Dogs in the Human World

Since dog first became acquainted with man, a working association and close friendship has developed, with both man and dog deriving benefit from the other. Climates, times and customs have changed but the relationship between these two species has remained strong and dogs have been developed, as the years have progressed, to fit in with man's needs today.

It is often difficult to trace any friendship to its root and it is equally difficult to know just when dog and man formed their great partnership, but we do know that it has stood the test of at least 5,000 years and probably very much longer.

Man's best friend
One of the oldest dogs to be found on monuments of Egypt is the Khufu dog, which dates from the reign of Cheops, builder of the great pyramid in 3733 BC. Later, in 3000 BC, Antefa II is represented with four dogs at his feet. Even today travelers in the desert may still see dogs following the caravans and wandering with Bedouin tribes, one of so many important relationships which are to be found in the symbiotic world of dogs and mankind.

Because of an increased awareness of the transmission of toxocara canis (rabies) to children, and media attention in the few cases of dogs biting children, much adverse publicity surrounds our canine friends nowadays. However, the rapport which has always been evident between children and dogs can surely not have gone unnoticed for there are so many stories which have lasted through time, displaying all too clearly the devotion of one to the other.

According to legend, among the ruins of Pompeii a skeleton of a huge dog was found entwined around the bones of a young boy. On the dog's collar was an inscription which brought home the dog's courage and its devotion to its master. The inscription told that twice the dog had saved the life of the boy, once from attack by marauders and once from drowning. Sadly, the third time both lost their lives, but one can imagine what comfort each gave to the other in their last moments together.

Child's best friend
There are many instances in which it can be clearly perceived that a dog is attached to a child, possibly because a dog recognizes that such young beings need their protection. Those of us who observe dogs carefully will perceive faithfulness, devotion. Instinctive guarding and sometimes even sacrifice for their owners.

A very interesting survey was carried out in ISA in the 1930s, disclosing that only one per of men with prison records had owned a dog as a child. This was an incredibly low percentage and although it is, of course, not possible to draw conclusions from this, these statistics cannot but imply that children who have owned or had contact with dogs while young, may grow up to be more stable adults.

Natural dog-lovers
Those people today who truly love dogs may have been born with a close affinity with the canine species. Even observing a small child, one can often see clearly which children arc-likely to grow up as dog lovers and which are not. However, environment and upbringing also play a great part. A child whose parents are afraid of dogs or whose culture teaches that dogs are unclean, or animals to be feared, are less likely to form a bond with dogs, partly due to lack of contact.

On the other hand, parents who teach their children to respect animals and be gentle with them, even though they may not be dog owners themselves, are far more likely to instill an interest in dogs, thereby leaving children's horizons open to decide whether or not they will choose to share their lives with this popular animal companion.

It goes without saying that people of all ages can strike up intimate relationships with dogs, and in many cases each is devoted to the other. Dogs provide a listening ear and, if treated kindly, do not sit in judgment. A dog can love a poor person just as much as a rich one, and really does not care one jot about the clothes one wears, whether a person is tall or short, fat or thin, nor indeed about any other physical aspect. What matters is the communication and warmth conveyed between the dog and the human. A dog can play an integral part in family life and for many of those who live alone, the company of a dog is incredibly important. A dog is affectionate, loyal and willing to please as well as providing release from the stresses and strains of today's hectic lifestyle, in particular when taking it for daily walks in peaceful surroundings.