subtitle: Researcher explores close prehistoric relationship between human and dog.
Posted on 03/06/2016 5:39:38 PM PST by SunkenCiv
The irresistible gaze of "puppy-dog eyes" has roots in thousands of years of human evolution alongside domesticated dogs, says anthropologist Robert Losey.
Anyone who owns a dog is familiar with the "gaze" -- that hypnotic, imploring stare that demands reciprocation. It can seem to hold a world of mystery and longing, or just pure bafflement at what makes humans tick.
It turns out that the look of mutual recognition between human and dog reflects thousands of years of evolution, a bond programmed into our very body chemistry. Last spring a research team in Japan discovered that both species release a hormone called oxytocin when they look into each other's eyes -- the same hormone released when a human mother beholds her baby.
What's more, the Japanese study showed that higher levels of oxytocin were released during that gaze than during petting or talking. It seems that for dogs, at least where humans are concerned, eyes really are windows to the soul...
But where does that unique symbiosis begin, one that has long involved even the sharing of parasites and certain diseases? According to Losey, the biochemical bonding impulse is only one part of the story. His own research is focused on teasing out the cultural forces over time that have made dogs and humans such a good fit...
Robert Losey found that our human ancestors treated their canine companions a lot like we do today, right down to the table scraps.
One of Losey's projects involves the excavation of dog remains between 5,000 and 8,000 years old at Lake Baikal, Siberia, the deepest freshwater lake in the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at uofa.ualberta.ca ...
Nice! I have a cat but I do love dogs. Pets are a wonderful addition to our lives.
Yea, my dog owns me.
What of it?
If only dogs could talk.
Is that Mitt or Rubio?
My dogs and I have a deep understanding. I know that gaze very well. Even my little fifteen year old Bichon rescue with cataracts still likes me to hold his face and tell him, “you have the most beautiful eyes.”
Bolderdash! I find it hard to believe that anybody can look at a beloved dogs eyes full of love, loyalty, and warmth and possibly think that they are a product of random, mindless chance just working upon upon dead materialistic elements. There are things written in dogs eyes that should be able to tell anyone something else altogether. Dogs are fashioned in love by the God who is love. Nobody teaches them how to love. It is hardwired in by their Creator who has made them to be ministering spirits. They are a testimony to the fact that our Creator is Love and obviously has caused love to flourish, even in this very sin broken world.
Puppy Love is the beginning of a dog’s life...
I want # 3. :-)
On the other hand, when a cat stares at you, it is evaluating whether you are worth the effort of becoming the next meal.
If there is place for dogs in Heaven, I want to be there,
What a sweet little puppy. Probably long gone from this world by now from the looks of that room, but obviously not forgotten.
I just picked up and abandoned puppy, a bag of bones, a couple weeks ago. He's starting to come around now.
I love my doggies.
(click on my name to see my doggies)
They’re clearly a happy and well-kept bunch, you do well by your pack. That abandoned pup will thrive.
One of the first expeditions by Europeans into my home state included a dog named Skwee-Skwee. I don’t think he was any kind of a special dog, more of a utility outfielder.
Skwee-Skwee oftentimes couldn’t find enough excitement during the day tramping through the woods, so, like all bored baseball players, he would create his own excitement. This involved a game he invented where the object was to run a grizzly bear through camp. Skwee-Skwee wasn’t big enough to chase a bear through camp, but he was aggravating enough to make the bear chase him.
Through the middle of camp.
While the men were relaxing or cooking.
This game earned Skwee-Skwee his second name from the men of “That Go**amned Four-Legged Fool!”
Nobody had time to grab their rifle and shoot the bear. Skwee-Skwee would break from the bushes like Big Daddy Don Garlits doing the quarter mile with a really angry grizzly bear on his tail.
Skwee-Skwee would have liked the Hobbit movies as he enjoyed a good sequel. He would lead the grizzly one way through the camp and then execute a loop and bring Mr. Ursus back from another direction. This did not help his popularity with the men.
I am happy to report that no men, grizzly bears or dogs were harmed during these incidents.
Skwee-Skwee became somewhat famous in the Northwest and a city was named in his honor. The city of Spokane is named after this bear-teasing dog.
“If only dogs could talk.”
Our whippet/boxer can’t pronounce words, but he’s got the intonation down pretty good, and he likes to talk.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
