How Dogs Became Man's Best Friend Video

The National Geographic News ^ | 1-25-07

[afraidfortherepublic]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070125-dogs-video.html

RELATED Video: Working Dogs Go Beyond "Man's Best Friend" Video: Dog Whisperer Tackles Pit Bull Terror Dogs: Photos, Video, Audio, and More

January 25, 2007—Though they come in many different sizes and temperaments, all domesticated dogs living today are descended from just a few wild wolves that roamed Asia some 15,000 years ago.

But why, out of all of the animals that humans have domesticated, have dogs become so close to their owners?

Join an anthropologist as he conducts experiments on both wild dogs and down-home pups to figure out why dogs are so good at communicating with humans.

Video by "Wild Chronicles," airing on PBS, made possible by National Geographic Mission Programs and WWF and presented by WLIW New York

[jwh_Denver]

Great video! Thanks!

[mtbopfuyn]

I know several dogs who are smarter about people than he is about dogs.

Ha, I've said much the same.

[Red_Devil 232]

My! My! What a great video! The music was appropriate ... there is some great love, devotion and training between that owner and the dog!

[CARDINALRULES]

That is so cool.

I just love Goldens.

Hmmm....wonder if I could teach my Maggie to dance.

[JoeFromSidney]

Dogs share your life. Cats share space.

Dogs have owners. Cats have staff. I know. Two of them keep me around to feed and pet them.

[IwaCornDogs]

Hi! First time post, long time lurker. Easier to start off in a topic I'm totally comfortable in, although I adore A Day In The Life of President Bush/Sanity Island.
Kenzie, a Wheaton Terrier, is looking to hook up with First Dog Barney in this adorable and clever video:
My Date With Barney, The First Dog/YouTube.

[blam]

Good video thanks. I finally got DSL in my area, yeaaaa!

[AnAmericanMother]

That always makes me smile! Carolyn Scott was one of the pioneers of freestyle obedience.

[RedStateRocker]

On the other extreme, living with a parrot is a job in itself. My macaw is as complex emotionally as any person the same age (13). Hearing a sweet, little-girl like birdy voice doing his Dennis Miller meets Eddie Murphy 'fowl' mouthed routine is priceless. I mashed my thumb with a hammer a few days after I got him; 70 years from now I'll still have a record of what I said. Winston Churchill's parrot is still alive (and says naughty things about a certain Herr Hitler). The difference is that parrots are always trying to up you in the hierarchy; dogs, once their place is established are cool with it forever- that being why a small lady can control a 150lb rottie, the relationship of who is alpha was established when the dog was a little pup even thought the dog is now 20 times bigger and could pull the lady and the truck into the next town.

[Slings and Arrows]

An animal that useful, you don't eat it all at once.

[jaycee]

The dog video was darling. I really loved that one!

[BruceysMom]

I have been a dog groomer for thirty years, I've also raised and trained Wolf hybrids, worked as a vet tech and managed a boarding kennel. Every day at work I handle all different breeds. Since I've started studying what Cesar believes I have had the best success in handling problem dogs, and I am more successful with all of them. Even the 7 month old Czech (shepherd)import that I groomed yesterday. I have also groomed some working police dogs and Cesar's methods make that job a lot easier. I agree with you that he does great in pet situations but my experience shows his methods work well with all the dogs I see. Border Collies are very intelligent but they are also often complete basket cases when being groomed. If your dog doesn't behave for me, then I don't view it as "trained" thats when the psychology comes into play.

[AnAmericanMother]

I've always wanted to ask a dog groomer this --

Do you groom a Lab, and if so, what on earth do you do?

[BruceysMom]

Generally we just clip the nails,do the anals bathe and dry. I have however shaved them on occasion. One time I had to shave a dalmatian with a #40 blade. Thats the blade they use when they prep for surgery. The lady said all she waned to see was pink and black!
My understanding is that there is a little creative use of thinning shears in a show groom. Thinning can make certain attributes stand out or faults recede.

[AnAmericanMother]

A shaved, black and pink Dalmatian . . . ugh! What a horrible thought! (did the dog seem embarassed to be naked?)

My big Lab doesn't mind being bathed . . . I don't know what the puppy thinks about it yet. It doesn't happen very often, because our retrieving club has a beautiful clear spring-fed pond and that seems to be just about enough bath for them.

I clip their nails and do the anals, and clean the big one's ears with mineral oil and put in a couple drops of OtoMax because she has a mild recurrent fungus infection in one ear. I don't clip their whiskers but I understand the show groomers do.

Thanks -- was afraid I was missing something!

[passionfruit]

Good dog!

[BruceysMom]

Good Mommy! Sit and stay! LOL!

[freepersup]

3 words... Karelian bear dogs.

[beyond the sea]

all domesticated dogs living today are descended from just a few wild wolves that roamed Asia some 15,000 years ago.

Now really ...... just asking, but how in the world can that claim be proved?

Ridiculous if you ask me.

[AnAmericanMother]

Arf! (where's my treat?)

Shelley ought to patent that Baleful Stare (I had just told them to knock off the dogfight over the toy.)