From Wolf to Companion: Animal Series #1: Dog

In this article, we will explore the origin story of dogs as a species. The scientific name of the dog is “Canis lupus familiaris”, and the scientific name of the wolf is “Canis lupus”. Although many theories and debates surround the origin of dogs, the most prevalent is that dogs are domesticated descendants of wolves. Dogs share about 98% to 99% of their DNA with wolves, more than the DNA shared between wolves and coyotes, which is up to 93%.

The origin of dogs can't be pinpointed to a single place, as research suggests it may have occurred across the globe in pockets such as Asia and Europe, where people used dogs for different purposes based on their environment.

Humans have selectively bred dogs into different breeds to serve different purposes over time. There are around 400 distinct dog breeds.

Dogs were mainly categorized into the below-mentioned ways:

1. Sporting Dogs: This category mainly includes pointers that point, retrieve, or flush out birds in water or on land. Some Examples: Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever.

2. Hounds: They are also predominantly hunting dogs. In this category, some dogs have a heightened sense of smell and sight, called sight hounds and scent hounds. Some Examples: Beagle, Greyhound, and Dachshund.

3. Terriers: This group has both small and large dogs. They were mainly used around barns to dig out unwanted rodents. In the Western world, terriers were used for dog fights in pits before it was outlawed in the late 1990s. That’s where one of the most popular breeds got its name: Pit Bull. Examples include the Bull Terrier, Scottish Terrier, and Fox Terrier.

4. Herding Dogs: These dogs were mainly created to help with livestock. They are very intelligent and have a muscular frame, with the ability to make short, high-speed dashes. Examples include the German Shepherd, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and Shetland Sheepdog.

5. Working Dogs: Humans created this group to help with specific tasks such as guarding, pulling, leading, and guiding. Dogs in this category are generally medium to large and have a muscular, strong frame. Some Examples: Alaskan Malamute, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky.

6. Toys: This group of dogs was mainly bred as companion dogs. In the old days, most royalty kept dogs in this category as pets. Some cases suggest that these breeds, kept as pets by the royal family, were not allowed to be owned by anyone else in the country. Examples include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Pug, and Shih Tzu.

Through the years, the way we see and approach dogs has changed. They have become an integral part of society and have taken on roles beyond what they were originally envisioned for. Today, dogs serve as emotional support animals, therapy dogs, and more. Multiple studies have examined the effects of having a dog or interacting with one. Most studies show that dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure and reduced stress levels, which improves cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of heart disease. Scientists at Washington State University found that petting a dog for 10 minutes significantly reduced cortisol (a hormone produced by the body during high-stress conditions) levels. Another study also found that interacting with your dog can increase your levels of Oxytocin (a hormone that promotes positive feelings in your body, which in turn reduces stress and anxiety).

There has been a huge rise in the number of dogs being purchased YoY post the COVID pandemic. People are buying dogs to meet different emotional needs.

1. Loneliness: Many pet owners have bought dogs to fight the loneliness brewing inside them and to have a companion in life.

2. DINK(double income no kids): Many married couples today don't want children but still want to feel the emotions of being parents, so they buy a dog and become dog parents. This gives them the emotional satisfaction of being a parent.

3. Aged Parents: As most children move to different cities or countries for jobs and opportunities, their parents are left behind with little to do. This category includes older adults who buy dogs to keep them company and often see them as a younger child who stays with them all the time. They schedule their routine around the dog, creating activities like taking the dog for a walk, which in turn helps them to stay active. Dogs provide emotional support and purpose in their lives.