[cally01]

A really interesting book I read is called "Dogs A Startling New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior & Evolution" by Raymond Coppinger and Lorna coppinger. Raymond Coppinger is a professor of biology at Hampshire College and has written a wonderful book with scientific basis of dogs and other candids.

I found it really interesting when he discusses dog sled teams and how they work and how much different the social aspects of of dogs compared to wolves. He is also a dog sled dog racing champion.

Here is part of a quote in his book.

"The idea that I would go out and pay five thousand dollars for a lead dog, bring it home, and let it fight the rest of the dogs to see if they accept it as the alpha male and leader has to be hilarious. The last thing and dog driver wants is a dog fight. Not only can valuable animals be hurt, but animosities between individuals would constantly stress the team effort. I don't want any dog to feel bad about its rank on the team, or continually test its position. I don't want the dogs submissive to me. Imagine them all on their backs, peeing in the air every time I showed up.
On a twelve - or sixteen dogs team, the leaders are usually paired. The leaders can be paired as males or females. What does that do to the theory of the alpha dog? tow female alpha dogs? A dog team with good depth has many leaders. It has alternates that the driver can substitute up front to replace animals too tired to keep a winning pace.
Dogs are not wolves. Dogs are not running as a pack. A pack is about chasing something. Sled dogs are running because other dogs are running. They are motivated by something the animal behaviorists call social facilitation."

I also found it interesting the way Raymond Coppinger explains how dogs evolved. Basically the way he explains it is dogs, Wolves, coyotes and other candids have the same distant relative that is now extinct. Dogs domesticated themselves basically by becoming scavengers off man.

That is his theory and he makes a very valid points and has science to back him up in his studies. In some parts of the book it may be a bit contradictive though.

Anyhow I thought I would share in case anyone was interested.