From the Wilds to Our Homes

With both my children now living separately from me, I am alone most of the time, except for my two lovely dogs. One is half Labrador and the other is pure. Such difference bestowed on them different traits.

The half breed loves her head to be touched and fondled while the pure loves her belly tickled. And I cater to their desires each time I take a computer break.

Never does it enter into my mind that their ancestors, thousands of years ago, would have easily bitten my fingers and hands off, even tear me to pieces without the slightest provocation.

So how, when and where did the wilderness wolves find their way into our homes as dogs, into our doting attention and affection?

So many theories abound. And just like any theory, there are adherents and opponents.

According the Dr. Carles Vila, from the Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics Group a the Donana Biological Station in Seville, Spain, both camps are still in a debate in this aspect of wolf-to-dog evolution

He theorized that this evolution was not a one-shot deal but a multiple process of wolf to dog, dog to wolf and so on, until wolf and dog, due to their natural differences permanently delineated from each other – the wolves opting to live in the wilds, and dogs in our homes.

When this happened is uncertain except that scientists have a hard time finding wolf, cum dog, bone fragments older than 14,000 years ago.

Genetic comparison done by scientists, led by Dr. Axelsson, between wolves and dogs showed that dogs showed two major functional genes in dogs that are not as pronounced in wolves. These are the genes involved in starch metabolism and brain development.

This finding bolsters the theory that dogs emerged from wolves in the garbage dump created by primitive human settlements. From rummaging through the carbohydrate-laden leftovers of man, wolves became more efficient in metabolizing starch – and to live close with man.

As far as brain development genes are concerned, this is thought to explain the behavioral differences between wolves and dogs. As a consequence of developing a working relationship with man, dogs have become more docile and friendly.

For their constant belligerence and suspicion of man, wolves were treated reciprocally and more. When humans arrived in Europe more than 43,000 years ago, they practically eliminated all carnivores including saber-tooth cats and giant hyenas.

By the order of Henry VII, the last wolf was killed in England in the 16^th century and the Scots, rather than hunt wolves, burned their forested habitats. By 1930, there was no wolf left in the 48 contiguous states of America.

For people like me, we don’t hassle too much how wolves became domesticated. We are just too happy and content that some of them did. I would not have my dogs to pat on the head or tickle the belly if they did not.