Dogs Make Us Human

Australian Museum ^ | 3-25-2002 | Heidi De Wald

[blam]

Dogs make us human

By Heidi De Wald
Monday, 25 Mar, 2002

About 48% of Australian households own dogs. But can you imagine a world without dogs. And would we be the same if they were not here? Would human beings have developed in very different ways had our best friends not been by our sides?

A recent study suggests that the domestication of dogs mutually led to profound changes in the biological and behavioural evolution of both species.

It has long been known that the first species domesticated by humans was the wolf. In essence, we made wolves into dogs. But did wolves also make us, beginning over 100,000 years ago? This is the key question explored in this study.

New theories about the origins of modern humans, the earliest dogs and the crucial role of human-dog co-evolution are highlighted in this "ground-pawing" paper by Dr. Paul S.C. Tacon, Australian Museum, Sydney and Dr. Colin Pardoe, Bio-Archaeology consultant, Adelaide.

They present fossil evidence recovered by others supporting DNA results of dog domestication over 100,000 years ago and are the first to make the link between the fossil and genetic evidence.

"Our study, along with those of others published this year, shows the origin of modern humans and their behaviour is more complex than either of the popular theories suggests. A more exact picture of who we are and where we came from is only now emerging, one that is richer and more convoluted than the two impressionistic alternative models." said Dr. Paul Tacon, Principal Research Scientist at the Australian Museum.

Drs. Tacon and Pardoe argue that the early canine-sapien relationship ultimately changed the world forever. They not only elaborate on and provide greater time depth for previous studies that focused on implications of the relationship for recent times but also explore the implications of dog domestication close to the time that modern humans are believed to have emerged. These include:

The origins of human territorial marking and, ultimately, the development of art and a symbolic explosion of land marking.
The development of big game hunting.
The origins of 'mateship' and new forms of bonding to negotiate complex situations.
Implications for the settlement of Australia.
Tacon and Pardoe conclude that, ultimately, dogs were one of a few key forces that led to anatomically and behaviourally modern humans of 100,000 years ago and that this has complicated the recent 'Out of Africa' versus 'Regional Continuity' debate.

Dogs Make Us Human is published today in the Autumn 2002 edition of Nature Australia - published by the Australian Museum.

-ends-

Media contact: Heidi DeWald, Australian Museum, Sydney, +61 2 9320 6181

[Argh]

I ended up keeping the dog and ditching the guy

Well done, Hair!

I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but your Lab's a beaut. My last dog (died 1978) was a daughter of the Canadian champion show Lab (he was black) around 1964, named Buck, and what a treat he was, an utterly magnificent looking animal! Our pooch was golden, beautiful colouring (her grandmother had been golden, a show champion in Ireland, apparently), but her head was too small to be successful in show. And sometimes her brain reflected that! Afraid of cats, spiders, and butterflies! We took her to Pioneer Village near Toronto where she fell madly in love with an enormous ox. Ran away from butterflies, but pranced around that ox (who could have unknowingly squished her with one foot) like he was the Second Coming!

[SCDogPapa]

Good lookin' crew!!

[HairOfTheDog]

Logan appreciates your compliments! He is on the couch now, and he rolled over into the most undignified and unbashful position to bask in it!

And sometimes her brain reflected that

Logan of course, is developing cataracts, and can't see well past the end of his nose. The other day he growled all the way across the yard after a wheelbarrow I had left there. What was funny was his obvious embarrassment when he got there. He looked around to see if anyone had noticed his antic, and then went off hackled and growling like he was really going after some other threat! hehehe

[riley1992]

No, I didn't. Mrs. OPH had to drink it all just to keep her sanity. There's none left.

[riley1992]

You have no beer or vodka? No wonder you wear women's clothes.

[riley1992]

Uh huh. So those photos I saw were mere figments of my imagination then.

[Argh]

Logan sounds delightful! Too bad about the eyes, though.

[SCalGal]

OPH wears women's clothes? I missed something, somehow...

[riley1992]

Psssssst. Don't tell OPH, but I have the pics cached.

[EnnisExile]

Hi, HOTD, it was a special treat hear from you this morning and to see the wonderful "Tribute to Brunna" thread resurrected (how appropriate) once more on FR.

Paddy is doing first class. He's a total clown and has a wonderful personality. It became obvious quickly that he needed more exercise that I can give him so I started looking for a SECOND dog to be his companion.

Sasha arrived home on February 24...18 mo old female beagle/jack russel X. They were immediately the best of friends and playmates and I have endless hours of entertainment watching them interact in their private doggy world.

Having Paddy and Sasha has kept me alive and sane since my beloved Brunna died in December. I never stop missing him and still have the odd quiet weep for my missed friend. Paddy has developed quite a taste for salt tears!

A Very Happy Easter to everyone on Free Republic. Rejoice...He is Risen!

[EnnisExile]

Johnny: My sincere sympathies on the death of your dog. Isn't it strange that this 'timely' thread appeared just when you needed it? A similar thread appeared on the very night I lost my beloved Chow, Brunna. HairoftheDog has linked it to this thread.

The outpouring of love and understanding on that thread seemed a miracle to me at that time and continues to be a source of great comfort today. I hope you will find comfort here on this thread.

I took the advice of some posters on FR and got a new dog soon after Brunna's death. Paddy (1 yr old Border X) has since acquired a sister, Sasha (beagle/jack russel X)and although I still grieve for Brunna, I find endless consolation and joy in the innocent antics of my new family.

May God grant you peace and faith in the resurrection of all creation.

[HairOfTheDog]

I am so glad you found my Ping and checked back in! - Looking for those new pics of Paddy and Sasha to arrive!

My old dogs, young dogs and stupid dogs are all still doing well! My old horse is doing excellent, thankfully! - He is going to guide me on a trail ride this afternoon with another friend, as a matter of fact.

[HairOfTheDog]

"The Rest of the Story" ping from the Thread: Welcome at the Rainbow Bridge (Tribute to Brunna)... that I posted a link to above in this thread.

EnnisExile and her new dog Paddy have another new friend! And she has sent me some pictures to post in Paddy's album... thought I would share them with you on this thread.

Ennis's photo album is located here on my Webshots page (posting link for posterity because Webshots pictures never seem to last forever, but the link to them will.

Here are pics of Ennis's new dog Paddy, and Paddy's new friend Sasha!

Hope you guys will ping some of the others who would like to know... This is a nice ending to the story and the thread that had us all in tears back then!

[mafree]

Thanks for the ping-yes, this is a nice ending and those doggies sure are cute! Best to all of you.

[Flyer]

HOT Dog, thanks for the ping. Those two love each other! I haven't gotten my puppy - the time is still not right. In the mean time my Gilligan is enjoying the single life (he gets ALL the attention).

EnnisE, it's so good to see your two dogs having such a good time together and sleeping side by side. They have such a great Mom!