If you’ve also been wondering why dogs are so friendly and affectionate towards humans, you must know that others have even tried to find a scientific explanation. A genetic mutation is to blame for dogs learning some human social skills, according to a new study that Futurism.com reveals.
It’s now considered that the genetic mutation occurred and spread as humans began to breed dogs in order to make the animals become more useful. The new study indicates that humans had a huge influence on the biology of dogs in the last few thousands of years. Researchers from Japan’s Azabu University were those willing to solve the mystery.
Over 400 breeds of domestic dogs
An important paragraph from the new study says:
Domestication involves the selection of traits that fundamentally alter wild species to become more useful to humans. Dogs have been closely associated with humans for many centuries and there are now more than 400 breeds of domestic dogs. Dogs are thought to have been selected for human proximity, a wide range of physical traits, behaviour, and more broadly, the ability to build social relationships.
According to other sources, in the US alone, there are over 1 million dogs born every year by legal breeders. Also, 70% of dog mills that operate are not legal.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that dystocia occurs in the case of a maximum of 5% of birthing dogs. Here’s what vetfolio.com tells us about dystocia:
Dystocia, the difficulty in passing the fetus through the pelvic canal, is a common small animal emergency. Significant disparity exists between the events of normal and abnormal canine parturition. Positive clinical outcomes can be expected only when the clinician has a thorough understanding and knowledge of normal canine parturition, the pathogenesis and underlying etiology of dystocia, the criteria for diagnosing dystocia, and the appropriate medical and surgical interventions.
The new study on the subject of dogs’ friendship with humans was published in Nature.
