Assignment 1 1. Design a chart detailing different breeds, and if possible, showing lineage, as to how they were bred. 2. What animal does the modern dog descend from? 3. Describe when and why the dog was taxonomically reclassified? What was the change in the taxonomical name? 4. What were the factors driving the evolution of dogs? 5. Distinguish between sight and scent hounds with examples. 6. What was the primary purpose of a Working dog? 7. Differentiate between terriers and toy dogs. Give examples of each. 8. Describe the history of dog grooming - where it originated and how it evolved over time. 9. What is the 'Continental Clip' as regards dog grooming?
Lesson 1 I. History and Evolution of Dogs II. History of Dog Grooming III. The Dog Grooming Profession IV. Further Reading & Research
The History and Evolution of Dogs The evolution of dogs over the ages has been a matter of great interest to researchers and evolutionary biologists. The general consensus is that dogs as we know them today, both wild and domestic breeds, all descended from the Grey Wolf (Canis Lupis). The most significant findings in this regard stems from the work of the prominent expert Dr. Wayne, a biologist and geneticist at the University of California, Los Angeles, who in 1993 carried out specialised DNA tests to establish conclusively that dogs are a much closer relative of the Grey Wolf than previously thought. Thanks to these findings, the prominent journal, Mammal Species of the World, amended the previous listing of dog from 'Canis Familiaris' to 'Canis Lupus', thereby highlighting their Grey Wolf ancestry.
The Evolution of the Different Breeds of Dogs Owing to the fact that evolution of dogs were strongly driven by selective breeding by humans, classification and breed standards of dogs become easier to examine, if one considers how mankind's requirements of their canine friends changed over time. The Hound Dogs The primary purpose of hound dogs, throughout history, has been to track down targets set for them by their human masters. Hound dogs such as Whippets and Greyhounds, have excellent eyesight in addition to their keen sense of smell, helping in a coordinated tracking down of their quarry with great speed. Certain other dogs such as the bloodhound have such an exceptional sense of smell, that their speed and eyesight are less significant to them, as they follow the scent of their quarry, however faint it may be. The Sight Hounds Unlike the other hound varieties, sight hounds capitalize on their enhanced vision and agile bodies to hunt prey. They are so reliant
on their eyesight, that their sense of smell is secondary to them. One can tell a sight hound from afar by their characteristic long neck and jaw. In addition, their bodies are slender with well-defined muscle tone, long lengthy legs and deep chest, fine-tuned to chasing down prey. The Scent Hounds Scent Hounds, as their names suggest, rely on their exceptional olfactory sense to hound out their quarry. Unlike sight hounds, they do not have keen eyesight, and consequently do not rely on them. They are not built for speed as the sight hounds are, since they can slowly but methodically track the scent of their quarry over vast terrain, even across still and moving water. Hunts involving scent hounds may be long, and as such these dogs are characterised by their stamina to last such long forays. Scent hounds are characterised by the following: Moist lips that are tuned to picking up olfactory particles Bigger noses than normal dogs have, with larger nostrils, to let maximum scent to enter Even their ears, slender and long, are tuned to guiding scent into the nostrils Exceptional stamina to pursue quarries over long hunts
Working Dogs Men have long used animals to shoulder the burden of hard physical labour. Working dogs fall under this category. Selectively bred to help human beings with their arduous tasks on the agricultural field, as well as other domestic tasks that required effort, these dogs are large, with powerful bodies and endowed with stamina to endure physical exertion. Working dogs quickly became part of the workforce, used in concert with animals such as oxen and horses. Some breeds include the Boxer, Great Dane, and Husky. Sporting Dogs or Gundogs Sporting dogs or Gundogs, track their quarry's scent in the air than along the ground. Selectively bred to assist human beings on their hunts, they have certain distinctive traits that make them an excellent companion on such forays.
There are three such breeds: Retrievers, Pointers and Setters. Retrievers are characterised by their soft mouths which allow them to capture prey without inflicting bite wounds. Some varieties also have webbed feet and a water-repellent coat, ideal to retrieve birds that may have fallen into water after being shot. Pointers get their name, from their rather curious trait of stiffening their bodies, and holding their nose still, pointing in the direction of their quarry. Setters are named after their ability to set on their prey, that is, crouches in front of it, while the human hunter nets it from behind. As mankind progressed from primitive hand-tools to the use of guns during their hunts, these dogs that accompanied them on the hunts came to be associated with the term, gundogs. The Terrier Dogs Terriers were bred for use in farms, primarily trained to kill vermin and keep foxes that steal livestock, out. Agile, tenacious and bold, terriers are cut out for their task of pestcontrol.
Toy Dog Breeds These dogs were bred for their aesthetic appeal, generally meant for the households of the rich and famous. These are considered status symbols rather than serving any defined purpose. The Non-Sporting Breeds Non-sporting breeds have a variety of traits of their counterparts selectively bred for specific purposes. Thanks to the changes in human culture and demands for entertainment, these dogs have been employed to amuse patrons of circuses and fairgrounds, and eventually in shows and films. Eventually, some breeds were employed for military duties, some employed for drug trials and animal testing, while some were used as designer accessories.