Virtually every dog breed you see today is the byproduct of a bizarre social experiment in Victorian Britain—one with profound lessons for modern social change.
Thanks Brian for this post and the link to your Atlantic post about the political violence in Minnesota. It was good to have one as an antidote for the despair of the other.
One of the things that amazes me about dogs is that despite their crazy wide differences in size and shape they recognize each other as being members of the same species. I wish humans could aspire to do the same. It is even worse for us as politics hides under our morphology for the most part. We could learn something from the tribe of dogs. We don't deserve them.
Zorro is indeed a magnificent beast! As a believer that dogs are the secret sauce on a happy life, I devoured this article. I knew much of the history, but drawing the parallels of canine development with human mechanisms is an interesting extension.
I have often marveled that the cross-species affinity between canines and humans seems nothing short of mystical.
You may enjoy a book “Made for Each Other” by Meg Olmert, exploring the biology of the human-animal bond (attachment, attraction, effects on biology and neurobiology).
To further geek out (if you will) on this topic, Meg was working with a service dog program in MD (Warrior Canine Connection) enlisting Johns Hopkins to assess oxytocin levels in humans related to their interactions with dogs.
Oh no! I’ve been sidetracked by the phrase “…wanton womens wills…”. Once I stop guffawing I’ll get back to the article. Thank you for what I’m sure will be another entertaining and informative piece.
My family’s dogs have all been Boxer bitches (we love them)!
While originating as “a breed” in the Victorian period (and no doubt with much inspiration from British trends) Boxers are from Germany: “In 1894, three Germans, Friedrich Robert, Elard König, and R. Höpner, decided to stabilize the breed and put it on exhibition at a dog show. This was done in Munich in 1896, and the year before they founded the first Boxer Club, the Deutscher Boxer Club.” [Wikipedia]
Interesting and a pointer (pun) to an additional observation about social change. The arbitrariness of breeds and the lack of appropriate sterilizations led to the emergence of a wide range of “mixed breed” and unknown breed “shelter dogs” in the US in the latter part of the 20th C and their proving to be great companion animals has led to the amazing popularity of “designer dogs” intentionally crossbred and kept as breeders for non-standard (and thus AKC unrecognized) quasi-breeds. Our labradoodle (23 lbs) provides the appealing character of our former labrador retrievers but in a size that is more manageable by a 75 year old. She has introduced us to the ubiquity of cockapoos and cavapoos and berniedoodles that actually look very much like her as well as labradoodles and goldendoodles who are in the medium (40-50) lb range and “standard” (60-90 lb) as well as “true minis” (10-20 lb). She is a “mini-medium” cross by her breeder and a 3rd generation labradoodle.
So the observation I add is that standards, despite real lock-ins, are amenable to change when people are not just bound by a market — in this case being more open to responding to the need for adoption by the cutest and smartest dogs in the pound, then making innovative breeders open to opportunities for new standards of selection (mixing the variety of poodle sizes and non-shedding qualities with the various attractive qualities of retrievers, spaniels, terriers or herders) that become new “attractors” for a type of modern dog easily housebroken and suited for families with kids or older people, or those including one or more people who have allergies to dog fur (poodles and the French and Italian waterdog breeds like Lagornos are thus often deliberately crossbred). The cross of gentleness in a St Bernard and size variation of poodles makes for quite an adorable range of intentionally crossbred bernadoodles. Our first dog (50 years ago) was a rescue crossbred (probably) of Lab and Husky and was about 100 lbs and super gentle and smart. We went “form” and got a Husky next, which was not a big success. Then with “gentle” and got into Labs for 30 years. Now we prioritize size and smart, with cute as a plus.
Our senior, disabled Border Collie Skye sends Zorro her greetings. Our Sheltie Bennie does as well.
Great article, BTW. I am in debt to those who produced our modern breeds, especially the two named above. They've made a huge difference in our lives here at Sheltie Haven. (Been rescuing Shelties and the occasional Border Collie for decades.)
