GENERAL HISTORY OF DOGS.
Dogs have a long and intertwined history with humans and this is the general history of dogs.
It is believed that in the earliest stages of human civilization, people developed a bond with a primitive version of our modern dogs.
These early dogs likely resembled gentle jackals or weak wolves seeking refuge from their wild packs.
In exchange for their protection and assistance in guarding livestock, humans provided these dogs with food, shelter, and care.
The relationship may have started when hunters brought home helpless dog pups to be raised by women and children, treating them like family members and playmates.
Every region of the world, except for the West Indian Islands, Madagascar, the eastern islands of the Malayan Archipelago, New Zealand, and the Polynesian Islands,
They have evidence of indigenous dog populations.
These dogs were not domesticated in ancient Oriental lands and among early Mongolians, remaining untamed and feral for many centuries.
They roamed in packs resembling wolves and continue to do so in Eastern cities today.
It was only in the advanced civilizations of Assyria and Egypt that distinct dog breeds began to emerge.
Interestingly, dogs were not highly regarded in Palestine, and both the Old and New Testaments often mention them with scorn and contempt,
Often referring to them as “unclean beasts.”
In the Book of Job, there is even a hint of disdain when the Sheepdog is mentioned.
The only biblical reference to dogs as companions comes from the apocryphal Book of Tobit.
The vast diversity in dog breeds, with their varying sizes, characteristics, and appearances, makes it difficult to believe they share a common ancestry.
The contrast between a Mastiff and a Japanese Spaniel, a Deerhound and a Pomeranian, or a St. Bernard and a Miniature Black and Tan Terrier seems insurmountable.
However, this disparity is no greater than that found in other domesticated animals.
Achieved through selective breeding, such as horses, cattle, and even humans of different sizes.
To understand the connection between dogs and their wild relatives, the wolf, it is essential to examine their skeletal structures.
The bones of dogs and wolves are so similar that they can be easily mistaken for each other.
They both have a similar number of vertebrae in the spine, ribs, and teeth.
The wolf’s natural howl can even be replaced with barking when raised with dogs.
Both species share dietary habits, as wolves can consume both meat and vegetation.
Plus they display strategic hunting behaviors similar to certain breeds of sporting dogs and terriers.
Another significant similarity between wolves and dogs is their gestation period of sixty-three days.
Wolf litters consist of three to nine cubs who are blind for twenty-one days.
During this time, they are nursed by their mother but eventually transition to eating regurgitated food.