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About 60 millions years ago,a small mammal rather like
a weasle or polecat clambered through the primival forest, it's name was Miacis and it was the ancestor of the group of
animals that we call canids; the dog, jackal, wolf, and fox family.
Unlike modern dogs, that walks on their toes, Miacis
was flat-footed. By around thirty-five million years ago, Miacis had given rise to a variety of canids
- some like bears,cats,and some however, were like dogs. These dog like canids were the only ones to survive the evolutionary
process, and some of them provided the basis for the domestic dogs.
Dogs first came on the scene in Eurasia between 12,000 and 14,000
years ago. It was originally thought that hteir ancestor was a form of jackal or jackal/wolf cross. Scientist now believe
that it was the smallersouthern strain of the grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) still to be found in India.During
the period in question, the gray wolf was distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America.
ANCIENT DOG BREEDS
The Saluki shares common ancestry with the Greyhound, and originated in the area now known
as Syria at least 4000 years ago.
The Mexican hairless dog found in south America has much in common with the Chinese Crested
dog of mainland Asia.
The African wild dog is an endangered species, having been hunted for extinction by man because
of its success as a predator.
The Basenji comes from Africa and is an oddity among domestic dogs, having silar reproductive
cycle to wild dogs, and no bark.
The Dingo was brougth to Australia as a domesticated dog by the first immigrants thousands
of years ago, and since return to the wild.
Wolves of different types were common all over the world in ancient times, and the grey wolf
is probably the ancestor of all modern dogs.
The Siberian husky is a northern Spitz-type breed that is descended from the wolf-like dogs
that was the earliest dog types.
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