376 DOMESTIC ANIMALS 
a companion or pet, having very little, if any, economic value, 
but many dogs are more or less useful for guarding the prem- 
ises, for helping to watch or to drive live stock, for hunting, 
drawing loads, and other purposes. 
Qualities. — The dog is the most intelligent, shows the 
greatest ability and willingness to learn, and has the most 
human qualities of any of our domestic animals. His love 
and devotion to his master 
make him an ideal com- 
panion and playfellow for 
children. His hearing and 
sight are keen, but his 
most striking faculty is his 
marvelous sense of smell. 
Think of being able to 
scent the track made by a 
man or an animal several 
hours previously and_ to 
follow it for miles! 
Origin. — It is univer- 
sally agreed that our dogs 
originated from wildwolves. 
Young wolf pups are very cunning little animals and easily 
domesticated, and it would be perfectly natural for primitive 
people to capture them and raise them, not only for pets but 
for food supply to draw upon when game is scarce. We 
know that our American Indians and Eskimos make use of 
their dogs for food, and they are very fond of the flesh. 
Moreover, the dogs kept by such people always resemble 
their wild neighbors very closely. 
Breeds. — Probably various races of dogs were derived 
from the various species of wolves that were domesticated 
ScotcH COLLIE 
