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The History of Dogs
Many of us take our dogs for granted. Here is a documentary about the domestication of our beloved four legged furry best friends.
Raw and never succumbing to sentimentality or anthropomorphism. There is no music track to manipulate your feelings, instead only natural sounds recorded on location giving you a real sense of where you are. When the human characters speak, what they say is not translated or subtitled, allowing the viewers to observe how the dogs relate to human beings through understanding our gesture and tone rather than words. From the sheep dogs of Sardinia, to the strays fighting for survival on the streets of Bucharest, a filmmaker immerses himself in the daily lives of dogs.
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This is a deep dive into the history of dogs: The History of Dogs Origins
Domestication:
- It is estimated that dogs were domesticated from wolves approximately 20,000-40,000 years ago.
- The details regarding where and when exact domestication occurred are still under investigation, but it likely took place in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East.
Mutual Benefits
Wolves and early humans likely formed a symbiotic relationship in which wolves helped themselves to the food within human habitations while receiving protection, hunting, servitude, and aid in gaining food from the humans.
Early Roles
Hunting Companions:
- Early dogs were used primarily for hunting and herding.
- Their keen sense and ability to work in packs made them valuable allies for early humans.
Guardians:
- With time, dogs evolved and served humans as security for the settlements or livestock they started to amass.
- They served to safeguard humans against potential predators or rival humans.
Evolution and Breeding
Selective Breeding:
- With the advent of societal structures and agriculture, dogs started to be bred selectively to possess certain traits.
- Various breeds were created over time, suited for specific deeds such as herding, hunting, guarding, or companionship.
Cultural Significance
With all these provisions, different cultures started to appreciate dogs for these myriad differing facilities, thus forming domesticated fur companion pets.
Dogs have always served valuable roles in ancient civilizations, particularly in Egypt, where they were revered alongside goddesses like Bastet. They were also prevalent in China as symbols of loyalty.
Throughout history, dogs have been captured and depicted in various art forms. Due to their importance in society, dogs have worked their way into mythologies globally. They were often considered a sign of protection, companionship, and loyalty.
Various breeds of dogs that we know today were created in the Middle Ages by herding, hunting, and guarding specific dogs. With the rise of the feudal system, dogs were also used for protection in castles and estates. In time, dogs became more loved, and dwarfed breeds became commonplace among nobles.
The 19th century marked the peak of dog breeding, which the establishment of kennel clubs brought forward. The first dog show was recorded in England. 1859 finally marked the tipping point when dogs were no longer seen as working companions but as ordinary family pets.
Modern Day Functions
Service and Therapy Dogs:
- Currently, dogs serve not just as pets but also as service animals, therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, law enforcement dogs, and military personnel working dogs.
Cultural Icons:
- Dogs continue to be celebrated in popular culture, including movies, books, and social media, due to their unabated value as symbols of loyalty, affection, and friendship.
A man’s love for dogs is intricately linked to his history, which covers eons as a man’s wild friend, pet, and family member. Dogs’ roles have expanded over millennia, reflecting changes in society, culture, and the human-animal bond. A dog is a great friend who suits one’s functional needs, but much more than that, he is a companion, a source of unwavering loyalty, and emotional support.
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How did dog breeding change in the 20th century?
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With the societal shifts, advances in breeding practices, and the establishment of organizations, dog breeding practices changed in the 20th century like never before. Here are the key changes:
Systemization of Breeding
Kennel Clubs:
- Kennel clubs emerged in the early 20th century, forming the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1884 and the FCI in 1911.
- These institutions created norms for dog breeds and controlled dog competitions to ensure the existence of pedigree dogs only.
Breed Norms:
- Considerable modifications on categorization included defining the physical and behavioral components constituting each breed, leading to more unified and regulated breeding systems.
New Age of Purebred Breeding
Specialization:
- The intense media marketing of certain dog breeds escalated the demand for goldens and bulldogs, which resulted in breeders focusing on those specific breeds, thus increasing the number of purebreds.
Specialized Breeding:
- The middle class and the notion of pets as companions greatly increased, causing a further boom in specialized breeding.
Consequences of World Wars
Preserving Rare Breeds:
- Working-class breeds declined due to World War I and the economic turmoil.
- During this time, there was a focus on saving and restoring the often abandoned breeds.
Military Use:
- Some breeds, such as German Shepherds and Doberman Pinschers, became popular because of their service in the military and police, which affected their breeding.
