Four primitive descendants of the very first dog. Origin and classification of domestic dogs
The dog is one of the most beloved pets. A person, having decided to have a pet, is sometimes lost in huge number breeds. Breed refers to a specific group of dogs that are similar in appearance. All individuals within a breed carry genetic characteristics from the parent animal. Breeds are not the result of evolution, but the “work of man”, who brought out many breeds for his own purposes.
All dog breeds belong to the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, which, in turn, stands out from the species of wolves of the canine family. The characteristic features of each breed are obtained as a result of selection. It is worth noting that dog breeds are not a category recognized by biological classification.
Interesting! The concept of breed does not apply to wild animals. It is correlated with the concept of subspecies, race, population in the classification of wild relatives of dogs.
All dog breeds have the following traits:
- the composition of each breed is a certain number of individual animals that pass on morphological and useful properties for humans from generation to generation;
- dogs of the same breed are similar to each other in appearance and behavior, since they are descendants of the same set of ancestors that were artificially selected by man in the selection process;
- the dog's belonging to its breed is confirmed during genetic analysis or her written record of her origin. Studbooks - this is the name of the records that are maintained by organizations, dog lovers clubs or individuals;
- dog breed is the result of the domestication of animals carried out by people. Working on the breed, a person can change it in the desired direction.
On the globe There are about 400 breeds of dogs. The number of animals within the breed is the most diverse. There are breeds with a huge number of dogs distributed throughout the world, for example, German Shepherds, Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas. There are breeds, the number of which can be several dozen individuals, or dogs are popular only in a certain area. So, tibetan mastiffs rarely seen on the streets and whether as a pet acquaintances, friends. These animals guard the monasteries in Tibet. BUT portuguese water dog rarely seen even in Portugal. At the beginning of the last century, this breed was even on the verge of extinction, but thanks to the enthusiasm of a Portuguese businessman, a breeding program began.
What is an aboriginal dog breed?
An important condition for the identification of the breed is its recognition by any cynological service, a club of dog lovers. But there are groups of dogs for which purposeful breeding work has not been carried out. These are the so-called natural, aboriginal dog breeds.
The appearance in them of specific characteristics of the exterior and behavior became possible due to the action of specific environmental conditions that influence for a long time. The difference between these breeds is that they are not officially registered and documented, and are identified only by external features and functions. Some native breeds are recognized by cynological organizations over time. This is what happened with the breed alabai": she ceased to be aboriginal when she was recognized by cynologists as " Central asian shepherd dog". This is one of the most ancient breeds that arose as a result of unconscious natural selection of folk selection. Alabai dogs appeared 4 thousand years ago and served to protect livestock and houses.
What distinguishes aboriginal dog breeds?
- some experts note in similar breeds the absence of such features as adaptation to urban conditions and sexual dimorphism (external anatomical differences between males and females);
- the greatest genetic diversity and minimum depravity by human intervention is an advantage over breeding breeds. The loss of genetic diversity has played a cruel joke on breeds that have undergone strong selection. Hereditary diseases and defects at the genetic level are one of their recognized problems.
Breed classification. Photos of dogs as evidence of the diversity of breeds
The classification of dog breeds is based on similarities in appearance and functions. After domestication, the first dogs helped man in hunting and protecting housing. Guard and hunting breeds appeared earlier than decorative ones.
In modern times, the division into groups: sentry, hunting and decorative is conditional. So, many hunting dogs have long become pets, that is, they perform a decorative function. And some hunting breeds are used, for example, in the social sphere or in the police.
The International Cynological Federation subdivides the existing 400 dog breeds into 10 groups. Specialists of the Russian Cynological Federation, which is a member of the FCI, adhere to the same principle.
Group 1. Sheepdogs and cattle dogs with the exception of Swiss cattle breeds
Representatives of these breeds are intended for the protection of livestock. The first shepherd dogs appeared in the nomadic tribes of Asia. Their main function was to protect livestock from wild animals. After the dog breeds became known in Europe, the inhabitants of Western countries decided to improve the breed. So, collie dogs provide assistance not only on pastures, but can also look after children.
