A Deep History of the Human-Dog Bond

Learn the History of the over 15,000 year bond between humans and dogs in this compelling talk from Dr. Robert Losey. Dr. Losey is an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta who specializes in the archeology of human-animal relationships

[keving]

One of the truly greatest parts of being human is partaking in this ancient bond. My life is beyond enriched for having dogs in it.

[originaldownload]

This may sum it up: man is the apex carnivore, dogs are carnivores, they teamed up to track, hunt and take down large prey. The dog respects the alpha (man), and knows he's way smarter and capable of much more. After hundreds of thousands of years the bond is genetically ingrained in the dog and man accepts the unbreakable loyalty of the dog. It's beautiful.

[x]

I watched that documentary about the experiments of selective breeding done on the foxes in Russia. It was fascinating how quickly the more friendly foxes became selectively bred and became dog-like.

[alphalunamare]

My Border Collie has a high prey instinct, mad a a badger he is. He is a 'rescue' and at first he was terrifying but after 4 years I think he likes me. He is very territorial and when we are walking along the shore he thinks the Sea is his, which is a pain because other dogs like to swim in it. Every single day is a challenge. I did a DNA test for him and all his ancestors came back Border Collie, without exception for 6 generations. I haven't had a day off since we got him because no one else will take over for a while. On the other hand my arthritic knee is better than it was before We got him because the exercise does us both good! I can feel his presence, it's like having your brothers hanging round with you. .. you feel comfortable and confident and can relax. On the grand scale of things I am glad I got him :-)

[voodoochildaz]

From a scientific perspective, the relationship between humans and dogs is unique. There are no 2 species that work as closely together, communicate (in both directions) as effectively, share emotional bonds to the same extent.... no disrespect to horses and cats, but this human dog thing is unique. And very, very old (so old, we honestly don't know how old). It definitely merits further study both in the archaeological record, as well as modern day studies of dogs. They've been a partner species living and working with us for a few dozen millenia, 10's of thousands of years longer than any other domestic animal.

[dianep]

This makes sense.Dogs are highly social and natural-born moochers.Just as they gather around the table when i eat, 10, 000 yrs ago they gathered around humans camp sites to eat scraps.❤❤❤

[kaarlimakela]

The Bering land bridge was the connection. That was where Siberia meets Alaska. That is where the Grey Wolf turned into a Woof.

[larryreese]

Not surprising to me that a canine can readily adapt to human company or starches in their diet. A grey fox took up residence for one full summer with us and showed little or no fear at our proximity from the very first. Though not completely tame she would come within 8 ft and lie down completely unperturbed. She loved watermelon and watermelon rind, had a fondness for hostess and little debbie cakes and also relished hard candy.

[Alastorm]

I think one of the weirdest part of our relationship is how borderline err "psychic" dogs appear to be. My rodohesian ridgeback used to predict when my parents were coming home a full 10 minutes before they would get home, I know a dogs hearing is good but to predict a specific car sound coming towards them in that range seems far fetched. There is something at play here we still dont fully understand.

[Jay-xwll]

Whatever the reason dogs are very special. I've recently been watching these stray dog rescue shorts on here. It shows that dogs don't do well in the wild, they belong in a house, with their ppl.

[karencawthorn]

I desend from the Chumchi (sp?) tribe in Siberia. They created the Siberian Husky. They believe that the dogs are their dead relatives. Thus they all slept together, dogs, babies & adults. Now I find this out after I bought one husky. Now, I have 6. They are very Spritual & expressive & oh soooo silly.
They're troublesome the first few years. After they're mellow lazy babies looking fir Love to share...or a treat. Life is not the same without a husky.

[nogoodnames]

A new favorite, amazingly thorough slideshow!

[bbryant]

In regard to the remains of the dog that was found with a broken femur: the fact that the break healed and the opposite femur showed wear feom bearing its body weight on it, I think demonstrates that the dog was cared for and lived a long life even after its injury and was buried when it died. This dog was loved and cared for

[rattrap]

Thank you Robert for your indepth research and sharing it with us.

[AdventureHorseRidinginNYS]

Very informative documentary and incredibly interesting

[rodneyadderton]

I watch this as my Yorkie is curled up by my leg. My little shadow. She is good company; I'd be alone with out her.

[greenflagracing]

isn't the current understanding is that grey wolves and dogs descended from a ghost ancestor of both?

[bbryant]

How did dogs get to Africa from Eurasia? Was there a human migration back to Africa and then to Oceania and Polynesia?

[robertphilipson]

The Fox is a different species which is not related to Dogs at all

[UniDocs_Mahapushpa_Cyavana]

Considering every dog 🐕 all had violent-ish, aggressive-ish jobs at the beginning, covering things like:

• Hunting 🏹
• Warfare ⚔
• Guarding 🛡
• Proto-policing 👮
• Sensing prey weakness
• Scouting 🔭
• Patrolling 🚓
• Rough play for learning
• Killing vermin 🐀

I don't think breeding directly or docile-ness would have been a great idea 💡. Though it is a good 👍 example of how rapid evolution can be if it is focused in one direction.

Canid 🐕 have lovable personalities as standard and dogs 🐕 probably evolved a cuter appearance to play with human children, so they both had more to do, better learning, and stronger *bond formation.*