The dog is man’s oldest friend as well as his best friend.
The ancient Egyptians used dogs for hunting 8 000 years ago. The Stone Age Man may have had hunting dogs before 10 000 BC. The ancestors of the dog were probably the lighter-built southern Asian races of the wolf, but other wolf races may have contributed. Another forerunner of the domestic dog, the dingo was taken to Australia by Aborigines some 8 000 years ago. In Africa it was the wild dog.
About 5 000 years ago man began to develop breeds of dogs in order to encourage different qualities. Later, the short-legged dachshund was bred for hunting badgers and the sheepdog was bred for its herding abilities.
All dogs – from a Mexican Chihuahua weighing less than 1kg to a huge St. Bernard of more than 90kg – are members of the same species. In biological terms, this means that ant dog can potentially breed with any other dog – although difference in size can make this highly unlikely in some cases. And despite the long domestication there is no genetic barrier between dogs and wolf either.
The history of dogs is interesting and as rich and diverse as the different breeds themselves. Although all dog breeds originated from wolves, careful and scientifically breeding has created dozens of distinct breeds that highlight desired characteristics.
Although modern breeders are continuing this fine history by creating new breed combinations that are slowly being accepted by professional organizations , what Joe Citizen needs is a friend, and for this matter a best friend, no matter whether it is pure bred or cross bred; a friend is a friend irrespective of royalty or not!
Hendrik
