Why Are There So Many Dog Breeds? (Part 2)


Before dogs were the staple companion of mankind, an additional change was selectively bred into domesticated dogs: the elimination of monogamy, which would have seriously slowed down the selective breeding process. These new traits that were bred into the domestic dog can be maintained only under domesticity; they would cause insurmountable social problems in the wild.

The perfect symbiotic relationship was born: dogs would aid us in the hunt in exchange for access to safe shelter, a reliable food supply, and protection from predators. A by-product of this for both parties was companionship, a camaraderie that both species thrived on. With the advent of herding, humankind again called upon the assistance of the dog. Some nomadic tribes found it easier to domesticate and maintain a steady stock of animals year-round than to depend on the fortunes of the hunt. This pastoral way of life created a more stable supply of food and clothing, encouraged the establishment of semipermanent villages, and allowed for the development of elementary economic and political systems. Early Semitic tribes in Mesopotamia used breeds similar to the present-day Kuvasz, a large, powerful white herd-guarding dog that often prefers the company of sheep to that of people. Dogs were now needed not to kill prey but to keep herds of sheep, goats, reindeer, or cattle together; to move the herds from place to place; and to protect them from predators and poachers.

The diversity of dog breeds increased in direct proportion to the jobs they needed to fill. One of the earliest breeds to be developed for a specific task was the sight hound. Greyhound- and Wolfhound type dogs were bred and highly prized by Egyptian and Assyrian nobility as far back as 5000 years ago. Hunting dogs in desert lands depended less on their noses, given the sandy soil's inability to hold scent for very long. In addition, the topography was one of rolling plains and open country; prey was easily visible to dogs with good eyesight.

The arid, wide-open expanses also required these dogs to be fast, lightly built, and short-coated so as not to overheat the animal. They were perfectly suited to their task. Heavier, mastiff-type breeds were first developed 3000 to 4000 years ago in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) and gradually exported to Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and Italy. These powerful dogs were first used to take down large game; they would grab the prey's muzzle and hold on until the hunter arrived to make the kill. Rhodesian Ridgebacks were used by the Egyptians to flush lions for archers who were lying in wait. The Saluki, one of today's beautiful silky-haired sight hounds, was used thousands of years ago by Egyptian and Assyrian hunters as a coursing hound, to run down and capture rabbits and small gazelles.