A Cut Above
We all know dogs were ascended from wolves. What is less known is the uncommonly rapid genetic transformation from feral to domesticated that took place, resulting in the animals we know and love today. Thousands of years ago wolves scrounged in the garbage dumping places of early man, and instinctively fled when anyone approached. But in a relatively short time those wolves lacking that "fight or flight" gene hung around and made friends. I suppose it's why dogs prefer table scraps to Alpo still today. What is less understood is the genetic change that took place resulting in dogs that somehow know to only bark at the mailman when he's bringing bills.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:16 AM
7 Comments:
If this explanation of the evolution from wolf to household pet is true—and who am I (not being canine) to dispute it, we seem to be on the way to domesticating the grizzly bear and other ursines who hang around our national parks scavengering for food and scaring the campers. Soon every Yuppie in Manhattan, pooper-scooper in hand, will be walking a Polar Bear on a lead down the streets of SoHo.
Mmmm... that sounds more than a bit arthouse-y Prof! LOL
Funny cartoon John... poor pooch... and that poor mother!
This is the best Jeremy yet! Love it. How his poor mother keeps from having a nervous breakdown is beyond my understanding.
“that sounds more than a bit arthouse-y Prof!”
Jean, I am not clear as to what you mean by “arthouse-y.” Here in America an art house is a small cinema which shows Slovakian puppet films and an occasional homage to Sam Fuller. We do have an expression “arty-farty” which connotes artistically pretentious. Surely walking a polar bear on a lead is not a form of expression. It is merely exercise, good for the bear, good for the owner.
Sigh! Jeremy, Jeremy...your poor mother! She may only be consoled by the old, but powerful retaliatory curse, "Some day you will have a child just like yourself!"
I feel sorry for the domesticated, overly bred dogs of the day. What a ridiculous variety of mutant shapes and sizes, (not to mention the long list of physiological ailments accompanied with the breeds). It's those little dogs that seem to have the biggest chip on their shoulder. It's no wonder they yap and nip incessantly. They are undoubtedly disgruntled by the fact that they are a humiliating, disfiguring deviation from the original noble and handsome wolf family. (Clothing them in cute knit outfits only puts them over the edge...oh the shame!)
When I got my cocker spaniel I did not realize how often he would need to be groomed. After a couple of months I decided to buy some clippers and do it myself. That is when I learned that "grooming" is an art and my dog looked horrible for a couple of months. Now he goes to get his hair cut more often than I do and it costs 3 times what I pay for mine. Katherine
Il Prof... oh no... I can assure you no offence intended! I meant art housey as in out of an arthouse film... which here constitutes any film containing some form of weirdness (polar bears on leads springs to mind! LOL) But you're right... I'm probably way off the mark... polar bears are by now practicaly mainstream! (((LOL)))
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