Fascinating. But I come from a family of Dachshund fans (the first was born before I was) and I've had 3 very long lived ones in my adult life. They seem to me to be an example of a dog bred for a purpose that was so narrow that they became standardized long before dog shows. Getting down a badger hole (not to mention rabbits or just between the cushions on a sofa) requires certain specific characteristics. Early dachshunds varied as to straight legged vs bandied legs--that might have been a later criterion. But wiener shaped seems to have been the route since at least the 18th century, perhaps the 15th (per Wikipedia, which notes this is much in dispute). And Wikipedia also notes that the tail was useful for, amongst other things, pulling the dog OUT of the holes.
And of course it is a German dog, though Victoria apparently had one. Does your argument about dog shows hold up for dogs from countries other than England?
Of course the other characteristics of dachshunds may or may not have been "locked in" via shows--particularly the loyalty. Certainly obedience is often in short shrift, and the barking may or may not have cowed a badger; stubbornness? Depends on whether you are an owner or a badger.
This is a great piece, but I learned that MSA is actually quite different from classical or Quranic Arabic. A short internet search bears that out, but perhaps you have a different source?
There are differences in vocabulary and sentence structure, but they are pretty slight. Try reading the precursors to modern English from the 600s and it's basically impossible for a contemporary English speaker. Meanwhile, I was able to pretty easily read 7th century Arabic literature (with some help to figure out the archaic words for, say, a drinking vessel) after studying MSA.
Oh so it's not that they aren't different, but they are less different than say Old English and Modern English (pretty much unintelligible). Classical and MSA I would guess are about as similar as Early Modern English (Shakespeare) and Modern English, which are separated by only about 500 years instead of 1400 years separating the Arabics.
No, I don't think that's right. They're a lot closer than that. Arabs even use the same word for both, as the main differences are smattered differences of vocabulary -- not spelling, not syntax, etc. Wikipedia is basically right on this: "In the Arab world little distinction is made between Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic and both are normally called al-fuṣḥā (الفصحى) in Arabic, meaning 'the most eloquent'"
As always something new and interesting to learn from your article. Love it. But was there a missing footnote? There is a 1 after the first mention of John Caius in section II. Tell us more!!!
Thanks Brian for this post and the link to your Atlantic post about the political violence in Minnesota. It was good to have one as an antidote for the despair of the other.
One of the things that amazes me about dogs is that despite their crazy wide differences in size and shape they recognize each other as being members of the same species. I wish humans could aspire to do the same. It is even worse for us as politics hides under our morphology for the most part. We could learn something from the tribe of dogs. We don't deserve them.
Zorro is indeed a magnificent beast! As a believer that dogs are the secret sauce on a happy life, I devoured this article. I knew much of the history, but drawing the parallels of canine development with human mechanisms is an interesting extension.
I have often marveled that the cross-species affinity between canines and humans seems nothing short of mystical.
You may enjoy a book “Made for Each Other” by Meg Olmert, exploring the biology of the human-animal bond (attachment, attraction, effects on biology and neurobiology).
To further geek out (if you will) on this topic, Meg was working with a service dog program in MD (Warrior Canine Connection) enlisting Johns Hopkins to assess oxytocin levels in humans related to their interactions with dogs.
Thank you, @CatChex, that sounds very interesting. I will surely look into it!
Zorro is indeed a fine looking dog. 🐕
Oh no! I’ve been sidetracked by the phrase “…wanton womens wills…”. Once I stop guffawing I’ll get back to the article. Thank you for what I’m sure will be another entertaining and informative piece.
Nice to see Zorro. We had a mat dog (lurcher) and a working gun dog (spaniel) apropos your remarks on naming and function.
My family’s dogs have all been Boxer bitches (we love them)!
While originating as “a breed” in the Victorian period (and no doubt with much inspiration from British trends) Boxers are from Germany: “In 1894, three Germans, Friedrich Robert, Elard König, and R. Höpner, decided to stabilize the breed and put it on exhibition at a dog show. This was done in Munich in 1896, and the year before they founded the first Boxer Club, the Deutscher Boxer Club.” [Wikipedia]
Interesting and a pointer (pun) to an additional observation about social change. The arbitrariness of breeds and the lack of appropriate sterilizations led to the emergence of a wide range of “mixed breed” and unknown breed “shelter dogs” in the US in the latter part of the 20th C and their proving to be great companion animals has led to the amazing popularity of “designer dogs” intentionally crossbred and kept as breeders for non-standard (and thus AKC unrecognized) quasi-breeds. Our labradoodle (23 lbs) provides the appealing character of our former labrador retrievers but in a size that is more manageable by a 75 year old. She has introduced us to the ubiquity of cockapoos and cavapoos and berniedoodles that actually look very much like her as well as labradoodles and goldendoodles who are in the medium (40-50) lb range and “standard” (60-90 lb) as well as “true minis” (10-20 lb). She is a “mini-medium” cross by her breeder and a 3rd generation labradoodle.
