A dog breed that has evolved as a result of a natural adaptation to its surroundings is referred to as a natural breed. Put another way, these are canines that have developed naturally without human meddling.
The Family of Naturally Domesticated Dogs
• Canines familiar is the family that includes all dogs. They are all directly descended from the now-extinct gray wolf (Canines lupus), according to genetic research.
• The modern wolf is the closest surviving relative. This is not to be confused with the modern gray wolf.
• Rather, it was a Late Pleistocene wolf, also known as a Megafunal wolf at times.
The degree of genetic material movement from one group to another is demonstrated by studies. When there is sufficient gene flow between two populations, it is determined that those populations are one single-effective population. The study of dog genetics is a developing area. More details about the genetic makeup and past of dogs are becoming known as research advances and genetic tracking methods advance.
Today, there are reputed to be more than 500 million dogs worldwide, encompassing over 400 distinct breeds. Yet all domesticated dogs remain 98.8% genetically identical to the Gray Wolf.
Is There Still Any Natural Dog Breeds? Over the course of thousands of years, humans and dogs have coexisted. During this time, people have bred dogs to suit their owners’ unique needs and requirements—possibly more than any other domesticated animal. Breeding activity picked up tremendous steam during the Victorian era and continues just as vigorously today. One reasonable way to approach the question above is to suggest that we start by examining which dog breeds have been the least altered or tampered with by humans. The effects of human development on our planet have been so great that it is hard to believe that any dog breed still exists today that is unaffected by humans. Perhaps surprisingly, some isolated or harsh landscapes continue to push back against humankind. It is predominately from these environments that we might expect to find dogs little unchanged for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
What Situations Offer the Optimal Setting for Natural Dog Evolution?
Important requirements:
• Distance a terrain that is not prone to sudden changes.
• A distinct or testing environment,
The aforementioned conditions would probably allow dog breeds to naturally evolve largely free from human interference.
Secondary Conditions:
• How far back in time these animals may be put is the second factor that contributes to the identification of a natural dog breed.
• The likelihood that a dog will be free from recent human meddling and adaptations increases with the breed’s historical background.
Dog Breeds That Are Actually Natural
Dogs that fit into this category typically belong to one of three breeds:
* Indigenous dogs: existing in their original habitat for at least 4,000 years
* Primitive dogs: residing in a wild state, not domesticated
Ancient dogs:
At one time, they were described by the American Kennel Club as being dogs originating more than 500 years ago. Today, they are more commonly referred to as dogs with a heritage of 1,000 years plus.
Canines from Aboriginal Australia
Native dogs have never been the subject of intentional, selective breeding. They resemble wild dogs more in appearance, being slender, fiercely independent, and having a distinctive appearance.
As an illustration:
Dogs: Basenji, Canaan
• Dingo Indigenous Dog: Basenji
Origin: Dogs with similar appearances can be found all across Central Africa. Dogs taken from what was then Belgium Congo gave rise to the Basenji breed.
Build: The body has a large chest and a short, deep build.
• Dark eyes;
• Broad skull with short muzzle.
• Small and punctured ears.
• The neck has strength and length.
• Equipped with a curled tail, short feet, and long legs.
• The coat feels silky to the touch and is short.
Distinctive characteristics:
• The Basenji was once a rodent and rat hunter;
• Barking was infrequent in this dog.
• Self-sufficient and perceptive.
Native Canine: The Canaan
Origin country: Israel’s national dog breed is represented by this animal.
Pariah dogs, which are semi-wild dogs that are abundant in Africa, gave rise to the Canaan breed, which evolved to survive the hard environment and local illnesses.
Build: The head and nose are broad, the ears are short and pricked, the eyes are black, the coat is straight and of a moderate length, the tail is plumed, and the legs are well-feathered. The body is short and the chest is deep.
Distinctive qualities:
• Perceptive;
• Effective as a watchdog;
• Frequently complies with instruction.
Native Canines: The Dingo
Origin country: Australia.
The Australian wild dingo is revered as a legendary animal. It has been in Australia for around 3,000 years and has remained unchanged for much of that time.
Develop qualities:
• Lean body, medium in size; wedge-shaped head, appearing huge in relation to body size.
• There is little coat.
Among their special qualities are their agility, speed, and stamina. They can travel long distances in the wild and frequently live in packs.
• The howl of Dingo.
Early Dogs
Primitive dogs are typically associated with a certain area, nation, or region. These are extinct animals that have evolved independently of human involvement; they are frequently referred to as landraces.
The New Guinea Singing Dog (Papua New Guinea) is an independent, erratic, and intelligent animal with a strong desire to move and explore.
It should come as no surprise that not much is known about this dog breed. It coexists with native people in mountainous areas as well as in the wild. Due to its remoteness, this species has remained largely hidden from the outside world until the late 1980s.
Old Dog Breeds
Diverse groups within the animal and scientific communities hold differing opinions over which dog breeds fall within this category. These variations result from the various approaches taken to assess their applicability.
For the sake of this article, I have taken the side that aims to identify dogs with:
a) the greatest genetic resemblance to the wolf; and
b) dogs with an old lineage.
I have categorized these ancient dog breeds into three categories based on my research:
1. The sighthounds
2. Herding dogs from Europe
3. Dogs used for work
Breeds Classified as Sighthounds
Afghan Hound
Azawakh Borzoi
Irish Wolfhound
Italian Greyhound
Saluki
Scottish Greyhound
Sloughi Spanish Greyhound
Whippet
Historic Sighthounds
The Afghan Hound and the Saluki Hound are the oldest breeds of sighthound dogs. For more than 6,000 years, they have coexisted with nomadic tribes in the desert.
