Dogs And Humans - Centuries Old Partnership
By Alan Beggerow

The modern domesticated dog is a result of centuries of interaction with humans. While it is true that the ancestor of the domestic dog was the wolf, dogs are now different animals. True domestication comes after generations of interaction between humans and animals and causes some basic changes in the animal.

A recent study with wolves that have been acclimated to humans is a case in point. A piece of meat was placed under a cage in such a way that the wolf could not get to it. A human stood by the cage to observe. The wolf could smell and see the meat but not actually get to it. The wolf would try for a long time, not pay any attention to the human, and then eventually give up. The same was done with a dog, and after a few tries the dog would stop trying. The dog would look at the cage, then sit and look at the human, waiting for the human to help it get the food.

The domestication of dogs has changed them from their wild ancestors. Early humans and wolves began their relationship for mutual benefit. The wolf’s keen sense of smell and athleticism was taken advantage of by humans to help with the hunting of game, to guard other animals and property. The wolf used humans to help it have a more steady supply of food.

The bond between dog and human is so strong, that dogs rely on humans for their survival. The domestic dog now needs humans to feed and care for them. Some dogs still ‘work’ for their keep by being Seeing Eye dogs, search and rescue dogs, hunting and herding dogs. And some dogs do nothing for their keep but be the family pet. But it is still a relationship with mutual benefit. There are many humans that need the companionship, love and loyalty that a dog can give. A centuries old partnership between dogs and humans that is still going strong.

We love our dogs, but sometimes they can drive us crazy with bad behavior, stubbornness or incessant barking. By trying to obtain a better understanding of what our dogs’ behavior means, we can build a better relationship with them. One of those key behaviors that need to be reeled in is the canine tendency to bite. Keep reading to learn the underlying reasons behind why your dog is biting and how to prevent it.

Dogs bite for a few reasons - because they’re excited, scared, in pain or simply protecting a loved one or favorite toy. Each of those reasons can cause your dog to bite, and sometimes in a manner that might be dangerous either to you, your child, or a stranger.

Dogs bite when they’re playing because they naturally use their mouths to grasp things. Though this is completely innocent and understandable behavior, it’s important to teach your dog that biting the tennis ball may be okay, but biting you is not. If your dog bites you during play, stop the play immediately and walk away. Soon, your pet will learn that playful biting is not okay.

Dogs can be extremely possessive and if they’re trying to protect a favorite toy, person or a piece of food, they will sometimes bite. So, if you need to take something away from a dog, do it slowly but firmly. You must let your dog know that you are in charge, but not in a way that will frighten it.

Your dog will also sometimes bite if it is startled or afraid. Just like humans, dogs can get scared, so avoid unnecessarily startling your animal. If you have children, teach them to respect your dog and refrain from aggravating or upsetting the animal.

Finally, dogs can often become aggravated and aggressive when they’re in pain. If your dog is injured or hurt, always be as gentle and careful as possible. Soothe your dog and let it know that you’re there to help. Whether you’re pulling out porcupine needles, applying salve to a cat scratch, or extracting a splinter from his paw, assure the pet that you’re there to help.

Just like us, dogs have feelings and emotions. Unlike us though, dogs can’t express those feelings through words or clear body language signals. So, the next time your dog bites, try to think about the reasons behind that behavior and how you can work with your pet to fix it.

The way in which a dog sees the world is very different from the way humans see it. A dog’s sense of smell is far superior to that of humans. It is thought that a dog’s sense of smell is at least 100 times more powerful than that of man, and it is obvious that dogs rely on this sense a lot, when you see them using their nose to investigate an object it has found.

When two dogs first meet they generally have a good sniff at each other, as they check each other out. It is also common for a male dog to cock his leg to mark his territory, and they do this to cover up the scents of dogs that have been there previously. A bitch in heat emits a special smell only noticeable to male dogs, which is why bitches in this condition are usually kept a close eye on.

A dog’s hearing is also superior to man’s, especially high frequencies. Hence the use of ‘dog whistles’, which we cannot hear, but can be heard by dogs. Also, often a dog will hear and recognise a noise before humans can, like footsteps approaching down the path, or the car pulling onto the drive. Dog’s can also move their ears to help them pinpoint the sound more accurately.

A dog’s eyesight is thought to be inferior to man’s, at least during daylight. There is no firm evidence either way as to whether dogs are colour-blind or not, but it is thought that their colour vision is not as well defined as humans. However, at night it is a different story. Dog’s eyes are better equipped to deal with the dark, enabling them to see better than humans. Also, dogs have better peripheral vision, which allows them to see further to the sides than we can. So, not only can they hear someone approaching from behind sooner, they can also see them sooner as well.

Communication between dogs is very impressive, they utilise sound, smells and body signals. The eyes are very important, a stare is usually used by a dominant dog to a submissive one, to show dominance. If a person stares at a dog, the dog will usually look away, and may roll on to his back to show submission.

The way a dog holds his ears is also an important indicator. Ears held back against the head show submission or fear, whilst ears which are erect indicate alertness. Tails are also a great indicator. If it is held high it generally means alertness, whilst a wagging tail probably means excitement. A tail held low generally means fear or submission.