As a dog owner, I think I’m incredibly lucky to have more than one of “man’s best friend” to share my life with. Even though caring for these furry beings is a big responsibility and can be difficult at times, just having them in my life makes me a happier, more fulfilled person. Dogs add something special to our lives that we wouldn’t know we were missing unless we had experienced it. Sure, they bark, shed, and occasionally damage something in the house, but they are more than worth it.
Dogs have been a part of humans’ lives for centuries, though there’s a debate on how dogs became such an accepted part of human culture. Regardless of how our relationship started, we can’t deny that the connection between dogs and humans is something truly special.
According to National Geographic, dogs (or wolves) actually domesticated humans — we didn’t choose them as useful companions or hunting partners, as they would have been seen as competition for food and resources. Friendly wolves would have slowly befriended humans.
“Most likely, it was wolves that approached us, not the other way around, probably while they were scavenging around garbage dumps on the edge of human settlements. The wolves that were bold but aggressive would have been killed by humans, and so only the ones that were bold and friendly would have been tolerated.
Friendliness caused strange things to happen in the wolves. They started to look different. Domestication gave them splotchy coats, floppy ears, wagging tails. In only several generations, these friendly wolves would have become very distinctive from their more aggressive relatives. But the changes did not just affect their looks. Changes also happened to their psychology. These protodogs evolved the ability to read human gestures.”
Dogs are sensitive to body language and can not only read our gestures, posture, and unconscious cues, but they can recognize different words and the way that they say them. Most dog owners will tell you that their dogs can recognize a lot of words, especially words like “cookie” and “walk.”
Duke, the adorably huge and fluffy pup in this video knows plenty of words and has an opinion on one particular word — “water.” His owner can offer him a treat, cheese, or even a cookie with practically no reaction. But, if she offers him water he makes the most hilarious face!
Watch the adorable Duke in the video below and please like and share!