So the observation I add is that standards, despite real lock-ins, are amenable to change when people are not just bound by a market — in this case being more open to responding to the need for adoption by the cutest and smartest dogs in the pound, then making innovative breeders open to opportunities for new standards of selection (mixing the variety of poodle sizes and non-shedding qualities with the various attractive qualities of retrievers, spaniels, terriers or herders) that become new “attractors” for a type of modern dog easily housebroken and suited for families with kids or older people, or those including one or more people who have allergies to dog fur (poodles and the French and Italian waterdog breeds like Lagornos are thus often deliberately crossbred). The cross of gentleness in a St Bernard and size variation of poodles makes for quite an adorable range of intentionally crossbred bernadoodles. Our first dog (50 years ago) was a rescue crossbred (probably) of Lab and Husky and was about 100 lbs and super gentle and smart. We went “form” and got a Husky next, which was not a big success. Then with “gentle” and got into Labs for 30 years. Now we prioritize size and smart, with cute as a plus.
Our senior, disabled Border Collie Skye sends Zorro her greetings. Our Sheltie Bennie does as well.
Great article, BTW. I am in debt to those who produced our modern breeds, especially the two named above. They've made a huge difference in our lives here at Sheltie Haven. (Been rescuing Shelties and the occasional Border Collie for decades.)
Fascinating. But I come from a family of Dachshund fans (the first was born before I was) and I've had 3 very long lived ones in my adult life. They seem to me to be an example of a dog bred for a purpose that was so narrow that they became standardized long before dog shows. Getting down a badger hole (not to mention rabbits or just between the cushions on a sofa) requires certain specific characteristics. Early dachshunds varied as to straight legged vs bandied legs--that might have been a later criterion. But wiener shaped seems to have been the route since at least the 18th century, perhaps the 15th (per Wikipedia, which notes this is much in dispute). And Wikipedia also notes that the tail was useful for, amongst other things, pulling the dog OUT of the holes.
And of course it is a German dog, though Victoria apparently had one. Does your argument about dog shows hold up for dogs from countries other than England?
Of course the other characteristics of dachshunds may or may not have been "locked in" via shows--particularly the loyalty. Certainly obedience is often in short shrift, and the barking may or may not have cowed a badger; stubbornness? Depends on whether you are an owner or a badger.
This is a great piece, but I learned that MSA is actually quite different from classical or Quranic Arabic. A short internet search bears that out, but perhaps you have a different source?
There are differences in vocabulary and sentence structure, but they are pretty slight. Try reading the precursors to modern English from the 600s and it's basically impossible for a contemporary English speaker. Meanwhile, I was able to pretty easily read 7th century Arabic literature (with some help to figure out the archaic words for, say, a drinking vessel) after studying MSA.
Oh so it's not that they aren't different, but they are less different than say Old English and Modern English (pretty much unintelligible). Classical and MSA I would guess are about as similar as Early Modern English (Shakespeare) and Modern English, which are separated by only about 500 years instead of 1400 years separating the Arabics.
No, I don't think that's right. They're a lot closer than that. Arabs even use the same word for both, as the main differences are smattered differences of vocabulary -- not spelling, not syntax, etc. Wikipedia is basically right on this: "In the Arab world little distinction is made between Classical Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic and both are normally called al-fuṣḥā (الفصحى) in Arabic, meaning 'the most eloquent'"
Wonderful piece.
Unrelated, but Darwin sure nailed it when he discussed the pros and cons of married life.
As always something new and interesting to learn from your article. Love it. But was there a missing footnote? There is a 1 after the first mention of John Caius in section II. Tell us more!!!
Here are some more Dog breeds to contemplate.