A Portrait of the Dog by Andrew Morris

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Synopsis

Mankind’s relationship with the dog can be traced back thousands of years. Indeed, the dog is probably our oldest non-human companion. Archeological excavations in the Middle East, believed to be thousands of years old, reveal a touching reminder of the enduring bond that has existed for so long, when a burial site revealed the skeleton of a man, the remains of his dog lying by his side.

Interestingly, for an animal that has been so important to us for so very long, there is uncertainty about the exact way in which its domestication occurred. We cannot even be sure of the evolutionary route by which the dog itself came about, although it is thought to have sprung from similar animals, such as wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals and wild hunting dogs.

But the dog’s natural instincts were obviously recognized, and they were harnessed over the years to help us hunt a variety of prey in different environments; this led to the development of various types of dog, and ultimately to the different breeds. But dogs were also kept as protection, and to control other domesticated animals kept by man, giving rise to the guardian and herding dogs.

The dog’s usefulness did not stop here: they were also developed to help in other activities – as beasts of burden, as guide and rescue dogs, used as loyal and faithful companions, and even in times of war.

Not every breed in existing today is included here, but those that are celebrate the dog’s strength, beauty and natural talent in all their many forms.

Biography

Andrew Morris is a self-proclaimed animal lover, and has written about wild and domestic animals for many years. He keeps horses at his family home in Hertfordshire, England, where both cats and dogs guard his stable yard from natural and human predators. Meanwhile, a retired Greyhound, that has earned its rest after many years of hard work, is now one of the family, and occupies the fireside as a beloved and valued companion.