Ken McCort on Canids

First, I have to thank Leonard Cecil for sending this to me. He collects and disseminates more information than I would probably have heard about if I didn't know him.

I had to give a lot of thought on how I wanted to introduce this. I think I'll start as basic as possible. One of the most popular misconceptions out there is that dogs are domestic wolves. To me, that is akin to saying people are chimpanzees (or bonobos, to be more precise): there is a common ancestor, but we're different.

Are there things we can learn about our behavior from bonobos? Certainly, but I wouldn't try to define human behavior solely by observing bonobos. Likewise, there are things that can be learned about dogs by observing wolves, but there are marked differences that need to be addressed as well.

Something that needs clarification is the pack. Okay, wolves are pack animals, but what does that actually mean? It may be easier to explain what it doesn't mean. It does not mean that a group of wolves are together, each plotting a way to become "top dog." Packs are actually family units with the mother and father at the head and their children making up the rest of the group. When they become old enough, the children move off to create their own families. Even David Mech, who popularized the term "Alpha" has reversed his position on this in light of more studies he has done and a better understanding of the dynamics of wolf behavior. (There are too many studies to list here, but look him up.)

Dogs, on the other hand, are not pack animals. In studies done of wild dogs (or village dogs, as they are more commonly known now), they are observed to be lone scavengers sometimes forming brief, loose associations with other dogs, but for the most part they are loners. So interacting with a dog like a wolf, or as wolves are wrongly perceived to interact, is counterproductive at best, just like interacting with a person as a bonobo would be. Dogs: A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution by Coppinger & Coppinger is one of the best, and most easily accessible books on the topic.

Ken McCort speaks on this topic in a radio blog interview. It's only about 40 minutes, but filled with a lot of excellent information.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/regardingrover/2009/11/03/regarding-rover--ken-mccort-on-canids