Group 2 Pinschers, Schnauzers, Molossians, Swiss Cattle Dogs
This is a large and diverse group, which includes dogs that perform security, combat functions. Molossians (greatest danes and mastiffs) were used as bodyguards.
Group 3. Terriers
The band's name comes from the Latin word terra,
meaning "earth". It reflects the specifics of the breeds in this group: they are intended for hunting underground, in burrows. Conventionally, all breeds of the 3rd group can be divided into 4 sections:
- toy terriers, literally toy terriers;
- small bull terriers;
- medium and large terriers.
Within the same group, there is a wide variety of sizes. So, Airedale Terriers, not for nothing called the kings of terriers, have a height at the withers of up to 60 cm, and the Yorkshire Terrier is tiny in size, giving it a resemblance to slippers.
All representatives of the Terrier group, despite their size, are characterized by incredible self-forgetfulness in hunting, passion and stamina in front of opponents that are larger than them.
Group 4. Dachshunds
The word "dachshund" means "badger dog" in German. The breed began to be bred in the 16th century in Germany. Within the group, three sections of dachshunds are noted: standard, miniature, rabbit. According to the features of wool, short-haired, wire-haired and long-haired individuals stand out.
Bold, independent, with protective qualities - these are the epithets that can be applied to a dachshund. It is indispensable when hunting badgers, foxes and raccoons.
Group 5. Spitz and primitive breeds
A large group includes northern guard and shepherd dogs, northern hunting and sled dogs, Asian and European Spitz. The group also includes 3 sections of primitive dogs, which are quite rare, for example, the Thai Ridgeback, Podenco Isibenko, Canaan Dog.
Group 6. Beagle dogs and related breeds
The group includes a large number of hunting breeds, the main purpose of which is to find the trail of game and pursue until the exhaustion of the pursued object and until the owner overtakes it.
Hounds are characterized by fidelity, perseverance in pursuit, sonorous barking, good instinct and obedience.
Group 7. Pointing dogs
The group includes:
- insular pointers, for example, English breeds: pointers, setters, Irish and Scottish setters;
- continental. They are characterized by origin in a particular country. So, in France there are 12 breeds of cops, and in Germany - 8 breeds. In Russia, the most famous and widespread are such breeds as the German Kurzhaar and Drathaar, the Hungarian Vizsla and the Hound, and the Breton Spaniel.
The purpose of pointing dogs is to help in hunting for feathered game, to detect it. All cops have a dry strong constitution, they are distinguished by an average height of up to 70 cm, with hanging ears.
Group 8 Retrievers, Spaniels and Water Dogs
One of the most famous retrievers in the world is the Labrador Retriever. He, along with the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chessabeek Bay Retriever and the Curly-Coated Retriever, makes up the 1st section of the group. The group also includes spaniels: German, American Cocker, Clumber Spaniel, Sussex Spaniel (section 2). Composition of the 3rd section - lagotto romagnolo (Italian water dog). It should be noted that the Russian Spaniel is not recognized by the FCI.
Dogs of these breeds are designed to bring downed game to their owners from the water.
Group 9. Decorative and companion dogs
It includes dogs of small stature and characterized by strong attachment to humans. Among them: pugs, bichons, lapdogs, poodles, chihuahuas, Pekingese, Japanese chins. Every country can boast of the breeds of decorative dogs bred there.
These breeds are not intended for official purposes, their main task is to brighten up the leisure of the owners, to please them and give positive emotions.
Group 10. Greyhounds
Greyhound dog breeds include hunting trapping animals intended for unarmed hunting: Saluki, Afghan Hound, Irish Wolfhound, Spanish Greyhound, Polish Greyhound.
They are distinguished by dry muscles, thin legs, a long torso, a long, sharp muzzle. They can pursue prey for a long time: ungulates, wolves, hares, foxes - in open areas due to their endurance and high running speed.
In modern times, when dog hunts are rare, greyhounds take part in competitions, for example, chasing mechanical hares.
In the photo of all breeds of dogs presented on the site, you can get acquainted with the diversity of the wonderful world of dogs.
Primitive dog breeds are created by nature and without human intervention, only with the help of natural selection. Primitive breeds have developed under conditions of strong influence of natural selection.
