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The first time I read about how the Iroquois managed their dogs and deer herds I realized that the dog is little more than a mobile refrigerator for fresh meat.

On the other hand the dog, unlike just about any other animal, will naturally leap into its owner's arms if given the chance.

They don't need to be trained to do that.

Sure, they're social animals, and you can get them to sleep together in large piles if you want, but this business of leaping on people without aggressive purpose is kind of what you'd expect of FOOD, not a HUNTER.

So, you're hungry ~ time for stew ~ and you step outside the stockade, whistle for your dog (or one of the tribes dogs) and he comes running over, leaps up and you cut his throat ~ not even a sound of surprise.

That's gotta' been bred into 'em.

You get into a bad winter, the dogs are gone ~ and that's what looks liked happened to this dog.