New Methods of Breeding Innovations
Genetics and Health Testing:
- Improvements in genetics during the last quarter of the 20th century allowed for an understanding of inheritable diseases.
- Breeders started implementing health screening for genetic disorders.
Selective Breeding
Selective breeding, along with more advanced breeding methods, was increasingly used to achieve ideal characteristics, ultimately resulting in the mutilation of some breeds (e.g., boxers and bulldogs with flat faces).
Increase In Popularity And Availability Of Mixed Breeds
Crossbreeding is the practice of breeding two purebred dogs with different watched show traits to produce “designer dogs” such as Labradoodles and Cockapoos, which are made of well-known breeds like the Labrador Retriever, Poodle, and Cocker Spaniel.
Market Trends:
- The new crossbreds gained acceptance because many consumers had new expectations for nonallergenic pets.
More Advocacy Work Done In The Community
Animal Welfare Concerns:
- In the second half of the century, concern for animal welfare grew, and certain breeding practices were scrutinized.
- Many activities, such as puppy mills, did not have any laws and were termed unethical and inhumane.
Legislation:
- Some territories implemented laws meant to regulate the breeding of farm dogs to improve their welfare, which affected the work of breeders.
Changes in Attitude Towards Ownership
From Working Dog to Family Pet:
- Dogs are no longer viewed first and foremost as laboring animals but as adored pets.
- This shift affected breeding practices, focusing more on family-oriented, temperamental, and behavioral traits.
- The 20th century was a remarkable period for dog breeders, as the industry experienced formalized dog breeding practices, purebred and designer dogs, and the rise in animal welfare activism.
These events created numerous dog breeds today, demonstrating the changing human-dog relationships.
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What were some key pieces of legislation impacting dog breeding?
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Many important laws have changed dog breeding, focusing on animal welfare, controlling breeding, and managing puppy mill problems. Some examples are;
The Animal Welfare Act of 1966 (AWA)
Summary:
- AWA is a federal law that controls how various animals are treated within a scientific environment during research, exhibitions, transportation, or even by dealers.
- This law serves as the first step towards protecting animal rights at a federal level.
Effects on Dog Breeding:
- This act mandates that breeders selling animals be properly licensed and provide basic standards of care, such as housing, feeding, and veterinary attention, to avoid negligence and mistreatment in commercial breeding operations.
Pet Animal Welfare Statute (PAWS) of 2006
Summary:
- This law expanded pet protections while amending AWA by increasing the standards of care in breeding facilities for dogs and other animals.
Effects:
- The law is a positive step towards protecting animal rights by mandating socialization, proper space for breeding, and children’s veterinary checkups.
California Puppy Mill Law, 2017
Summary:
- California has become the first state to restrict the sale of dogs, cats, and bunnies in pet retail shops without being sourced from shelters or rescue organizations.
Impact:
- This law intended to decrease the need for puppy mills by promoting adoption and discouraging breeding for profit from substandard breeders.
Breeder Licensing Laws
State and Local Provisions:
- Dog breeding licensing laws on the state and municipal levels require dog breeders to be licensed with specified minimum standards of care and management.
- Although the laws vary widely, they all have the same objective.
- To ensure that animals used for breeding are treated humanely and live in acceptable conditions.
Impact:
- It helps to control the breeding industry and decreases uncontrolled and abusive breeding tendencies.
The Animal Cruelty Statutes
Overview:
- As in other states, these laws provide for the definition and punishment of animal cruelty, which encompasses neglect, abuse, and inhumane breeding.
Impact:
- Such legislation enables the authorities to act against the abuse of breeding facilities, eventually leading to some form of welfare for the dogs in question.
The Pet Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA)
Overview:
- PACFA, as enacted in many states regarding animal care, encompasses provisions regarding the care given by any licensed facility, including breeders, to pets or animals under their care.
Impact:
- It requires facilities to be licensed and subjected to routine inspections and creates better safeguard conditions for dogs kept in the breeding business.
The Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Offences) Bill (UK)
Overview:
- This legislation increased the punishment for animal cruelty.
- It established a legal duty of care for pet owners and animal breeders in the UK.
Impact:
- The new rules have tightened restrictions on breeding practices and made breeders more responsible for the welfare of their animals.
Laws on dog breeding were developed and refined to reflect the growing concern for genuine animal care, breeding control, and the eradication of puppy mills. These pieces of legislation are meant to protect the breeding and raising of dogs and foster responsible ownership and breeding in the industry.
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