The term "primitive" when applied to a small group of dogs that descend from the Indian plains wolf Canis lupus Pallipes) is rather arbitrary. Some members of this group, such as the dingo and the New Guinea singing dog, are indeed primitive in that they are in the early stages of domestication, or their domestication may have stopped. Others, such as Mexican Hairless Dogs and Basenjis, although descended from the same ancestors, have been greatly altered by human intervention in their breeding.
FIRST RESETTLEMENTS
Experts are convinced that wandering groups of people left Southwest Asia between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago, accompanied by pariah dogs. These animals entered the Middle East and North Africa at least 5,000 years ago through migration and trade. Images of the most ancient of the recorded breeds - the pharaoh dog - adorn the tombs of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs. This dog may have been a descendant of the animal known as the "Phoenician dog" - the Phoenicians traded dogs throughout the Mediterranean, introducing breeds now called Canaan dogs, Cirneco dell'Etna and Ibizan dogs.
EARLY EVOLUTION
Subsequently, dogs found themselves in the heart of Africa, and although the Basenji is the only primitive African breed officially recognized today, many other similar breeds existed until recently. In West Africa, the Liberian dog appeared - similar to a terrier, small, neat, with brown-red hair; in Kenya, the East African dog - a larger animal with a powerful muzzle - found a place for itself as a scavenger and a hunter's companion. Baghrimi dogs of similar size and appearance were variegated, while the Bantu dog, used for hunting and guarding, was much more graceful, with a pointed muzzle. AT South Africa small but powerful, with a square muzzle, the fawn Zulu dog also played the role of a guard and helped the hunters. In Zaire, the Pygmies kept long-headed, pointed-eared forest dogs, while the Hottentots were accompanied by Spitz-type animals with fluffy tails. The fox-like kabile, or duar, guarded herds and people, while the baganda dog, long-legged, with a tail wrapped in a ring, served to hunt in a pack. All these related breeds existed in pure up to the 20th century.
While some pariah dogs migrated to the west, others accompanied people on their journey to the east. Many of them followed the people who crossed the isthmus at the site of the current Bering Strait and moved to America. Some of these Asian pariah dogs mixed with North American wolves, but archaeological evidence shows that purebred dogs, clearly similar to dingoes, first spread to the south. -west of North America (the territory of the present state of Arizona), and then to the southeast, to modern Georgia and South Carolina. The Canadian Taltan Bear Dog may have been a link in this chain. The same can be said for the extinct Kentucky “shell mound dog” and “basket maker dog.” The origin of the Central and South American breeds, apparently, will remain a mystery. The native dogs of Mexico and Peru may well be hairless descendants of Asian pariah dogs that came further south through migration and trade. Similarly, it is likely that they are later descendants of African pariah dogs brought to Central and South America by European traders. If this is the case, then the Mexican Hairless Dog and the Peruvian Inca Orchid are more closely related to the African Basenji than to the Carolina Dog.
AUSTRALIAN BREEDS
NATURAL SELECTION
The evolution of primitive dogs to some extent implied their self-domestication. Difficult environmental conditions forced people to direct selection towards the small size of animals, and therefore primitive dogs are not as large as their ancestors - Indian wolves. When the number of dogs around human dwellings increased, the smaller dogs, which needed less food, were more likely to survive. Evolutionary change is happening much faster than previously thought; the same is true of the rate at which animal species colonize new lands. It took the fox only 130 years to spread from Victoria in southern Australia to the Kimberley mountains in the north. It may have taken the dingo less than 500 years to colonize the entire continent.
With the exception of the dingo and the New Guinea singing dog, pariahs learn the initial course of training quite easily. They are always alert and may seem somewhat indifferent. Some breeds are stopped at an early stage by human intervention and lack the traits that have come about through selective breeding, such as keen senses, strength, or a friendly, outgoing disposition.
In Egypt, five thousand-year-old images of animals have been discovered that are almost indistinguishable from Ibizan dogs.
Although the Cirneco dell'Etna is smaller than the Pharaoh and Ibizan Hound, it is also descended from primitive Asian dogs that were traded throughout the Mediterranean.
