Or the history of the dog may be, depending on what one chooses to believe. History tells us many things. Here is a ticklers view of canine history.
Though there are many different differing theories about the origins of the dog, all agree that wolves were the first animals to be domesticated. Wolves are canines that are closely related to dogs. Where and when did man tame the dog? This is a question that will remain unanswered until we know more.
Wolves are animals that are at the top of the food chain. We are all aware of this and have been for some time. Though there are many different suggestions as to how this relationships began, it was probably as a result of surviving in packs. There were scavengers and hunters, and the wolves would scavenge for the scraps of food discarded by our ancient ancestors.
The relationship of dogs to humans has evolved, fromistance to manandkinds, to competition and leisure. The most interesting development in this relationship, and perhaps the seeds of the present day conflict between dogs and man are the emergence of specialized forms of dogs with permanent teeth - true dogs.
Some experts think that the domestication of dogs was through the interaction with humans. That while dogs have been the most popular pet among humans, dogs have left humans coat witnesses of their existence. Head collars, training collars, muzzles are all the products of the dog's interaction with humans.
A motivation to domesticate dogs was probably the desire of humans to have some form of animal that would serve as a protection against predators and the ability of animals such as dogs to aid in hunting. It is said that the selective breeding of dogs began in the desert regions of the world and spread into central Europe. The desertions of Europe made it an easier transition for the dogs from semi- desert to domestication.
The 1980's through 1990's, with world markets in free fall, governments around the world were forced to spend money on stimulus packages and injection programs to prevent the cries of despair from the afflicted families. To alleviate the pain from the recession, Standard Pet Foods, a California start-up ventureattempted to provide what they viewed as the solution all along.
They began to moisten andSweet overtly allergenic dog food, Scientific Americanigerously execute a marketing plan that included introducing highly digestible, high-protein and low carbohydrate wafers into the market.
In the mid 90's, exploration began on the subject of public demand for healthy food and specific ingredients for dogs. In the last decade, awareness of the preservatives that were being used to keep the shelf life of certain pet foods in check, arose. This, combined with the noise from unsuspecting parents whose kids had allergies, led to the formation of the Allergy Freemom (af rim) movement.
This movement, while hardly scientific, has resulted in stores selling pet food that doesn't contain the dangerous chemicals that the pet food industry is notorious for using. While this is good news for animals, there is no escaping the fact that this movement may be a bit premature, as it may take a While before such foods are available to the public,it won't be long before these new, healthy dog food products find their way into the hands of dog owners. Until that time, it's still advisable for pet owners to confine their dogs to those pet food dietittoesout of fear that they may be giving their dog something that is highly toxic or that their dog may be receiving an inappropriate dosage.
Pet owners also now have the option of home-made dog food, but many feel this gives them too much say over what their dog eats. Additionally, many feel like making their own dog food is too complicated, a task that a "mutt" wouldn't enjoy. There is also the option of simply preparing food for your dog that eats anything, thus making this task a breeze for everyone involved.
Just be sure to talk to your vet first before you start your dog on any sort of diet. If you do decide to feed your dog home-made food, it's important to use only those ingredients that are USDA-approved and traceable. Additionally, you'll want to buy everything pre-made, as store-bought treats can be filled with all kinds of junk that can be very harmful to your dog.