Re:The truth dogs reveal about evolution
by ricosroughnecks on Sunday January 17, 2010 @12:30AM
(#1058086)
I'm raising a high content wolf hybrid and a Shiba-ken. I can see the plight you speak of daily. However, the strange thing is that it affects my dog more than it does my wolf. During their walks, the little Shiba just wants to run wild, play with everyone, and generally explore his world. The wolf just wants to run to every shadowy corner he finds, and generally avoids people. He is happiest when back home.
A strange thing I've noticed is that, while at home, both of the animals behave as though they were the same species. Only when outdoors, do the differences become pronounced.
It's interesting having both these guys, I can easily identify which traits of the wolf have been suppressed, and which have been amplified.
So the modern dog owner has to work extra hard to keep their instinctual needs satisfied, and most owners can't manage this. Hence, the dogs will bark, and bark, and bark, or try to escape or misbehave, because that's the next best thing they can do when they want to communicate and get attention.