Dogs are social animals that need a group. They used to look for it within their species, but they prefer your company nowadays.
Dogs are social animals that need a group. They used to look for it within their species, but they prefer your company nowadays.
Dogs are social animals that enjoy relationships, and they acquired this trait from their ancestors, the wolves. These wild animals hunt large prey in packs and thrive in stable groups. They cooperate, observing and synchronizing their actions.
But dogs became domesticated. They have learnt to adapt, cooperate, understand humans, and enjoy relationships with people. Without these characteristics, cohabitation would have been dramatically different.
But dogs became domesticated. They have learnt to adapt, cooperate, understand humans, and enjoy relationships with people. Without these characteristics, cohabitation would have been dramatically different.
How Did Dogs Learn to Live Harmoniously with Humans?
To demonstrate the importance of the natural relationships within social animals, we refer to a study carried out in the fifties by Russian geneticist Dmitry Belyaev.
He worked with silver foxes, selecting the more sociable and docile within each litter. That way, each subsequent litter produced more sociable foxes with, surprisingly, more feminine and juvenile traits—the same way that happened between wolves and dogs.
The study then revealed that men did not manipulate the wolves to domesticate them. Instead, it was a self-selecting process. The more docile and curious animals approached, out of their volition, another species—in this case, humans—using the same method people probably used when breeding dogs to maintain their obedience.
He worked with silver foxes, selecting the more sociable and docile within each litter. That way, each subsequent litter produced more sociable foxes with, surprisingly, more feminine and juvenile traits—the same way that happened between wolves and dogs.
The study then revealed that men did not manipulate the wolves to domesticate them. Instead, it was a self-selecting process. The more docile and curious animals approached, out of their volition, another species—in this case, humans—using the same method people probably used when breeding dogs to maintain their obedience.
Dogs still enjoy some human company - from you
The ever-sociable dogs have never shaken off their need for belongingness. However, after domestication, they seem to prefer human company.
Some canines may be friendlier with other dogs, but “that dissipates with age,” noted Victoria Coll. She is certified in ethology by les Ecoles Veterinaires Françaises. She confirmed that it is not the same process when a young dog tries to play with other dogs as when an adult “who has no imperative need to create new links with them” does.
In fact, she added, “One of the biggest problems within ethology is bad socialisation [or lack thereof] between same-species individuals.”
That’s why when we talk about dog’s gregarious instincts nowadays, it relates more to socialisation with humans than within the species.
Either way, the point is simple: your dog wants to be with you, live with you, and do things together with you. He is happy being with you. For him, you and your family are his pack.
Some canines may be friendlier with other dogs, but “that dissipates with age,” noted Victoria Coll. She is certified in ethology by les Ecoles Veterinaires Françaises. She confirmed that it is not the same process when a young dog tries to play with other dogs as when an adult “who has no imperative need to create new links with them” does.
In fact, she added, “One of the biggest problems within ethology is bad socialisation [or lack thereof] between same-species individuals.”
That’s why when we talk about dog’s gregarious instincts nowadays, it relates more to socialisation with humans than within the species.
Either way, the point is simple: your dog wants to be with you, live with you, and do things together with you. He is happy being with you. For him, you and your family are his pack.