A Rottweiler, a Doberman, and a German Shepard are in a bar. The Rottie says, “I dreamed God thought I was beautiful.” The Doberman said, “God told me I was his most perfect creation.” The German Shepard said, “I said WHAT???”
I recently read a small article about a puppy. Mummified it died in Siberia about 18,000 years ago. Oddly it is genetically neither a wolf or a dog. So… it is a kind of Missing Link between the two!
I read two articles in Scientific American on domestication one a decade ago, the other just yesterday.
One of them talked about how and when man domesticated various animals like dogs, cattle and such. There is some debate as to whether cats are domesticated.
The recent article talks about how species, including ourselves, self-domesticate. It contends that domestication comes from being friendly with members of our own species. Some species do this better than others. Some species manage to recognize other members of their own kind even if they are not immediate family members or members of their local herd. These species seem to do well.
If we were to wind the clock back 100,000 years or so and look at the different hominoid species at the time, the smart money would be on the Neanderthals. They had almost everything going for them: intelligence, physical strength, you name it. Cro-Magnons (our ancestors) did one thing better – we formed groups bigger than an extended family – something the Neanderthals never seemed to manage to do.
We have stopped evolving: we are now moving towards a fragmented species who are overly aggressive in protecting our tribes. We seem to be losing our ability to cooperate and even our friendliness.
Starting to hang around humans was a pretty successful evolutionary step. There are only a few thousand wolves left in the wild, but there are around 900 million dogs in the world.
Just wait till they turn you into A Chinese Crested, a Mexican Hairless, a Neapolitan Mastiff a Komondor an English Bull Terrier, or the like. Or worse, “I’m going to the vet’s to get tutored”: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c6/87/99/c68799d3a38a3ead71fa9a948cafb7a1.jpg
I remember reading somewhere that wolves were drawn to early Neolithic (New Stone) Age campfires and were thus domesticated as dogs. It also showed how other animals were domesticated. In the Ural Mountains spanning what are now Turkey, Iraq and Iran, hunters domesticated the mountain sheep by killing the nastiest rams while being kind to the rest. They also domesticated the ox and the goat that way. And how the Scandinavians tamed the reindeer, the Andean natives the Llama, Chinese the pig, Africans the cow, Arabians the camel and just about everyone the chicken.
My dog has all the freedom he wants. Walks in the country with no leash, rides in a convertible, as much food as he needs, fresh water, treats, tummy rubs, a temperate and dry place to sleep on a comfortable bed, vet visits if he is ailing, no concern for his safety, someone who wants to be his best friend for life (me)…not a bad life!
Enter.Name.Here over 3 years ago
“Hey, it’s a living”.
Soups40 over 3 years ago
No such thing as a free lunch…
jagedlo over 3 years ago
So much for that “rest of my life” bit…
flagmichael over 3 years ago
From my wife today…
A Rottweiler, a Doberman, and a German Shepard are in a bar. The Rottie says, “I dreamed God thought I was beautiful.” The Doberman said, “God told me I was his most perfect creation.” The German Shepard said, “I said WHAT???”
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 3 years ago
There is little dignity in domestication, but there is less dignity in starvation.
eromlig over 3 years ago
I’m domesticated too — I’m a husband. (Some weekends I do go feral, though.)
I Mad Am I over 3 years ago
I recently read a small article about a puppy. Mummified it died in Siberia about 18,000 years ago. Oddly it is genetically neither a wolf or a dog. So… it is a kind of Missing Link between the two!
Auntie Socialist over 3 years ago
The retirement plan is pretty good
mrcooncat over 3 years ago
In China: “Soylent Green is doggies!”
dflak over 3 years ago
I read two articles in Scientific American on domestication one a decade ago, the other just yesterday.
One of them talked about how and when man domesticated various animals like dogs, cattle and such. There is some debate as to whether cats are domesticated.
The recent article talks about how species, including ourselves, self-domesticate. It contends that domestication comes from being friendly with members of our own species. Some species do this better than others. Some species manage to recognize other members of their own kind even if they are not immediate family members or members of their local herd. These species seem to do well.
If we were to wind the clock back 100,000 years or so and look at the different hominoid species at the time, the smart money would be on the Neanderthals. They had almost everything going for them: intelligence, physical strength, you name it. Cro-Magnons (our ancestors) did one thing better – we formed groups bigger than an extended family – something the Neanderthals never seemed to manage to do.
We have stopped evolving: we are now moving towards a fragmented species who are overly aggressive in protecting our tribes. We seem to be losing our ability to cooperate and even our friendliness.
ChessPirate over 3 years ago
“Well, that’s it! No more lost self-respect! I’m gonna… Oooo, doggie treat!” ☺
Huckleberry Hiroshima over 3 years ago
They came to us. We didn’t go to them.
Mario500 over 3 years ago
(examines second panel of the cartoon carefully; finds certain parts of it to had been depictions of a foot and a leg)
joefearsnothing over 3 years ago
But is he “cave broke”? ;0)
Zebrastripes over 3 years ago
….but the food and bones are delicious….
Flatlander, purveyor of fine covfefe over 3 years ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AxiATxLofk
Nighthawks Premium Member over 3 years ago
STEP?…….STEP is not a sound….
how about: CRUNCH!
sandpiper over 3 years ago
According to a earlier commenter, Dogs have owners. Cats have staff
silverclaw33 over 3 years ago
Starting to hang around humans was a pretty successful evolutionary step. There are only a few thousand wolves left in the wild, but there are around 900 million dogs in the world.
Troglodyte over 3 years ago
It’s not really a straitjacketed existence, if you think about it…
zeexenon over 3 years ago
Just wait till they turn you into A Chinese Crested, a Mexican Hairless, a Neapolitan Mastiff a Komondor an English Bull Terrier, or the like. Or worse, “I’m going to the vet’s to get tutored”: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c6/87/99/c68799d3a38a3ead71fa9a948cafb7a1.jpg
cuzinron47 over 3 years ago
How’s that hunting thing workin’ for you?
Northgalus2002 over 3 years ago
I remember reading somewhere that wolves were drawn to early Neolithic (New Stone) Age campfires and were thus domesticated as dogs. It also showed how other animals were domesticated. In the Ural Mountains spanning what are now Turkey, Iraq and Iran, hunters domesticated the mountain sheep by killing the nastiest rams while being kind to the rest. They also domesticated the ox and the goat that way. And how the Scandinavians tamed the reindeer, the Andean natives the Llama, Chinese the pig, Africans the cow, Arabians the camel and just about everyone the chicken.
rshive over 3 years ago
Apparently peer approval still means something.
WCraft Premium Member over 3 years ago
My dog has all the freedom he wants. Walks in the country with no leash, rides in a convertible, as much food as he needs, fresh water, treats, tummy rubs, a temperate and dry place to sleep on a comfortable bed, vet visits if he is ailing, no concern for his safety, someone who wants to be his best friend for life (me)…not a bad life!
Ron Bauerle over 3 years ago
https://www.funny-memes.org/2018/12/wolf-humans-at-campfire-its-cold-and-im.html