It is possible that the Peruvian Inca orchid is descended from Asian dogs brought to the Americas 12,000 years ago, although it may be of more recent, African origin.
The Akita Inu is a bright representative of the spitz-like primitive dogs from Japan. The breed is very ancient, human participation in its development is minimal. And in the middle of the 20th century, the Akita had a period of independent survival in the mountains, without any human participation.
The Canaan Hound is a robust, medium-sized dog descended from the pariah dogs of the Middle East.
One of the three Portuguese hounds, the Portuguese Podengo Mediu or as it is called the Wirehaired Medium Portuguese Hound, is much smaller than the standard Podengo Grande (as it was at the beginning). The medium's small size allowed it to survive in difficult conditions.
The Basenji is the only primitive African dog that has gained wide popularity outside of its homeland. Just like the wolf and the dingo, the basenji only comes into heat once a year.
The Mexican Hairless Dog Toy is the smallest of the three varieties of the Mexican Hairless Dog and also the most gentle. Even his woolly individuals are very susceptible to hypothermia, especially in northern countries.
Strikingly similar to the Egyptian jackal god Anubis, the pharaoh hound continued to be bred in isolation in Malta until European breeders discovered it in the 1960s.
The birthplace of the New Guinean singing dog is New Guinea, although archeological research indicates that it arrived on this island only 2000 years ago.
The Smooth Coated Lesser Portuguese Hound is a dwarf variety of the ancient primitive Podengo, a true master ratter.
Every night I fall asleep without setting an alarm. With the advent of dawn, silence disappears. A monotonous “oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooyou yours from the cages on the first floor. Gradually the sound becomes stronger and sharper. More and more voices join the chorus until my dog alarm goes off at full blast. The dogs try to tell me - every morning - that they are awake and would like to go outside. The only chance I get to take a break from this routine is when I leave for obedience competitions. It's not because I don't take my dogs there - on the contrary, I'm a obsessive obedience fanatic with primitive dogs. In fact, on trips they are silent because the leader of the gang is sleeping next to me and does not want to get out of bed before noon. Loafer.
My husband and I share a home with five Shiba Inu, a herding dog mix, a Tibetan mastiff and a New Guinea singing dog. It looks like we have a mixture of completely different dogs, but they all have one thing in common - their primitive nature. Let me explain: speaking of a primitive dog, I mean that the primitive spirit of ancestors has been preserved in this breed. These dogs are woven into groups of traditional breeds, creating a lovely tapestry of shapes, sizes and stories. But when you start to understand, then their independent and sensitive ancient soul of these dogs appears, ready to say that they know better. Some examples of primitive dogs are Africanis, Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Armenian Gampr, Basenji, Canaan Dog, Carolina Dog, Chow Chow, Finnish Spitz, Norwegian Elkhund, Pharaoh Hound, Saluki, Samoyed, Shar Pei, Swedish Lapphund. This list is by no means complete... gives an idea of the variety of shapes, sizes and purposes of these dogs, their strong resemblance to their ancestors and / or breed selection that has preserved the behavioral and psychological traits of 1000-5000 years ago.
Life with primitive dogs is different from life with dogs of other breeds. Of course they are all dogs. But life with primitive breeds is not a relationship between owner and pet. This is more than an agreement between neighbors. These dogs have their own special desires and needs, and if you cannot understand them and find a way to manage them, then you will have serious problems. As my husband says: “You don’t train a primitive dog, but come to an understanding with it,” and he is absolutely right. Many trainers stigmatize these dogs as untrainable, crazy, stubborn or dominant. These labels stick only when the trainer or owner is butting heads with his dog and his truly honest temperament. I call this an honest temperament because these dogs are completely consistent and expect the same from you. They are persuasive communicators, using a wide range of reconciliatory signals to express themselves. Ignoring them, trainers and owners often get frustrated at the other end of the leash, or even worse, get bitten to the point of blood.
