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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: leafman60 on January 22, 2015, 08:39:49 AM

Title: Dog Lovers Take Note- Good Documentary
Post by: leafman60 on January 22, 2015, 08:39:49 AM

PBS has been re-running the two-part, Dogs That Changed the World/ Dogs By Design, series that is very interesting.  It analyzes the origin of the animals and their history with humans.


http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/dogs-that-changed-the-world-introduction/1273/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/dogs-that-changed-the-world-full-episode-dogs-that-changed-the-world-dogs-by-design/8372/

Title: Re: Dog Lovers Take Note- Good Documentary
Post by: fotoguzzi on January 22, 2015, 09:28:12 AM

I saw both parts, very informative, interesting..

Title: Re: Dog Lovers Take Note- Good Documentary
Post by: rodekyll on January 22, 2015, 06:50:59 PM

They offer some interesting theories about the origins and timeline of the domestication of dogs.  One thing not addressed is how dogs spread to all continents ('cept Antarctica) from a common source in east Asia, 15,000 years ago.  Where does the dingo fit?

Title: Re: Dog Lovers Take Note- Good Documentary
Post by: donn on January 23, 2015, 09:56:02 AM

The biological origin section doesn't mention it, but part of the reason the dog could make that big evolutionary leap so fast - and it works with foxes too, and probably other species - is a phenomenon called neoteny.  Deferred maturation, basically - the dog has more puppy in it, than its wild relatives.  You can see that in the physical features, behavior, etc.  Suppress maturation a little, and you get a whole bunch of traits that help with domestication.

There's plenty of reason to think the same applies to humans, neoteny is part of our evolution.

Title: Re: Dog Lovers Take Note- Good Documentary
Post by: redrider90 on January 23, 2015, 10:49:32 AM

Right now the best science says dogs have been with humans for about 40K years. I say dogs have been with around higher functioning primates for a whole lot longer.

Title: Re: Dog Lovers Take Note- Good Documentary
Post by: Penderic on January 23, 2015, 12:47:20 PM

Doggy takes Selfie!  :D

(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/54e2386a0558fa2487a159763f763fc5_zps2qeqnntf.jpg)

Mans Best Friend .... as a ridding buddy!
(http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag77/Penderic/6150726521_78f19a3899_zps0whlmebn.jpg)

Title: Re: Dog Lovers Take Note- Good Documentary
Post by: Guzzistajohn on January 23, 2015, 05:17:21 PM

That was some interesting stuff, thanks for posting it. The diversity of subjects here on WG is GREAT! Although I enjoy motorbikes there's just so much you can say about them.

Title: Re: Dog Lovers Take Note- Good Documentary
Post by: bpreynolds on January 23, 2015, 07:07:18 PM

Thanks so much for posting this.  Me and my wife are about to watch both parts.