| How Long Has Fido Been a Part of Man’s | | | | dogs to meet their particular needs. They would |
| Inner Circle? | | | | take the best hunting types and breed them until |
| | | | | they created the best hunting dog. Also at this |
| The next time you give Duchess a bath or invite | | | | time the Romans began breeding dogs as |
| Duke to take a ride in the car think about how | | | | companions. The Maltese is one of the oldest |
| different your life would be without that bond you | | | | breeds and was bred as a companion to the |
| have with your dog. Just how long has that | | | | aristocracy of Roman culture. It is even believed |
| relationship existed and how did it begin? Who | | | | that Caesar himself had a Maltese as a |
| do we have to think for giving us a lifetime of | | | | companion. |
| companionship and loyalty? Who first discovered | | | | The art of breeding dogs was really perfected |
| the symbiosis that man and dog enjoy today? | | | | during the Middle Ages. The Normans, under |
| Who, indeed, first forged that relationship that has | | | | William the Conqueror, were using these breeding |
| lasted for thousands of years? | | | | techniques to create specialized breeds that met |
| In order to answer that question we must first | | | | their needs. The wolf hound was bred as a keen |
| consider why man and dog would need to forge a | | | | hunter and some smaller dogs were bred to |
| relationship. What common needs did ancient | | | | become specialized hunters. Rat dogs, fox hound |
| man and dog possess that made a partnership | | | | and bird dogs quickly became popular breeds |
| between the two completely different animals | | | | during this period, all because of their specialization |
| advantageous to each other? | | | | and hunting skills. |
| Well consider that ancient man was a hunter and | | | | So as the relationship between man and dog has |
| in order for man to hunt and kill large animals if | | | | evolved throughout the centuries the dependence |
| was necessary for man to form an alliance with | | | | upon each other has grown. Today man does |
| other men. The group became the hunting party | | | | not use dogs to help them hunt for food for |
| and together the group was capable of hunting | | | | survival but they do use dogs to help them hunt |
| and killing large animals for food. The ancient dog | | | | for recreation. There are working dogs used for |
| or wolf was the same, forming social relationships | | | | protection and other specialized skills. The last |
| within a pack to hunt more efficiently. So in | | | | time you were at the airport did you see a dog |
| Paleolithic times man and wolf or dog was forced | | | | working the luggage areas, searching for illegal |
| to form a social order to insure the survival of | | | | drugs, or have you seen a companion dog helping |
| the species. That same need brought man and | | | | a sightless person navigate a busy city street. |
| dog together to form a sort of social order. | | | | Despite the fact that our survival today is not |
| Both species were able to improve on the | | | | dependant upon our ability to hunt as a group we |
| previous social order by allying themselves | | | | still use dogs to help us in our daily life. Medical |
| together. Dogs became co-hunters with man in | | | | necessity dogs are used more and more in |
| a prehistoric bond that has survived for over | | | | nursing homes and are being trained to help more |
| 17,000 years. Man would use the dog’s keen | | | | people with special needs such as the blind. It |
| eyesight, hearing, sense of smell and agility to | | | | has been determined that a visit from a four |
| hunt large animals. As a reward to the dogs, | | | | legged friend can help a hospital patient heal |
| man moved the dogs into his clan. Dog became | | | | quicker. |
| man’s best friend. Man provided food, | | | | So today even though we do not depend upon |
| shelter and safety for the dogs. | | | | the aid of dogs to survive our relationship has |
| The evidence of this relationship can be seen as | | | | evolved to become even more. Where once we |
| far back as 17,000 years but is more evident | | | | hunted together today we live together, dogs |
| from around 13,000 years. Archeological finds | | | | have moved for helper to become a full part of |
| have uncovered gravesites that contain both man | | | | the family. They have moved form the yard to |
| and dog buried together. From Russia to Ireland | | | | the sun room, living with us inside our house. |
| to China, man has been bringing his favorite | | | | They sit with us while we watch television, walk |
| companion with him to the grave for thousands | | | | with us when we check the mail and cheer with |
| of years. In ancient Egypt the Pharaohs had | | | | us when our favorite team scores. The |
| their favorite dogs join them for the hunt in the | | | | relationship we have with our dogs today is not |
| Nile valley. During the Han Dynasty, in China, the | | | | one of man’s best friend, it is one afforded a |
| emperor bred a particular breed as a lap dog. | | | | full member of our family, enjoying special meals |
| We know this breed today as a Pekinese. It | | | | at holidays and sharing in the gift giving at |
| was bred to be small enough to fit into the cuffs | | | | Christmas and even given that special place in our |
| of the robes and to serve as a protector for the | | | | hearts eternally with a professional burial. What |
| owner. In China, at this time, it was believed | | | | does the next step in the evolution of our |
| that this breed could tell whether a person was | | | | relationship hold, only the future knows but the |
| good or evil so the owner used the dog as | | | | next time you hear sparky bark just think about |
| protection. The dog would sit inside the cuffs of | | | | how that relationship was founded. On the cold |
| the owner’s robes and determine if the | | | | windswept hills of Ireland a bond was forged that |
| person that approached the owner was a | | | | has changed the social structure of two species. |
| threat. If the dog sensed a threat it would bark | | | | What would your life be like without that special |
| and attack, thus protecting the owner. | | | | friend who is there to share all of your joys and |
| Around the time of Christ the Romans began | | | | to cheer you up when you’re down? I do |
| experimenting with the breeding process. At this | | | | not know what life would be like without my little |
| time there were around 7 types, not breeds, of | | | | friends but I do know that I am happier and |
| dogs known to man. The Romans bred the | | | | better today because they are here. |