I am in no way implying that primitive dogs are much more aggressive than the rest. However, I believe that their tolerance for rough handling, forced training, and rough interactions with other dogs is significantly less than among breeds bred to be more tolerant. We created primitive breeds before the great Victorian gene manipulation, unaware that they would be the focus of the whole family. Instead, dogs were bred for the purpose of either hunting and killing other animals, guarding property, hauling luggage, or herding. Unused dogs were left to fend for themselves. They know from birth what they need to be happy, and usually a good part of it is to be left alone. Primitive dogs are usually very sensitive and quickly become intolerant of discomfort. If you overdo it with training, they will stop wanting to work with you and eventually become aggressive.
Now there are more and more dog lovers with an independent character, and it is very important that dog handlers become familiar with how to successfully work with primitive breeds. Clients come to me all the time who say that their previous instructors hated primitive dogs, that they are very aggressive, or that they cannot be trained without coercion. It is unbearable for the owner to hear this, and many of these dogs are taken to shelters or doomed to exist in the laundry or in the outdoor enclosure. It is the responsibility of modern progressive dog handlers to embrace the growing interest in primitive dogs and to better understand their behavior, motivations and needs. When you understand this, owning, managing and training dogs of primitive breeds will become easy and enjoyable.
5 tips for training primitive dogs
1. The dog's mistake is your fault.
Sorry, but primitive dogs are very honest dogs. This means that if the rate of reward is low, or if the task is too difficult—or too easy—the primitive dog will not care about you. The more often this happens, the less he will want to communicate with you, and your relationship will deteriorate until the dog begins to actively avoid you. Keep practicing lightly, for a short time, and be ready to take two steps forward at any moment. More than 5-6 repetitions is enough to bore most primitive dogs, and if they make a jump in training, catch up with them. Don't push them back, otherwise they will decide that your "game" is stupid and leave.
2. You will NOT make a primitive dog do anything.
The mechanics teaches the primitive dog only to avoid contact with you. Guidance teaches her to sniff out treats before she wants to work with you. Behavior selection and catching seem to be the most effective ways training of primitive dogs. They are very intelligent and, when given the opportunity to solve operant problems, they usually rise to the occasion quickly. But it works both ways. If such a dog learns that growling and biting is the only way to get you to stop doing what he doesn't like, then he will stop giving signs of reconciliation and will push only when he feels uncomfortable. If this does not help, the dog will bite. That is why it is vital for a happy life with a primitive dog to know body language and learn to understand what she says.
3. They know you better than yourself.
Primitive dogs are always watching and developing a system. Your every move and every gesture starts a process in their heads. They know the difference between a call for encouragement and a call that means the game is over because it's time to work. They know if you have a treat or not. This can be frustrating for the owner, because training is only "when a cookie is presented", as well as separation anxiety, resource guarding, aggression during handling and on a leash. When a cynologist is called to solve behavioral problems, it is extremely important that he sees in detail everything that happens before the problem situation in order to understand what the dog was really guided by. The reason may not be what the owner thinks.
4. Guide to action - their self-interest
In my home, I use a very colorful endearment language when communicating with dogs. These are sweet jokes. But for many owners, this is no joke. For many, it is difficult to come to terms with the fact that their dogs are looking for personal gain in everything. As I mentioned earlier, a primitive dog is more of a roommate than a pet. She, although she loves you, will go to any lengths to get what she wants. To live in harmony with the dog, it is worth following methods like Karen Overall's Deference Protocol and others, when the dog gets what he wants after I get what I want. I like to think that when Premack formulated his principle, he was referring to primitive dogs, because that is the principle that will take you the furthest in training.
5. Keep your heart open
You can't be mad at these dogs because they'll just walk away and pee and take a nap. Go to hell with your pokes, respect your dog's independent nature, and laugh at your mistakes. Otherwise, these dogs will sit in your head and drive you crazy. You will need to know several ways to teach behavior, and don't be afraid to start with classical conditioning. In most cases, the reason these dogs are difficult is because they are emotionally uncomfortable, not because they are dumb or stubborn.
Translation: "Bad dogs"
Currently, the problem of preserving native and local breeds of domestic animals, including dogs, is recognized by the world community as one of the important areas in the preservation of the cultural and natural heritage of our planet. Since 1974 two UN entities: Program for environment(UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are jointly leading several projects in this direction.
