Why are there so Many Different Kinds of Dogs?
The dogs we see today come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. It can be hard to imagine that so many different types of dogs actually came from one ancestor, the gray wolf. Although there is some uncertainty as to exactly what area of the world dogs came from and exactly when they made the change from wolf to dog, certain DNA tests have placed East Asia as the homeland of dogs, probably in China or Siberia. Thousands of years ago, wolves and humans began to have a significant relationship to one another.
As humans began to settle down in more permanent communities, rather than wandering, or nomadic, communities, they began to have trash piles nearby their homes. The wolves were, most likely, attracted to these garbage dumps because food scraps could be found there. This new supply of food began to have an effect on wolves. Those wolves who were not as afraid of humans being nearby would eat more of the food left over by humans than those wolves that ran away. As time passed, these less fearful wolves passed on this trait to their offspring, and the wolf began its transformation into the dog. First, the brain and skull of the wolf shrank because it was relying more on scavenging the trash piles instead of hunting, which requires more brain power than digging through the garbage humans had thrown away. Next, the body and snout of the wolf began to shrink, making these almost-dogs much smaller than the regular wolf. Because wolves and dogs had (and still have today) a shorter life span than humans, the process of changing from wolf to dog was possibly very quick, maybe even occurring in one human life span.
Once the wolf had transformed, becoming more dog-like, humans began taking the tamest creatures and raising them to help with hunting and tracking. The early dogs that were more wild and not as easy to tame were probably killed or scared away. This process of taming and raising creatures to help benefit humans is called domestication. After this first initial change from wolf to dog was complete, the next transformation began into the variety of dogs we see today: the appearance of different types, or breeds, of dogs.
As humans began to settle down in more permanent communities, rather than wandering, or nomadic, communities, they began to have trash piles nearby their homes. The wolves were, most likely, attracted to these garbage dumps because food scraps could be found there. This new supply of food began to have an effect on wolves. Those wolves who were not as afraid of humans being nearby would eat more of the food left over by humans than those wolves that ran away. As time passed, these less fearful wolves passed on this trait to their offspring, and the wolf began its transformation into the dog. First, the brain and skull of the wolf shrank because it was relying more on scavenging the trash piles instead of hunting, which requires more brain power than digging through the garbage humans had thrown away. Next, the body and snout of the wolf began to shrink, making these almost-dogs much smaller than the regular wolf. Because wolves and dogs had (and still have today) a shorter life span than humans, the process of changing from wolf to dog was possibly very quick, maybe even occurring in one human life span.
Once the wolf had transformed, becoming more dog-like, humans began taking the tamest creatures and raising them to help with hunting and tracking. The early dogs that were more wild and not as easy to tame were probably killed or scared away. This process of taming and raising creatures to help benefit humans is called domestication. After this first initial change from wolf to dog was complete, the next transformation began into the variety of dogs we see today: the appearance of different types, or breeds, of dogs.
The dog was the very first
animal to be domesticated
by humans.
animal to be domesticated
by humans.
Once dogs became domesticated, humans used selective breeding, breeding animals together to get specific qualities, in order to have dogs specialized for certain tasks. This selective breeding resulted in dogs with different body shapes, fur types, and body sizes. Not only did the job the dog was designed to perform play a role in its appearance, but also the environmental conditions the dog lived in. Wherever people moved to, dogs went with them. By 4500 B.C., five different dog types existed: mastiffs, spitz-type dogs (dogs that looked like wolves), greyhounds, pointing dogs, and shepherding dogs. Mastiffs made good guard dogs or fighting dogs, spitz-type dogs worked well in extremely cold climates, greyhounds and pointers were used for hunting, and shepherding dogs were used to move flocks of sheep or other livestock. In certain cultures, dogs were even bred to be small companions and pets for royalty.
Despite having different types of dogs for different jobs and climates, it wasn't until the 19th century, during the Victorian Age in England, that the many different breeds of dogs we have today began to appear. During this time, the middle class began to emerge, a group of workers who had more money and more free time on their hands than the lower classes. When the Pekingese was brought from China to England during the 1860s, the English fell in love with its appearance and the practice of breeding different dogs to get different looks and keep them as pets was born. In 1873, the London Kennel Club was created and started dog shows for people to display their different dogs. As time went on, people began creating breed standards for the different dogs, which determined how each different breed of dog should look in size, shape, facial features, physical features, posture, fur color, and many other physical characteristics. The first modern dog to be standardized in England was the pointer, a hunting dog which will point in the direction of prey. The desire to create unique looking dogs and the change from using dogs as working animals to keeping them as pets resulted in many of the different types of purebred dogs we have now.
Today, there are over 400 internationally recognized breeds of dogs. In the span of about 150 years, the dog has become the most varied and diverse species on the planet. Although incredibly diverse, dogs are often grouped into various categories. While there is some variation in the names of each group and ways of categorizing dog breeds, most ways of categorizing dogs are the same. One way involves seven different dog groups: herding dogs, sporting (or hunting) dogs, nonsporting dogs (the group with the most variation), terriers (dogs bred to hunt and kill pests), hounds (which are often broken up into scent and sight hounds), and working dogs (which are further grouped according to their occupation, such as herding, guarding, sled pulling, etc.). Sometimes, very small dogs are placed into a category called the "toy" group. Whichever way you classify them, every breed of dog is related through their common ancestor, the wolf.
Despite having different types of dogs for different jobs and climates, it wasn't until the 19th century, during the Victorian Age in England, that the many different breeds of dogs we have today began to appear. During this time, the middle class began to emerge, a group of workers who had more money and more free time on their hands than the lower classes. When the Pekingese was brought from China to England during the 1860s, the English fell in love with its appearance and the practice of breeding different dogs to get different looks and keep them as pets was born. In 1873, the London Kennel Club was created and started dog shows for people to display their different dogs. As time went on, people began creating breed standards for the different dogs, which determined how each different breed of dog should look in size, shape, facial features, physical features, posture, fur color, and many other physical characteristics. The first modern dog to be standardized in England was the pointer, a hunting dog which will point in the direction of prey. The desire to create unique looking dogs and the change from using dogs as working animals to keeping them as pets resulted in many of the different types of purebred dogs we have now.
Today, there are over 400 internationally recognized breeds of dogs. In the span of about 150 years, the dog has become the most varied and diverse species on the planet. Although incredibly diverse, dogs are often grouped into various categories. While there is some variation in the names of each group and ways of categorizing dog breeds, most ways of categorizing dogs are the same. One way involves seven different dog groups: herding dogs, sporting (or hunting) dogs, nonsporting dogs (the group with the most variation), terriers (dogs bred to hunt and kill pests), hounds (which are often broken up into scent and sight hounds), and working dogs (which are further grouped according to their occupation, such as herding, guarding, sled pulling, etc.). Sometimes, very small dogs are placed into a category called the "toy" group. Whichever way you classify them, every breed of dog is related through their common ancestor, the wolf.
The most popular breed of dog in the world
is the mutt, or mixed breed. This type of dog is
often a mix of several different breeds of dogs.
In terms of purebred dogs, one of the most
popular is the Labrador Retriever.
is the mutt, or mixed breed. This type of dog is
often a mix of several different breeds of dogs.
In terms of purebred dogs, one of the most
popular is the Labrador Retriever.
Now that you have learned why so many different breeds of dogs exist today, click on the button to learn how different people around the world view and think about dogs.
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