Mammal Study 



261 



^e^ 



DOGS 



Teacher's Story 



I" OT only to-day but in ancient days, before the dawn 

 ^ of history, the dog was the companion of man. 



\ "Whether the wild species from whence he sprang, 



\,^^ was wolf or jackal or some other similar animal, we 

 ..jimm'^^ do not know, but w^e do know that many types of 

 dogs have been tamed independently by savages, 

 in the region where their untamed relatives run 

 wild. As the whelps of wolves, jackals and foxes 

 are all easily tamed, and are most interesting little 

 creatures, we can understand how they became companions to the children 

 of the savage and barbarous peoples who hunted them. 



In the earliest records of cave dwellers, in the picture writing of the 

 ancient Egyptians and of other ancient peoples, we find record of the 

 presence and value of the dog. But man, in historical times, has been 

 able to evolve breeds that vary more in form than do the wild species of 

 the present. There are 200 distinct breeds of dogs known to-day, and 

 many of these have been bred for special purposes. The paleontologists, 

 moreover, assure us that there has been a decided advance in the size and 

 quality of the dog's brain since the days of his savagery ; thus, he has been 

 the companion of man's civilization also. It is not, therefore, to be 

 wondered at that the dog is now the most companionable, and has the 

 most human qualities and intelligence of all our domesticated animals. 



Dogs run down their prey ; it is a necessity, therefore, that they be 

 equipped with legs that are long, strong and muscular. The cat, which 

 jumps for her prey, has much more delicate legs but has powerful hi]« to 

 enable her to leap. The dog's feet are much more heavily padded than 

 those of the cat, because in running, he must not stop to save his feet. 

 Hounds often return from a chase with bleeding feet, despite the heavy 

 pads, but the w^ounds are usually cuts between the toes. The claws are 

 heavy and are not retractile; thus, they afford a protection to the feet 

 when running, and they are also used for digging out game which burrows 

 into the ground. They are not used for grasping prey like those of the cat 

 and are used only incidentally in fighting, while the cat's claws are the 

 most important weapons in her armory. It is an interesting fact that 

 Newfoundland dogs, which are such famous swimmers, have their toes 

 somewhat webbed. 