In cases where the gene pool is preserved for a long time in a local area, it represents a natural wealth, no less valuable than the reserves of coal, oil, gold, etc. In our country, these are the gene pools of many local breeds of domestic animals, horses, cattle, birds and, of course, dogs - the most ancient companions of man.
The well-known geneticist A. S. Serebrovsky pointed out two processes that change the composition of the gene pool: selection (natural and artificial), which seeks to multiply some genes and eliminate others, and mutation, which creates new genes. The breed gene pool is usually considered as a complex of hereditary inclinations, or a set of genes and their alleles, which determine the main characteristics and qualities of the breed. In the literal sense, the gene pool of any kind of domestic animals is determined by the diversity of breeds, offspring, populations and individual animals, which generally corresponds to the concept of “genetic resources”.
Dogs have been with humans for centuries. Faithfully serves to protect the territory and property of the owner, guard livestock, participate in military battles, help in hunting, is used as a draft force, and even acts as a sacred animal. How many years have passed since the first dog approached the human fire is not known for certain. Most scientists are inclined to believe that the first dogs appeared in East Asia about sixteen thousand years ago. During this time, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, but dogs continue to faithfully serve humanity.
Dog breeds, as you know, are divided into two large subgroups: factory - bred with the direct participation of man and aboriginal or primitive - formed over many centuries under the influence of nature itself. Aboriginal dog breeds are a natural wealth, no less valuable than minerals and ancient artifacts. Their gene pool is still used to breed and improve the quality of factory breeds. The exterior of the natives is maximally adapted to the conditions of existence in a certain territory.
Domestic aborigines are rather large individuals with well-developed bones, powerful muscles, rough or strong type of constitution. The coat of aboriginal dogs can be both short and long, but there is always a thick undercoat, thanks to which the dog feels very comfortable both in frost and in heat. In addition, the undercoat, coupled with dense but elastic skin, protects the aborigine from the fangs of a predator, does not allow you to quickly get to the vital organs.
One more hallmark characteristic of aboriginal breeds is the ability to make independent decisions. At a time when dogs worked to guard the herds, for example, the shepherd practically participated in the process. His task was to drive cattle to richer pastures as needed. Everything else was done by the dogs. They gathered a flock, not allowing them to scatter, protected from wolves and thieves, which were many at that time. The shepherd had only a sharp dagger as a weapon, so dogs served as the main weapon. It was on them that the life of the shepherd and the safety of the herd depended.
The shepherd did not manage the dogs in any way, they themselves decided how to carry out their service. In addition, the dogs were forced to get their own food. The owner's food supplies were extremely small and by sharing a piece of cake with the dogs, he himself risked being left hungry. Small and not very small rodents, frogs, lizards served as food for dogs. Anything that can be caught and eaten. If fruit trees could be found nearby, the dogs did not disdain to eat the fruits. But never, under any circumstances, did the working dog touch the cattle belonging to the owner.
The highest demands were placed on the dogs. Therefore, people practically did not control mating. The dogs that returned to the village decided for themselves who would be the father of the offspring of this or that female. Often there were skirmishes between the males, the winner received the right to the "first night". Thus, only the strongest male, with the most functional exterior, could leave offspring. The female gave birth on her own, without any veterinary help. The bitch that did not cope with its task was destroyed. Puppies were also left to their own devices, naturally, only the strongest, most adapted to life individuals survived. It was from such puppies that later loyal and uncompromising working dogs grew up.
Natural selection has done its job. All aboriginal dogs have excellent health, the ability to think and make decisions independently, their exterior is as functional as possible, the psyche is iron.
These dogs are not easy to train. Under natural conditions, natives work and survive without human help. Recent times I often ask myself: why do aborigines need a person? There is only one answer so far. Aborigines are the strongest empaths, they feel our attitude. Love and respect from the owner, the dogs need, like air. And just for the enthusiastic praise of a loved one, the dog is ready to move mountains. This is what the whole training process should be built on. Firstly, you need to achieve complete voluntary (!) Submission from the dog. And only then ask to perform this or that action.
