Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-06-03
ABOUT DOGS.
Points OF Interest to All Admirers Of the
Canine Race.

1
| Canine Race.
The wonderful variation IN size, ap.
pearance and intellect of dogs must
strike every one who remembers that
this great variety came originally from
three or four species of wild dogs.
There is now preserved in an English
museum little dog of the terrier kind
which was about two years old at its
death. 1t was exactly five and one
half inches long, which is just the
length of German boar hound in an
other part of the museum, measured
from the corner of the eye to the tip OF
the nose. So great is the difference
that one can hardly realize that they
probably had common ancestor.
The original wild dogs had very
much the aspect of wolves-erect ears
and bushy, flowing tails. 1t is thought
by many that the dogs most nearly APP
preaching them in appearance are
nearest them in point of development,
and that the breed closely related aNe
our shepherds, but an examination and
comparison of the bones, and particu-
larly the skulls, show that among the
principal breeds the line OF descent is:
First. wild dog; then Danish dog
hounds, pointers, terriers, pugs, SPAN
iels and pet dogs in general come last.
The influence of men over all nature
is most markedly shown in pet dogs.
They are, as rule, small, with tails
curved upwards, ears dropping, but
sure signs of domestication. Besides,
the temperament and disposition are
wholly changed, whereas wild dogs are
natural hunters, the pet dogs being
wholly ignorant of the wiles of the
chase. A pug would probably be as
much surprised at the sudden appear
ance of rabbit as bunny would be at
the pug. The probability is that both
would run as soor as they saw each
other.
The varieties have been so long bred
that they would never return to origin
al species again, even if left to run
wild. That they are closely related to
wolves and other animals, however, is
shown by the fact chat they will breed
with them and also by the tanning Of
wolves taken very young. They become
gentle and affectionate. A wolf yelp
when young. if suddenly menaced by
master, will cringe and beg off just
az dog does when he thinks he is
going to be whipped. They have many
other traits which indicate a close re-
lationship.
Not only are wolves capable of do
mestication, but on the other hand dogs
often escape and become wild. A case
is related of a greyhound who con-
cluded she would take to the woods.
After year or two she was captured
and brought back. In few months
she presented her master with some
pups, but as soon as they were able to
take care of themselves she left'them
and again ran away. Three of the
pups stayed at home and became good
citizens, but two partook of the moth
er's nature and ran away to join her.
They at last became so destructive to
young animals that they were hunted
down and shot.
Puppies get their eyes open on the
tenth or twelfth day, reach their full
growth at the end of the second year
and are very old at ten years, very
few of them reaching the green old age
of twenty. Although their lives are short
they are full of interest. The devotion
of a dog for his master is phenomenal.
He will stick to him whatever be his
fortunes, stand any amount of abuse
and love his master with a fOrgiving
spirit in spite of every thing.-Pitts-
burhg Dispatch.