Anthropology, sociology, and history

The early ontogeny of human-dog communication.

anthrozoology — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:58:13 -0400

Riedel, J.; Schumann, K.; Kaminski, J.; Call, J.; Tomasello, M.;

Animal Behaviour. 2008. 75: 3, 1003-1014.

Although dogs, Canis familiaris, are skilful at responding to human social cues, the role of ontogeny in the development of these abilities has not been systematically examined. We studied the ability of very young dog puppies to follow human communicative cues and successfully find hidden food. In the first experiment we compared 6-, 8-, 16- and 24-week-old puppies in their ability to use pointing gestures or a marker as a cue. The results showed that puppies, independent of age, could use all human communicative cues, provided; only their success at using the marker cue increased with age. In the second and third experiments we investigated the flexibility of the puppies' understanding by reducing the degree to which they could use local enhancement to solve these problems. Here, subjects could not simply approach the hand of the experimenter and follow its direction to the correct location because cups were placed next to the dog instead of next to the experimenter. Six-week-old puppies readily used all of the human communicative cues provided. These findings support the hypothesis that domestication played a critical role in shaping the ability of dogs to follow human-given cues.

The evolution of domestic pets and companion animals

anthrozoology — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 20:39:21 -0500

Young, M. S., 1985,

Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small Animal Practice, v. 15, p. 297-309.

The process of domestication, which began 12,000 years ago, before the beginnings of agriculture, continues as humans and domestic animals coexist, interact, and profoundly influence the shape of each other's social spaces. Although its beginnings were simple, this process has become increasingly complex. Attention to relationships between humans and companion animals commonly focuses on dogs and cats; however, companion animals and pets take various shapes in numerous places with and have diverse, overlapping functions and specializations.

New evidence suggests that to be truly human is to be partly wolf: Co-Evolution

anthrozoology — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:48:24 -0500

McGhee, R.

Alternatives Journal, v. 28, p. 12. 2002

This was a new development in biology and history. For the first time, hunting parties and camp groups composed of two distinct species began to spread across the landscapes of the world. It makes little sense to think of this process as one in which early humans "domesticated" the wolf. Aside from the human use of simple tools, there was probably little difference in the complexity of hunting patterns or social organization between early human bands and wolf packs. If humans domesticated the wolf, is it not equally probable that wolves domesticated humans? Were the changes that developed between wolf and dog any more significant than those that occurred to early humans through their constant association with canids? If so, how do we explain the fear and loathing that seem to be the central emotions that most human societies generate toward the wolf? Biologists assure us that, despite the tales of slavering packs pursuing hapless troika-drivers across the Russian steppe, or of Canadian pioneers passing winter nights in trees surrounded by leaping and snarling wolves, wolf attacks on humans are extremely rare. Bears and large cats do kill people regularly; coyotes and cougars and feral dogs kill many more livestock than do wolves; yet it is the wolf that attracts our hatred and our fear. Can we see in this another hint of our special ties to the wolf? As loathed villain and as rescuer of lost children, the wolf stands apart from all other animals in human consciousness, and perhaps in this we may detect a deeply felt knowledge of our ancient kinship. In recognizing that animals such as wolves do have emotions - perhaps not as complex as ours, but probably as deeply felt and as powerful influences on their behaviour - we begin to understand the mechanisms that are at work to bond packs into long-term social units of cooperative hunters, and which allow them to be such effective and efficient users of their environment. Having learned to what extent wolves resemble humans in their social behaviour and their capacity to form emotional bonds, we may begin to wonder how much of this similarity is due to the shared lives of our species over thousands of generations during a period when humans were first learning to be human. Biologist Wolfgang Schleidt suggests that "wolves and dogs, with their remarkable capacity for co-operation and loyalty, were both role models and companions on this long trek toward humanity.

The domestic dog: its evolution, behaviour and interactions with people

anthrozoology — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:47:06 -0500

Serpell, J., ed.,

Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. 1995,

By any standards, dogs are extraordinary animals. They have been part of human society for longer than any other domestic species. They exist is a greater variety of different shapes and sizes, and they occupy a wider ecological niche, from pampered pets and faithful servants to feral scavengers. Even our attitudes to dogs seem to oscillate between extremes - on the one hand, the dog is man's best friend, on the other, he is the despised and degraded outcast. This unique book seeks to expose the real dog beneath the popular sterotypes. Its purpose is to provide a comprehensive, state-of-the-art account of the domestic dog's natural history and behaviour based on scientific and scholarly evidence rather than hearsay. Anyone with a serious interest in Canis familiaris, its evolution, behaviour and its place in our society, will find The domestic dog an indispensable and fascinating resource.

The life, history and magic of the cat

anthrozoology — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:45:39 -0500

Mery, F. (1978)

New York, Grosset & Dunlap.

The cat is one of the most familiar and appealing yet enigmatic and mysterious of all animals. Loved, even, venerated, but very often feared, that cat has an engrossing history. This volume, one of the most comprehensive studies ever written, examines the role of the cat in civilization, culture and the arts from the origins of mankind to the present day. The derivation of the domestic cat is investigated first through wild cats, and the relation of these feral creatures to the tame cats of the ancient world. All the aspects of felines behaviour are discussed in this perspective analysis. The scientific guise of the cat - anatomy, physiology- are thoroughly covered as is the cat in the annals of medicine. te various breeds of cats - the exotic Siamese, Khmer and Burmese, the many and multi-coloured variaties of the regal Persian, the short-hairsm the blues, the tailless Manx, the affectionate Abyssinian, the rair hairless and Rex-coated cats- are all here with detailed descriptions of their separate characteristics and qualities. As a figure of magic, the cat has been prominent througout history; in Egypt it was ennobled as the cat-headed goddess Bastet; in the East, the souls of dead cats were enshrined by the Japanese; in Europe the cat became the emblem of black magic, the familiar witches. The cat has always been an inspiration.