The hand of a native dog trainer must be both soft and hard at the same time. Severe pressure, as well as an overly loyal attitude, will not work. In the first case, you will get forced aggression - the dog will sooner or later begin to defend itself or close in on itself, and it is extremely difficult to break through the armor, detached from the world of an aboriginal dog! In the second case, the dog will take a vacant, as it seems to her, leader position and begin to train you. Deciding who is worthy to bring food to her, and who is not, who has the right to go out into the yard in the evening, and who is under house arrest...
Aboriginal dogs are very dominant. Give up - you'll regret it. They are very well versed in the intricacies of human nature and perfectly recognize falsehood. If you really love a dog, she will answer you the same. He will love, follow your commands and protect your life, without hesitation giving his own. These are the best guards and companions. Aboriginal dogs have a reputation for not being trained, don't believe it! This statement is wrong! This has been proven by many aboriginal dog owners, myself included. Give your dog the right motivation and he will hang on to your every word, every fleeting desire.
Currently, many native breeds of dogs are taken under the wing of factory breeding. On the one hand, this is not bad, because with a competent approach, you can strengthen the desirable signs and weaken the undesirable ones. But one must act very carefully here. Aboriginal dog breeds are divided into several types. For example, mountain and steppe natives, within the same breed, are different. Laek has already been divided into three different breeds with the light hand of the cynologist E. Shereshevsky.
Now we have Russian-European, West Siberian and East Siberian Laika. But this is one breed, and by crossing the Russian-European and East Siberian Laika, for example, we could improve the exterior and working qualities of the breed ... But it’s impossible, puppies will be considered mestizos. Nevertheless, Siberian hunters have not taken into account the presence or absence of pedigrees for a long time and, without a twinge of conscience, knit three types among themselves. When hunting, papers are not important, the main thing is working qualities and a functional exterior. I have seen Siberian hunters' huskies. Despite the lack of documents, the dogs are perfectly built and would give a hundred points ahead to any show husky.
Now they are talking about the division of the Caucasian Shepherd Dog into long-haired and short-haired. With a shudder, I think about what will happen if this happens. But I hope that conversations will remain conversations.
The task of modern breeders of native breeds is to preserve the unique qualities of dogs as much as possible. Do not focus only on the exterior, psyche or working qualities, for example. All characteristics characteristic of the breed must be in the complex! The benefit of breeding material in the native habitats of native breeds is still enough ...
The native breeds of Russia and the countries of the former USSR include: Caucasian and Central Asian Shepherd Dogs, all types of sledding and hunting Laikas, Tibetan Mastiff, Mongolian Shepherd Dog, South Russian Shepherd Dog. The "import" primitive breeds include the Cirneco del Etna, the New Guinean singing dog, the Korean jindo, the Mexican hairless dog, the Vietnamese Fukuoka dog, the Peruvian Inca orchid, and many other breeds that are different for each locality. All of them have a functional exterior, good health and amazing working qualities.
The very features of factory breeds that distinguish them from the original wild type are in many cases nothing more than biological anomalies. Excesses in anatomical and external morphological deviations, which have become a kind of trademark of some factory breeds of dogs, have their price in the form of inconvenience, and sometimes even survival of the dog, and must be compensated by the concerns of its owner. In addition, their general fitness and health are weakened by long-term existence under fairly regular veterinary supervision, which has kept genetically inferior animals for generations.
Primitive aboriginal dogs are more biologically perfect and better adapted to survive without human care. Aboriginal dogs, used by people for any kind of work or living freely, are built functionally correctly, without any frills: their movements and running are economical, accurate, well coordinated and light, like wild dogs. This has always been supported by strict, albeit unconscious, selection.
Other traits of their perfection include a full set of large, symmetrically spaced and strong teeth throughout life, something that many popular factory breeds rarely boast. They have a long potential duration active life, innate immunity and greater resistance to local diseases transmitted by ticks and blood-sucking insects, and even immunity or tolerance to ticks, fleas and worms; great endurance while working on a hunt, in sleds or when grazing and guarding herds in heavy climatic conditions. They require less food because their digestion is more efficient.
In parts of the world where Aboriginal dogs have historically been used for work, they work with passion. They do best what they were adapted for in their country of origin, in their native or similar environment. On the hunt, in the sled, guarding the house or the herds, they do not need regular encouragement. Moreover, they often remain hungry for a long time, but do not stop working. The enthusiasm of the working primitive dog is explained by the fact that for them the very process of work with the participation of the owner is their best reward.
