Читать книгу The Dog Owner's Handbook - Graham Meadows - Страница 11

The characteristics that people demanded of their dogs varied in different parts of the world, depending on the environment, climate and human lifestyle. People living in the far north needed dogs that could haul loads and withstand extremely cold conditions, and archaeological finds in North America show that 7,500 years ago there were already dogs weighing about 23kg (50lb) that were very similar to the Eskimo Dog of today. They had shorter muzzles than grey wolves, but almost certainly retained their ancestor’s stamina and strength.

In Asia and Europe, dogs derived from Indian and Eurasian wolves were also being bred to do particular types of work, such as hunting. Greyhounds are depicted in Egyptian frescoes dated around 5,000 years ago, and later, smaller hounds appeared that were similar to the Pharaoh Hound and Ibizan Hound we know today.

The Dingo arrived in Australia about 4,000 years ago, the descendent of the Indian wolf – it has never been fully domesticated and is seldom kept as a companion.

Another modern breed whose ancestors are discernible around that time is the Saluki, while a palace dog kept by the ancient Pharaohs in Egypt about 2,000 BC is similar to the present-day Basenji.

The Egyptian Pharaoh Hound spread to Europe after the Roman invasion of Egypt around 2,000 years ago.