Our Dogs Are Captive Animals—And That’s Not a Bad Thing

When we look at the dogs who share our homes, it’s easy to forget just how unusual their existence really is. They sleep on our couches, eat food we provide, and depend on us for nearly every aspect of their survival. In the most literal sense, our dogs are captive animals—their movement, reproduction, food, and environment are controlled by humans.

That statement can sound uncomfortable at first, but it’s not meant to be critical. Instead, it helps us better understand our dogs. To truly care for them well, we have to recognize how they evolved, how humans shaped their genetics, and why many of their behaviors still reflect the jobs they were bred to do thousands of years ago.

From Wolves to Companions

The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, evolved from the gray wolf, Canis lupus. The process began somewhere between 15,000 and 40,000 years ago, when certain wolves began living near human camps.

The wolves that thrived in these environments were not the strongest or most aggressive, they were the most tolerant of humans. Over generations, these animals gradually adapted to life alongside people. Humans, in turn, began selecting individuals with traits they found useful or appealing.

This process is known as Domestication, and it changed dogs both physically and behaviorally.

 Dogs evolved the capacity to form cooperative relationships with humans, something wolves rarely do naturally.

Humans as Selective Breeders

While domestication began with natural selection around human settlements, humans soon began practicing intentional breeding. This is where genetics played an enormous role.

Through Artificial Selection, humans paired dogs with specific traits in order to produce offspring that excelled at particular tasks. READ MORE!

March Madness

March is one of my favorite months of the year.

1. Spring is right around the corner.

2. College softball season officially kicks off.

3. St. Patrick’s Day.

4. My wedding anniversary.

5. Reba’s birthday (IYKYK 😉).

6. And… my birthday! 🎉

To celebrate ALL things March, I’m giving you FREE access to my Dog Communication webinar I recorded last year. As a gift for my birthday, I want you to EDUCATE yourself on how your dog is trying to communicate with you!

Click on the video below for free access until April 1st.

We offer 1-on-1 lessons conducted in the privacy of your home. Real-life manners, behavior concerns, or inner-pack issues, we’ve got you covered. We’re booking into April, so get on the books now!

We also offer Virtual Lessons for those that are not local, or if you just need a little guidance. Virtual sessions are $85/30-minutes.

Email us to get started!

Listen wherever you stream your podcast or click here.