About the time of the Ice Age the early man adopted canines as their companions. It all started with a hungry wolf eyeing a man's kill as he sat stripping away at the meat and swallowing it. As soon as he turned this once enemy, an animal the early man competed with everyday, sat friendly next to him, drooling for the food in the man's hand. As soon as that man handed the wolf his very own food the domesticating process began. The man found his wolf had her pups, and he traded the pups for tools readily made. Then the man realized the actual convenience of the wolf. She was a wolf of protection, hunting, tracking, and an animal of pleasure. He picked out his favored pups of his first wolf's litter, bred them with the best of his group.

At that time people were pulling wild wolves out of their dens while they were still young and the mother was hunting. They raised the pup to be what they wanted, and the domesticating continued.

The later in the history of man, explorers came across foxes. These small canines were favored for their lush coats in winter, and were trapped and sold to traders. But when traders bought these canines for not fur trade, but the live fox itself, they complained about its temperament. An idea then arose and a mass amount of foxes were trapped. These foxes were put in wire-cages and later tested for temperament. The men would keep the friendly or shy foxes and either fur-trade or set free the ones that growled, snapped, or tried to rip the glove off the handler's hand.

Thats when the toy dog was created. The friendly foxes were bred and ironically the breed came up with deformed tails that curved around their backs, squished faces, or flopped ears. That's when they were favored the most and sold as pets.

Even today the wolf can be seen in every dog, even the brave Chihuahua, who probably shouldn't be as daring as it is. Ever since man offered meat to the wolf she had been sworn to protect his family and keep them warm. Today we often neglect and beat our dogs. Many don't understand their language, or are just too much of a fool to learn.

Grown humans don't seem to understand the devotion of a dog. If we were more like dogs the world would be more peaceful, boarders would be set, and we would have the time to properly discipline our children.

Even as children can be cruel to animals, a dog still has the patients and devotion to make them their best friend.




In my day, we didn't have dogs or cats. All I had was Silver Beauty, my beloved paper clip. ~ Jennifer Hart, Arlington


Dachshunds are ideal dogs for small children, as they are already stretched and pulled to such a length that the child cannot do much harm one way or the other. ~Robert Benchley


The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic. ~Henry Ward Beecher


If dogs could talk, it would take a lot of the fun out of owning one. ~Andy Rooney


Both humans and dogs love to play well into adulthood, and individuals from both species occasionally display evidence of having a conscience. ~Jon Winokur


To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace. ~Milan Kundera


The best way to get a puppy is to beg for a baby brother - and they'll settle for a puppy every time. ~Winston Pendelton


Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. ~Franklin P. Jones


The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. ~Andy Rooney


The greatest love is a mother's; then a dog's; then a sweetheart's. ~Polish Proverb


In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog. ~Edward Hoagland


A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. ~Robert Benchley


Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras


There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. ~Bern Williams


The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too. ~Samuel Butler, Notebooks, 1912


You learn in this business: It you want a friend, get a dog. ~Carl Icahn, US auto business executive


From the dog's point of view, his master is an elongated and abnormally cunning dog. ~Mabel Louise Robinson


No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does. ~Christopher Morley


There are times when even the best manager is like the little boy with the big dog, waiting to see where the dog wants to go so he can take him there. - Lee Iacocca, US auto business executive


Once again, enough for now. I'll do a cat one next, but 'till then, sit tight with man's best friend.


A dog's life is short, however, unlike us, they know just how to live it to the fullest. ~Morgan Allen