For nourishment, these wandering tribes had to hunt hares and gazelles. But in the open desert, these animals were swift and very challenging to capture.
Dogs with the longest legs and slimmer bodies gained popularity over time and through centuries of selective breeding, finally developing into the well-bred creatures we see in Salukis today.
Saluki Hound, an ancient sighthound
One example of an old sighthound that is thought to have persisted in its current form for at least 4,000 years is the Saluki Hound. This kind of dog, sometimes known as a gazehound, uses their sight and speed to hunt down prey, rather than using their sense of smell.
Sighthounds all share a common trait in that they are sleek, thin yet muscular, have a pointed head and long slender legs. They present an air of elegance.
Origin nation:
• Generally regarded as a Persian breed, but most likely originated in Arabia. There were variations in the Afghan Hound because to the topography and the various ways the indigenous tribes used them.
Build: This long-bodied dog has a deep chest and a straight back. Its neck is also very lengthy.
Its eyes are huge and dark in hue, and its head is tall and thin, tapering towards the nose.
• The limbs are elongated.
• The coat is glossy and velvety to the touch;
• The tail is lengthy.
Special characteristics include:
• Being a breed that was originally developed for hunting;
• Hunting a variety of species, including gazelles, jackals, and hares;
• Adapted to hunt by sight, with their eyes positioned to the side of the head, providing 270 degrees field of vision.
• Capable of detecting motion over 800 meters away.
• Reaching 60 kph – over 3 kilometers distance, they are the fastest land animal.
European Herding Dogs
Thought to have been first domesticated around 15,000 years ago, genetic research that some herding dogs bear a close relationship with the wolf. These historic dogs tend to have their origins in Scandinavia. They are mainly long-established, collie-like breeds.
The Swedish Vallund dog is native to Sweden, also known as the “Swedish cow dog.” This breed is over 1,000 years old, dating back to the days of Viking settlements of Britain. The dog is corgi-like, quick, and extremely agile.
Ancient Scandinavian Dog Breeds
Broholmer Greenland Sledge Dog Finnish Spitz
Icelandic Sheepdog
Karelian Bear Dog Keeshound
Norwegian Buhund
Norwegian Elkhound
Norwegian Lundehund
Working Dogs of Antiquity
The definition of a working dog is “a dog trained to work with livestock.” The Viking culture is one of the most notable among the early references to working dogs. These pets would frequently be buried beside their owners.
These days, people have added tracking, spotting illicit goods at border crossings, helping the blind, alerting the deaf, tracking, and rescue dog duties to the list of tasks performed by working dogs.
Keeshond, or the German Grosspitz
One historical European breed that is still in use today is the Keeshond. However, its origins lay in the Scandinavian breeds.
Origin nation: This breed was long thought to have Dutch ancestry. But now the FCI acknowledges it as German. Examples of this breed of dog in the Netherlands probably came from Germany. Historically, a dog used to guard the barges that plied their trade along the Rhine.
This breed most likely descended from the same Arctic strains that gave rise to the Samoyed and Norwegian Elkhounds. a dog that dates back many centuries.
Build:
• A wedge-shaped head with a short, narrowing nose and a broad, skull.
The features of this animal include dark-colored eyes, unique facial markings, round, small feet, well-boned legs, a dense, long coat with a woolly undercoat, and a thick frill of fur on the shoulders and chest. Reputation for being a good guard dog. Lively and devoted to its owner, but occasionally suspicious of outsiders are some of its unique characteristics.
Were You Aware?
Although hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs, many people mistakenly believe that they are.
Ancient Working Dogs
Breed Description
Akita
An ancient breed of polar origin. The largest of the Japanese dog breeds. First recorded over 2,000 years ago and used initially for hunting Boar and deer.
Alaskan Malamute
An indigenous sleigh-dog from Alaska. Merchants used them.
Chinese Shar-Pei
A dog breed from China. A canine commonly used as guard dogs.
Chow Chow
An ancient breed from China. First utilized for hunting and to guard. People have also eaten them.
Samoyed Originated in the Samoyed area of Russia, nomadic tribes used it to guard large herds of reindeer. A multi-purpose dog that initially pulled sleighs and hunted.
Siberian Husky
The Chukchi nomads in Siberia historically used this dog to pull sleds.
Tibetan Terrier
Nomadic Tibetan tribes train them to herd cattle. The dog is small as the mountainous country was often too difficult for larger dogs to cope with.
Canine Eskimo (Inuit) from Canada
This breed of dog is very similar to the wolves that gave rise to it. To pull sleds, people used the dog’s strength and the genetic traits of their pack. The exploration and settlement of the far north were made possible by this cooperation between humans and the Eskimo dog.
Adaptations include:
• Big and stocky build.
• The coat has coarse guard hair with a soft downy undercoat.
• Tiny ears with fur linings (to decrease heat loss).
• They have evolved to withstand temperatures as low as minus forty.
The sled pack can run at about 30 km/h and tow more than one ton of weight.
Research Is Still Being Done Today
There is still research being done on the origins and history of the dog. Today, people are still developing new traits and behaviors within dog populations, whether for appearance, stamina, speed, size, herding, guarding, or companionship. This activity and the passage of time are likely to “cloud” our overall historical view of canines even further. Scientific advances made and those yet to be discovered in genetics are likely to be vital in resolving our understanding of what it is to be a natural dog.