When hunting, a primitive dog uses all the senses given to it by nature in order to quickly find game, as a wolf would do. When dealing with a large and dangerous animal, such a dog must balance its courage with the degree of danger. Otherwise, she will be quickly killed or maimed and her owner may lose his assistant, and a poor owner cannot afford to keep a pack of dogs.
Unfortunately, primitive dogs began to be replaced by factory breeds and disappear first in cities, then in individual countries, and finally, by the middle of the twentieth century, their extinction accelerated on a worldwide scale.
The growing popularity of factory breeds is also due to the fact that they are easier to control and more convenient for keeping in densely populated areas. Aboriginal breeds were more and more pushed to the periphery, into the wilderness, where the population is rarer. But time passes, and arriving people bring new dogs there too. Wherever dogs are kept in the old tradition, allowed to roam and mate uncontrollably, native breeds, mixed with imported factory breeds, lose their specificity and thus cease to exist as such.
In some geographic areas, the extinction of native dogs is also a result of changes in the way of life of the indigenous population. For example, the Eskimo sled dogs are some of the best in the world, but they are almost extinct because they no longer need them. Modern Eskimos no longer live in igloos built from blocks of ice, but in warm standard houses with electricity. Now the Canadian Eskimo dog is officially recognized as a purebred breed. It is used for sports or for the family hobby of sledge riding. Canadians know the value of the qualities of aboriginal dogs and are determined to keep them as a sled breed.
Unfortunately, efforts to save still-living aboriginal dogs from extinction face many difficulties. Zoologists, for the most part, do not study them because they consider them a trivial subject. After all, dogs are pets. National and international conservation organizations are not interested in them because native dogs do not belong to wild species and cannot be considered endangered species under existing legislation. They are not in the Red Book.
Aboriginal dogs are of great value to all dog lovers as unique creations of nature and man. Nowadays, when they are becoming a rarity, amateurs show more and more interest in them. They are valued for various reasons. There is a large category of people driven by the romantic "call of the ancestors", the dream of a simple independent life like "in the good old days" and untouched nature. They are attracted by the undistorted appearance and character of aboriginal dogs. There is another important category of lovers of such animals. These are those who appreciate native dogs just for their working qualities. They need them to protect sheep herds from wolves and coyotes, for hunting or for riding in sleds. There are people who are attracted to aboriginal dogs because they are dogs of their ancestors, part of the national heritage. The modern connoisseur of aboriginal dogs is no longer embarrassed by the presence of wolf features in them. On the contrary, they rather appreciate them for it. The wolf features of the Laikas are an important part of their primeval beauty. This is their so-called "bestiality".
In order to unite the efforts of lovers of aboriginal dogs in 1999, the Society for the Preservation of Primitive Aboriginal Dogs (PADS - Primitive Aboriginal Dog Society) was organized by Janice Kohler-Matsnik.
Russia is the richest country in valuable native dogs, including the world's best hunting, sledding and shepherd breeds. In a cruel historical irony, Russia, being the home of the best and most numerous native sled dogs, has missed the development of the growing worldwide sport of riding sled dogs. Worse than that, in Soviet times, the aboriginal dogs of the north were systematically exterminated, evidence of which is in all regions where these dogs existed. It is not too late to find and restore what has been preserved. Not so long ago, the general public became aware that the native Chukchi and Kamchatka huskies still survived. Is it still possible to find and restore the unique Amur Laika in her homeland? Are there still fast indigenous Mansi hunting huskies still alive anywhere? And where are those exceptionally capable "fox-like" Evenk hunting huskies? How many reindeer-herding huskies of the old aboriginal type are still chasing deer? Aboriginal Caucasian Shepherd Dogs, Central Asian Shepherd Dogs, Tazy and Taigan are unique breeds and should not be allowed to be lost.
PADS decided to open its branch in Russia in order to give a real opportunity to all people interested in the preservation of aboriginal dogs to establish contacts with each other, exchange opinions, experience and coordinate efforts to find, rescue and, if possible, restore aboriginal breeds in Russia.