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Briana Medlin
English 111
Compare and Contrast Research Essay
19 December 2016
Of Dogs and Wolves: The Effects of Domestication
Thousands of years ago, the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, did not exist. But,
over time, human and wolf interactions somehow produced humanity's first domesticated
animal (Botkin-Kowacki). Researchers and scientists are not for sure when exactly the wolf/dog
domestication happened, but it is certain that it happened in a time that humans were huntergatherers. The relationship began symbiotically, although freely. As time went on, the
relationship strengthened as their sensitive noses helped the humans kill prey. These hunting
accessories acquired a closer bond to these humans than predicted, resulting in the adaptations
and evolution into domesticated dogs. The relationship between wolves and domesticated dogs is
a prime example of adaptive evolution to changes in environment and interactions with other
species.
This adaptational evolution caused domesticated dogs to keep some similar traits of the
wolf and obtain individual traits in their anatomy. It is typically common sense to know that
wolves have a bigger build than some of the domesticated dogs, such as a chihuahua or
schnauzer, but many underestimate the real strength and build of the great wolves. Wolves have
two layers of hairs- the anterior layer keeps the animal warm with its short hairs, while the
superior hairs are longer to guard the hair and keep the wolf dry. These survival adaptations aid
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the mammal in times of unpleasant weathers, like harsh winters or rainy springs. Wolves also
have sharp front teeth and a long skull in order to tear flesh and kill prey, as well as distal teeth to
grind meat and crush the osseous matter (Wolf). These specific acclimations are just some of
the physical links that help wolves survive. On the contrary, the physiological differences
between skulls is significant in the domestication controversy. Domesticated dogs have a
comparatively smaller brain capacity than wolves, as it is discovered that an adult dog with the
same head size as an adult wolf has a twenty percent smaller brain (Cohn). Similarly dogs and
wolves obtain about the same structural anatomy as a whole. This is because of their directly
related genus, which groups them together as the Canis genus.
In most instances, it is known that when it comes to any animal, one must stay wary of
its abilities. The interaction with other species varies with every animal, although some may be
more lenient than others. The interaction with wolves is the most intimidating within their
environment, as every animal is sought as competition for prey. Wolves harass and kill
numerous other carnivores- with which they share habitats. Few species compete successfully
with wolves, though Brown Bears may be the exception Wolves are the most aggressive and
persistent when animals begin to wander too close to [the wolves] dens. (Elbroch 93) These
wild mammals must do what it takes in order to survive within their niche. Their interactions
with other species are critical to prove their superiority with not only to build credibility, but to
find and hunt prey without obstacles in their way.
In the wild, wolves must live in packs while depending on each other, but most
importantly they depend on the pack leaders to make executive decisions for the good of
the groups. This may seem as though wolves are incapable of doing daily tasks without
their pack leaders, though surprisingly, wolves are totally dependent compared to their
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directly related genus, the domesticated dog. In animal-friendly homes, where there is no
real need to intimidate species, domesticated dogs are co-dependent on their owners. I
Despite the ...independent-minded and egalitarian wolf , the obedient, waiting-for-orders
dog is submissive-like as they are more oblivious to (Morrell). Domesticated dogs were
bred for that reason only- their ability to follow orders and to depend on their human
masters.
It is a straightforward fact that domesticated dogs and wolves are differentiated
animals. These animals, specifically, have adapted to different environments and would
honestly never survive in each other's habitat. Wolves are essentially natural problem
solvers and independent survivalists, whereas domesticated dogs are co-dependent
submissive caregivers. This being said, the effects of domestication caused an enormous
change within the two different species, although there are similarities that is seen as
accessories bringing the two mammals together.
Works Cited
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Botkin-Kowacki, Eva. "Where did humans turn wolves into domesticated dogs?."
Christian Science Monitor 20 Oct. 2015: N.PAG. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19
Dec. 2016.
Cohn, Jeffrey. "How wild wolves became domestic dogs: research sheds new light on
the origin of humanity's most intimate quadrupedally." BioScience 47.11 (1997): 725+.
General OneFile. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Coppinger, Raymond, and Mark H. Feinstein. How Dogs Work. Chicago: U of
Chicago, 2015. Print.
Elbroch, Mark, and Kurt Rinehart. Behavior of North American Mammals. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011. 85-93. Print.
Morell, Virginia. "From Wolf To Dog." Scientific American 313.1 (2015): 60-67.
Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Dec. 2016.
"Wolf Anatomy - Body Types & Fur." Animal Corner. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Dec. 2016.
