Wolves are known scavengers, it is believed that they would end up at different campsites and scavenge for leftovers, and after a while, they would tend not to be too shy around people. They would end up coming back repeatedly or even following people as they moved from place to place, knowing that they would be able to scrounge up some kind of food. It is also speculated that after a while, the cohabitation was so blended that people began taking in wolf pups and raising them from a young age, which probably also aided in domestication.
Many favorable outcomes arise from having a pet, especially a wolf or dog, by one's side, first of all, is protection. Once the canine became domesticated and comfortable with the human, a bond was created. The humans looked out for the animal, and the animal might have even helped the human out as well. Another benefit is the positive behavior that owning a pet tends to instill in people. Pets are believed to improve and increase bonds between family members and friends. If these ancient homes had pets, it might have helped them relate to each other and form stronger relationships, which could have helped in their survival, by making them more prone to protect each other.
Dogs (and pets in general) really add rewarding moments to humans' lives. Whether they provide distraction, stress relief, or protection, they really help maintain and improve daily life. Whether or not people of the upper paleolithic era consciously and deliberately spent time domesticating wild animals, they made an impact and changed future humans' life for good. It is odd to think of life without pets, so however ancient man helped to bring them into human life is something everyone should be thankful for.
Shipman, Pat. "The Woof at the Door." American Scientist 97.4 (July 2009): 286-289. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. [Martin Luther King Jr. Library], [San Jose], [CA]. 14 Sep. 2009 .
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The domestication of wolves is very interesting and it always amazes me to think all dogs come from wolves. The first domesticating of wolves was a product of their environment which humans changed. Over time humans have become more and more involved transforming dogs from one breed to another, all of which happened over a short time period. Cool article
ReplyDeleteThe process of evolving wolves into the domesticated "best friend" pet that we are familiar with today is interesting and was beneficial to both humans and dogs. The dogs were seeking the care and constant food source as humans were aided with the protection of the dog's abilities. The dog was for protection as well as a type of security system to alert the humans of any unwanted guests arriving in the night. It would benefit the dogs as well to protect their people, because this would ensure their future care, comfort, and survival with those humans as well.
ReplyDeleteOn thing from the Wade reading that was disturbing, but made sense, was that dogs were also used as a walking living portable food source. As a dog lover, this was hard to read, but it would work in dire circumstances. If the dog was with the humans everywhere they went, then it would only make sense to be forced to eat them when their was not other food source present. That would probably be one of the hardest things for me to do in my life, to have to murder and eat and companion for food. Being that times were harder then, they could have felt the same remorse about acquiring food, and they would most likely not think twice about fulfilling their need for food.
It is all tied to how our society functions today, and how we still have dogs around us as pets and companions. They are even still used for protection, but mostly for a "best friend" to have around. I believe that they have played a role in making humans a more gentle species.
It's amazing to read how wolves became comfortable around humans. You can see it today when humans leave food at campsites or feed wild animals. You are right about humans making a difference in the domestication in these animals and I believe it was a big difference. I also feel that protection was a top possibility for keeping the animals along in the beginning, but as KNK stated, a mobile food source seems more likely.
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how wolves were transformed into dogs, to better adapt to their environment. But how is it that there are so many wolves still around? And how is it that a wolf can be so feisty while a dog so calm, to extremes in one species. Kind of like humans, no? However, it's great to know that something from the wild, which was raised to be in the wild has adjusted to "human life" so well. So much so that they are reproducing to have more babies... aka... cubs. The more domesticated, protection giving, doggies we have, the better. They are our best friends and we are theirs.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your writing style and how you formulated your paragraphs. Thank you.
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ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how dogs started out as such protective companions, but are now viewed differently. For example dogs are used as an accessory at times. Paris Hilton always carries around a purse with a teeny tiny chihuahua inside. Although that is cute,the dog doesn't serve the original purpose he/she was meant to. The dog does not serve as a protector; Paris Hilton has body guards for that purpose.
ReplyDeleteBreeding also intrigues me.I find it so strange that a dog such as a Boston terrier evolved from a dog like a wolf. Generations and generations of hard work in breeding for such a funny dog that sneezes backwards.