Tame dogs are those who are conditioned or trained to accept human contact and handling without exhibiting fear or aggression. They are accustomed to human presence and even enjoy interacting with people. Tame dogs are friendly and used to people. Tame wolves are not domesticated.
Habituated dogs are those that are accustomed to specific stimuli or environments through repeated exposure. This includes getting used to loud noises, new objects, different types of people, or even dog whistles or punishment. Habituation is gradual exposure to a stimulus that causes less reaction to the stimulus.
Socialized dogs have been exposed to various interactions with other dogs, animals, and humans, learning appropriate behaviors and communication skills within these social and environmental contexts. Early and ongoing socialization for puppies and dogs is critical for a lifetime of appropriate and safe behavior. Socialized dogs are exposed to variety and are comfortable with change.
Domesticated dogs have undergone generations of selective breeding and genetic changes to adapt to living alongside humans. Domesticated dogs exhibit loyalty, biddability, and reduced aggression, making them well-suited for human companions. Domestication takes several generations to occur.
Feral dogs, on the other hand, are domesticated dogs that have reverted to a wild state. They may have escaped human care or been abandoned and have learned to be independent or fearful of humans. Feral dogs are domesticated dogs that have not been in contact with people for a long time and often are not tame.
Stray dogs are domesticated dogs that are currently without a permanent home or human caregiver. They may have been lost or abandoned and are often found living in urban or rural areas, scavenging for food and shelter. Stray dogs have probably been socialized at some point and may or may not interact well with humans.
While tame, habituated, and socialized describe different levels of comfort and interaction with humans and their environment, domesticated dogs have undergone intentional breeding for specific traits conducive to living with humans. Feral and stray dogs, although both domesticated, differ in their current living conditions and degree of independence from human care.
All dogs evolved from wolves. Wolves and dogs share certain similarities including they both chase prey, walk on their toes, have unretractable claws, have dew claws, both tie in reproduction, both are born helpless, blind, and dependent on neonatal and ongoing care, both have a ligament that enables them to keep their nose toward the ground while running.
However a significant difference is that dogs do not have sufficient instincts to survive on their own in the wild. Dogs have been selected for a specific set of social and cognitive abilities that allow them to communicate uniquely with humans. Dogs have jobs ranging from protection, herding, guarding, search and rescue, and police work, to therapy.
Physically, domestic dogs often exhibit reduced skull size, shorter muzzles, floppy ears, and a wider variety of coat colors and patterns compared to wolves. Behaviorally, domestic dogs display increased sociability, reduced flight distance, and increased friendliness towards humans, traits that have been selectively bred over generations.
Wolves typically have larger skulls, longer muzzles, erect ears, and a more uniform coat coloration. They maintain a stronger instinctual fear of humans and tend to be less socialized in human environments. These differences spotlight the significant impact of domestication on both the physical appearance and behavioral characteristics of dogs compared to their wild ancestors, wolves.
No comments:
Post a Comment