A few weeks ago, my research into wolves began with an expedition at Mission:Wolf located in a very remote location in Colorado. While I was there, I was curious not so much to evaluate the similarities in wolves and dogs but just the opposite; to observe their differences. We have established the fact that over fifteen thousand years ago, dogs were domesticated from wolves. Their DNA proves it, as it's almost identical. However, how far have we come away from the wolf in modern dogs? The answer is a long way. Dogs don't even live in our backyards anymore. Most are now in our homes, on our couches, in our beds and watching our televisions! Some behaviors that we display can now slowly be seen in dogs. For instance, the submissive smile which closely resembles a human's smile.
As dogs are changing, so are we. Women are now pursuing careers first and kids later, some couples are now choosing pets entirely over kids. So how does this affect the modern canine? Let's look at the statistics… "In 2005, over eighteen million dog bites were reported in the United States. In 1990, one million bites were reported".
(Source: www.dogbitelaw.com)
Aggression in dogs has turned into a growing pandemic in this country. Wolves will rarely display aggression and when they do, it's quick and usually involves making a point. You have a far better chance of being bitten by a dog than a wolf. Anxiety and other behavioral problems are also on the rise. Could this be from breeding or bad parenting? Probably both. Humans need to understand that dogs are still animals much different from us. They still operate in a pecking order; need sufficient exercise for their breed, socialization and most importantly- pack rules.
I have clients with little dogs that instead of taking them for a walk, they insist on keeping them in a very stylish handbag. Some of these dogs when approached will give you a sharp little growl and snap or even bite. It's fun to dress up our little dogs and push them in a stroller, but don't forget the importance of exercise and the smells they encounter on a nice walk. This means more to them than a ride in a fancy handbag any day. Our relationship with our pets is ever evolving but that's not to say that they still are far from human. If we remember this, it may prevent less behavioral problems and will promote a happy and healthy relationship between owners and their best friends.