The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-12-10
HISTORICAL POINTS ON DOGS.


InnuenCe OF Man on Ihe OAnfne species.
The wonderful variation in size, np-
pearance and intellect of dogs must
strike every one who remembe
that this great variety came orig
inally 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. It was exactly five and one half
inches long, which is just the length of
the nose of German boar hound in
another 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 a 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 approaching them in ap-
pearance are nearest them in point of
development, and that the breed
closely related are shepherds, but an
examination and comparison of the
bones, and particularly the skulls,
shows that among the principal breeds
the line of descent is: First, wild dog;
then Danish dog hounds, pointers;
terriers, pugs, spaniels and pet dogs
In general come last.
The influence of man over all nature
is most markedly shown in pet dogs.
They are, as rule, small, with tail
curved upwards, ears dropping, but
sure signs of domestication.
Besides, the temperament and dis
position 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 appearance of
rabbit as bunny would he at the pug.
The probability is that both would run
as soon as they saw each other.
The varieties have been so long bred
that they would never return to orig
inal species again, even if left to run
wild
That they are closely related to
wolves and such animals, however, is
shown by the fact that they will breed
with them and also by the tanning of
wolves taken very young. They ba-
como gentle and affectionate.
A wolf whelp when young, if sudden
" mennced by a master, will crinRe
and beg off just rs dog does when he
thinks he is going to be whipped. They
have many other traits which indicate q
close relationship.
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
concluded 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 Us 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 mothers 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 arc very old at ten years, very few
of them reaching the green old ago Of
twenty. Although their lives are short
they are full of interest
The devotion of dog for his master
Is phenomenal. He will stick to him
whatever he his fortune, stand any
amount of abuse, and love his master
with a forgiving spirit in spite If
everything.