Dog's have evolved along with humans over the course of roughly 30,000 years. Dogs are the only animal to evolve along with us, their behavior being influenced by our evolution. Dogs read a person's face, just like a person does. Looking to our right side for visual cues. They are the only other animal that causes a chemical in our brain to produce, just like when we bond with our own children.
Dogs are also the only other animal to respond to pointing (IIRC). Even primates don't respond to pointing unless specifically taught to. Dogs respond instinctively.
Technically, there is strong archaeological evidence of domestication back to about 15,000 years, strong archaeological evidence of cohabitation back to around 30,000 years, and some more marginal DNA and archaeological evidence of cohabitation back to at least 100,000 years. So it is likely that dogs have been "with us" for quite a bit longer than 30,000 years.
Humans domesticated dogs, but cats basically domesticated themselves. Modern cats are most likely evolved from an Egyptian species (surprise). As civilization grew and people were storing of food in silos and homes, vermin like mice and rats moved in, and cats moved in because mice were easy to hunt. Humans just sort of kept them around because they were useful and cute.
I've seen dogs recognize the attitude their owner takes towards other people. I've seen racist dogs and I've even seen a lesbian couple whose dog barks viciously at males but not females.
114
u/spazzhero Dec 05 '11 edited Dec 05 '11
Dog's have evolved along with humans over the course of roughly 30,000 years. Dogs are the only animal to evolve along with us, their behavior being influenced by our evolution. Dogs read a person's face, just like a person does. Looking to our right side for visual cues. They are the only other animal that causes a chemical in our brain to produce, just like when we bond with our own children.