Canis Familiaris

Photos from Constant Contact

and Elizabeth Stoner @ Happy Dog Basic Obedience

Today we celebrate the domestic dog on an international level. Just when did humans first have a dog as a companion you ask? That would be approximately 10,000 years prior to domesticating horses and 30,000 years prior to current day. That's right, 30,000 years ago humans figured out how to make this animal useful in every day life. It took another 10,000 years for the dog to start moving around the world with their human companions. Dogs were pretty much everywhere in the world 7 thousand years ago.

The common belief is that humans rescued orphaned wolf pups and thus the domestication began. Making the first domestic dog nothing like the dog of today. The supposition is that the past dog would have been used to help in hunting to provide food and pelts.

Let's celebrate with the world our domestic partner the Dog today.

It is believed that the first dog domestication happened in Eastern Asia or the Middle East with Europe following. The only domestic animal found with the majority of all Native American peoples was the dog. When the Spanish people came to the Americas, the dogs that they brought with them were much different in breeding and character.

The Shih Tzu has more DNA in common with the Wolf than most other breeds of dog.

The exceptions are the Samoyeds, Huskies and Malamutes; all belonging to the Nordic spitz group. These breeds of dog can become a challenge to train. They need a lot of attention, grooming, exercise and can't be left alone for long.