Читать книгу The Trail Hound's Handbook - Ellen Eastwood - Страница 6

UNLEASH THE INNER TRAIL HOUND

SCIENTISTS NOW BELIEVE THAT APPROXIMATELY 95% OF ALL DOGS DESCENDED FROM JUST THREE ORIGINAL FEMALES.*

The Call of the Wild

A lot has changed in the 15,000-plus years since that first “domestic” canine sidled up to his human and with patient, soulful eyes begged for a treat.

Or has it?

Today, more than 400 different dog breeds exist worldwide (not all breeds are officially recognized). Yet down to the last Peekapoo and Chihuahua, pureblood and mixed breed alike, every dog can trace its lineage back to the earliest wolves. It’s no mystery, then, why every breed, every size, everywhere,

Every Dog Begs to Go Outside!

Acting on Instinct

No amount of breeding or training can completely erase the numerous instinctive behaviors and characteristics written into your dog’s DNA. In one way or another, these actions contributed to the survival of your dog’s ancestors in the wild.

How many of these habits do you see your best friend repeating every day? What purpose do you think they serve wild mammals?

Your dog responds to nature’s call, and then stands to his full height and paws the ground furiously, grass flying, as he wipes his feet. Compulsive hygiene?

Actually, it’s instinct. For his wilder ancestors, this routine was another way to mark territory, using the scent/sweat glands in the pads of their feet. This primal instinct establishes your dog’s turf.

Plus, it makes even the smallest Chihuahua look large and in charge.

FIDO, AN ENDURING FAVORITE AMONG DOG NAMES, COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD FOR “FAITHFUL” OR “FIDELITY.”

Prepare to Walk on the Wild Side

Social, territorial, predatory—any of your dog’s naturally inherited Canidae family traits can be intensified by the stimulation of an outdoor environment. That’s why, in your early wilderness adventures together, you should never assume that you know exactly how your dog will behave. Prepare yourself by mastering basic dog obedience skills. Practice, praise, and repeat.

With preparation, consideration, and a few choice tricks, this guidebook can give your pack the confidence to set out on new adventures and enjoy countless hours of discovery on the trail.

*Christine McGourty, “Origin of Dogs Traced,” BBC News (2002).