Differences in the Behavior of Landraces and Breeds of Dogs - Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals - page 226

create these novel breed morphologies and behaviors. The results are phylo-
genetically original ( Lord, 2010 ).
For example, the reduced flight distance of dogs as compared to wolves
has been hypothesized to be the result of neoteny ( Coppinger and Smith,
1989 ; see Price, 1998 , for a review), since wolf pups are less fearful of nov-
elty than adults. However, recent research suggests that this may only be a
superficial relationship. The curiosity of young wolves (and mammals in
general) is the result of the critical period of socialization. There is a period
in early development when animals acquire species recognition and the
related ability to discriminate between what is familiar and safe as opposed
to what is novel and dangerous. This period begins with the ability to
explore, and ends with the avoidance of novelty. Dogs begin this period at 4
weeks of age ( Scott and Fuller, 1965 ), and 2 weeks after wolves ( Frank and
Frank, 1982 ). However, dogs and wolves develop their sensory systems (an
integral part of exploration) at the same rate ( Lord, 2013 ). At 4 weeks, when
dogs begin to explore, all of their sensory systems are developed ( Scott and
Fuller, 1965 ). At 2 weeks, when wolves begin to explore, they are still deaf
and blind ( Lord, 2013 ). Thus, during the critical period of socialization, dogs
can generalize their early experiences of the world and have a very rich pic-
ture of what is familiar. For wolves, familiarity with the world is largely
based on their sense of smell. This difference in the interaction between sen-
sory and motor development could explain the difference in flight distance
between dogs and wolves (see Lord, 2013 , for a full discussion).
This change in flight distance can affect the frequency of display of other
ancestral behaviors in turn. It has been suggested that increased barking in
dogs is paedomorphic. The logic is that wolf pups bark more than adults,
and dogs bark more than adult wolves. However, new literature suggests that
the bark is present in adult wolves and a variety of other species in conflict
situations, and thus increased barking is likely the result of dogs being placed
in these conflict situations as a result of the captive environment, and a
reduced flight distance as compared with wolves (see Lord et al., 2009 , for a
full discussion).
Many argue (correctly or incorrectly) that the dog is a descendant of the
wolf. But then we look to wolf behavior to explain dog behavior, which is
somewhat bizarre. Comparing closely related species might be useful in a
phylogenetic sense but Canis lupus familiaris is an adaptation to a new
niche, a specialist whose morphology and behavior are adaptations to living
in that niche. Wolves cannot survive in the dog's environment because they
have inappropriate behavior. The dog is behaviorally unique.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank Josephine Coppinger for editorial assistance.