tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post1939512178998029975..comments2024-03-20T03:33:22.357-07:00Comments on Skeptophilia: Saturday shortsGordon Bonnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06003472005971594466noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4307187040250193857.post-63982961510816936772012-01-09T17:36:25.012-08:002012-01-09T17:36:25.012-08:00As far as dogs are concerned, they have a trait wh...As far as dogs are concerned, they have a trait which is unique among all other animals. Dogs have evolved to be the one animal on this planet that not only wants to look into a human's face, but can also tell by our expressions what emotion we are conveying. They are also one of the only animals that understands what we're doing when we point at something or gesture. The next time your dog sits and stares at you and you make a facial gesture (raising your eyebrows, smiling, etc) watch their reaction.<br />Our descendants, the ever-intelligent primate, has no interest in making eye contact with humans, isn't interested in our facial expressions, and has even less interest or understanding in our gestures.<br />Dogs are man's best friend because they have evolved to be just that. Symbiosis.<br />My dog looks at me and I look at her, then I motion to the right with my eyes and she goes where I was looking. We take for granted just how much of an evolved interaction that is.<br /><br />Also, scientists have essentially proven that dog "tameness" is a product of nature, not nurture. The Russians have been doing a selective breeding program for decades now, where they pick only the most docile %1 of silver foxes and breed them, and after a few generations of this, they are pet-ready. The other 99% of these foxes would rather eat your face than be pet by you.<br /><br />DNA is such an interesting thing. It is essentially responsible for not only their mental disposition, but also their desire and ability to interact with us.<br />I can only fathom, with how dynamic dog DNA is, how much they will evolve, in line with our own rapid evolution. I don't find it absurd to think that 1,000 years from now, you'll be able to have something akin to a simple conversation with your dog.Hontseur Thotshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10799765178908406877noreply@blogger.com