behaved adulthood. Their assumption is that the rightbreed is all that is needed to effect the perfect dog-human bond.

They hardly ever ask me, "If you were getting a dog, what would you get?"Sometimes when I suggest breed x, they immediately say, "Oh! But we wanted a bigdog." And I ask, "Why would a big dog be more of a benefit?" Are they lookingfor protection? The conversation suggests that big dogs have more of anaesthetic impact. The big dog enhances their image of themselves. When they saybig dog, I just say, "I don't know the answer." I can't fathom a big dog as acompanion. I want something that could go with me everywhere in the car. I'dprefer a small dog with a smooth, dry coat, and no long tail to get slammed inthe door by accident.

On an estate in central England, I once interviewed Lady Richards, whose dogsenjoy expanses of greensward, intriguing woodland copses, and a peaceful pond.She had a lithe and leggy lurcher (hers was a cross between a greyhound and aborder collie) that she was very fond of. She said, "We are fortunate in that wecan afford to entertain such a dog." She had the right idea: What is it that Ias a pet owner possess that will enhance the dog's life?

The relationship should not be a one-way street, where I'll get a dog thatpleases me, and if it continues to please me, I won't turn it in to the localshelter.

My dilemma about which symbiotic relationship operates between pets and peopleis slowly resolving. Especially when I imagine a person purchasing aten-week-old puppy, locking it in his apartment while he goes to work, cominghome to find the apartment trashed, consulting an expensive dog psychologist whoafter many months says it is hopeless, and turning the dog in to the localshelter, which euthanizes it. Bad situation for the person, disaster for thedog.

Household dogs are what I think of as family pets. I understand there are manyvariations on the theme. There is even discussion about whether household dogsshould be called companions rather than pets. Pets, it is argued, are animalslike goldfish or caged birds or snakes. Pets can be exotic or not: the Pet Rockwas fashionable a few years ago. Joshua Slocum, on his single-handed sail aroundthe world, had a pet goat for company. But "for company" doesn't necessarilymean companion. I think of a companion as different from a pet. A companion dogaccompanies me during some of my daily activities, or shares with me some task,like pretending to be a coyote so I can evaluate the response of a guardian...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: University of Chicago Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2002
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0226115631
• ISBN 13: 9780226115634
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Auflage: 2
• Anzahl der Seiten: 352
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar