The Beginning..... of dogs, understanding dog behaviour and the work of the behaviourist.

Understanding dog behaviour and the work of a behaviourist can focus our mind on what a dog is by going back to the beginning as our domestic dog evolved.

Before the last glacial maximus Canis Familiaris emerged from a now extinct ancestor or possibly more than one ancestor, indicating that our domestic dog may well have descended from more than one region of the World. It has also been suggested that the extinct Japanese Wolf was more closely related to the domestic dog than the American or European wolf, giving rise to the idea that our dogs may have first been domesticated in Eastern Asia. The Pleistocene period, a geographical time from 2.58 million years to 11,700 years, saw the evolution of modern humans and shifts between cold glacial periods with warmer periods. Evidence during this time shows that wolves adapted to their available prey, including megafauna, before these large mammals eventually became extinct. A Pleistocene wolf was a capable of cracking large bone, with jaw and teeth size adapted to deal with large prey. It was during the late Pleistocene period that natural selection allowed for the genetic foundation for modern coat colour, including the colours of yellow and white. Today we see white wolves in North America and yellow wolves in Tibet.

To understand our dog today, we can not only go back in time to before the dawn of Canis Familiaris but we can look at our modern day living wolves to gain an insight into natural dog behaviour, enabling us to better understand behaviour, including that which we consider 'poor'.

This is the very essence of a canine behaviourists role.

The Grey Wolf lives in extended family groups, what use to be known as a pack. This group consists of a breeding pair, together with older offspring from previous litters, and often young cubs. The breeding pair, sometimes called the alphas (mum and dad) are the leaders and decision makers. They maintain order within the group and make decisions such as when and where to hunt. The other adult members look up to the top pair, as they are essentially the glue that keeps the family together.

The rest of the group's hierarchy consists of betas, mid ranking wolves and finally Omegas. However these mid ranks are not always rigid, and positions can change. The relationships between the group members is complex, sometimes fluid in the mid ranks and highly social. These are animals that form close relationships, they are very much cooperative, seeking peace and balance within the pack. They work together to feed, care for their young and elderly, hunt for food and raise and educate the next generation. They form friendships, are loyal, nurturing and playful. Some of these groups can exist for many generations.

This ability to form social tight knit groups is essential for survival. The wolf, because of his amazing ability to cooperate together, has evolved complexity within the family that allows for strong leadership and both avoidance of and resolution of conflict. Wounds can be deadly, leaving the group a hunting partner down and at risk, particularly if there are cubs to feed.

Occasionally an outside wolf will seek out another group, and after the social introductions, and etiquette, will be allowed to join.

The DNA of our domestic dog is almost exactly the same as the Grey Wolf. In our dog we can see the ability and need to form social connections, to communicate effectively, and at times seek out mutual contact, friendship and play. Much like the wolf, our dogs have the ability to learn, (to be trained), especially during the first few weeks and months.

Studying wolf groups has enabled biologists and wolf ecologists to observe how groups are structured around a leading and breeding pair, who are the decision makers for the group. This structure transitions over to the dog, who also thrives on strong, protective leadership and decision making from us their owners. Like the wolf our dogs thrive on companionship, affection and trust.

Education and learning provides stability for wolf groups, nurturing the next generation of hunters and food providers. Our dogs also have an amazing ability to learn, given the opportunity and correct training. Between 8 to 16 weeks wolf cubs are moved away from their den to another area and begin to accompany the adults on forays for a short while, making their own way back to their area. It is between the ages of 8 to 16 weeks that puppies also make transitions into the wider world, leaving their litter and breeding environment. This is an important time for opening up to learning, for puppies and their owners, laying the foundations down for adolescence and adulthood.

If properly facilitated and educated puppies can develop the skills necessary to navigate successful interactions with both dogs and people, learning to appease when necessary, give space when required and invite play and social connection.

The need for safety, sometimes comfort and warmth, food and water are the very basic shared needs of both wolf and dog. However, the social requirements of companionship, leadership, certainty and affection are also shared. It is these needs that canine behavioural practitioners and behaviourists focus on when we seek to address issues. The wolf's ability to follow a leader and to cooperate within pack structure and rules are also equally applicable to our domestic dog, giving us the ability to work and live safely and harmoniously with our canine companions. When this doesn't happen and when things go wrong, part of behavioural treatment will focus on the physical and mental/social needs of dogs. It forms an essential part of treatment, part but not entirely. Life experience, early history and breed characteristics form another part, and certainly warrant their own blog.