THE WOLF CONQUERED THE WORLD

Our journey begins about a million years ago with the appearance of the wolf (Canis lupus). It spread from Europe and Asia across almost the entire world, adapting to the most diverse and sometimes most extreme habitats and conditions. It is a fast predator, strong, flexible, and clever. For a long time, this made the wolf the most widespread carnivore on Earth.

BUT THEN CAME HUMANKIND

There are very different figures regarding when the wolf first encountered humans and their shared history began. Some sources suggest 100,000 years (1), while others estimate between 30,000 (2) and 45,000 years. What is clear, however, is that humans and dogs have been connected for many decades.

Initially, the wolf observed humans. Both humans and wolves were successful hunters at the time with a similar range of prey. Both hunted primarily large game (e.g., the giant deer) and frequently shared the same hunting grounds. This made wolf and human competitors.

In times of need, wolves ventured to human camps and searched for food scraps in the waste. Over time, less timid animals reduced their flight distance but were tolerated by humans. From this, a functional relationship developed: the wolf could find food with humans, while the latter were warned of wild animals or had them tracked down for hunting.

THE BEGINNING OF AN ETERNAL PARTNERSHIP

The camp wolf is considered the direct ancestor of the dog (3). Although it was not yet tamed, it already had experience living with humans. This led to initial taming, presumably through the hand-rearing of puppies. Researchers assume that this period was nevertheless accompanied by conflicts between humans and animals, and that in times of need, wolves were also killed by humans for consumption (4).

With the end of the last ice age (about 10,000 years ago), there was a turning point in human hunting behavior. Large game such as the mammoth became extinct, so hunting had to be switched to smaller, faster animals. Here, the wolf proved to be an ideal support: it tracked the animals and drove them directly toward the hunters' spears. Thus, the wolf established itself as an ideal hunting companion and partner.

FROM HUNTER TO PROTECTOR

In the Neolithic period (roughly 8,500 to 3,300 BC, depending on the region), another important turning point occurred. Not only for human development, but also in the domestication of the dog: humans became sedentary and changed from hunter-gatherers to farmers and livestock breeders. Here, the dog took on the important role of guard and herding dog. Unlike the wolf, the hunting instinct in dogs can be weakly developed or trained away. This allowed the dog to take a firm place in the community. A place that a wolf could not and would not have filled.

THE DOG "MUTATES" INTO AN OMNIVORE

The dog was now also fed by humans, but since meat was still valuable and reserved for humans, the dog's diet continued to consist largely of plant-based ingredients. This led to a mutation of the genes: today, the dog has five times the amount of amylase enzymes (even more than horses!) and can therefore digest starch (5). Thus, the dog was optimally adapted to the predominantly plant-based diet of that time.

HUMANS BEGAN TO SHAPE

Over time, humans and dogs have increasingly adapted to a life together. Thus, different breeds have developed in different parts of the world based on respective needs and conditions:

During the time of the pharaohs (approx. 2707 to 1075 BC), the Tesem, one of the oldest dog breeds, emerged in Egypt. There was a very close relationship between humans and dogs there; they were recognized as part of the family and were given names. Dogs held special significance for the Egyptians, as they watched over the dead in the form of the god Anubis. Thus, upon the death of their dog, owners would shave their heads as a sign of mourning.

The powerful, fearless Molosser was used as a war dog in ancient Persia (550 to 330 BC) and in arena fights by the Romans.

Arabian Bedouins are said to have been the first to breed Peruvian Hairless Dogs, which, with their slender bodies and long legs, were perfectly adapted for hunting.

THE DOG SHOULD LEARN

In 4 BC, the Greek Xenophon wrote the work "Cynegeticus," in which the breeding and training of dogs were recorded for the first time. Even then, he determined that dogs should preferably have short names and that commands must be concise and unambiguous. These written words still hold significance today.

A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP

Scientists assume that humans would not be where they are today without the dog, as it played a significant role in shaping human development. Today, the dog is the most popular pet after the cat. In 2020, there were 10.56 million dogs living in German households (6). (Source: Statista).

Over the decades, a unique relationship has developed between humans and dogs. Dogs can read our emotions, identify our gestures and facial expressions, and understand us. They can correlate language and tone of voice, and only accept praise if it matches the tone. When we look at our dogs, we release happiness hormones. At the same time, our stress hormones decrease when we pet them. These hormonal changes are also possible in dogs (7, 8). There are also various studies that prove that people with dogs lead healthier lives. In Sweden, it was confirmed that dog owners live an average of three years longer (9).

WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE WOLF?

After all these years of living and evolving together, very little of the wolf remains. While the wolf is a pack animal with a highly developed sense of social awareness within its family, the dog has shifted its social behavior away from its own species and toward humans. Humans are now their social partners, and this is where their loyalty and cooperation lie.

A lot has also changed visually: there are now about 400 dog breeds. Some of them have pushed-in noses, short tails, or huge eyes. Some traits even impair the animals' health.

We put collars and leashes on our dogs, and determine their feeding and walking times. We take them to the vet, cuddle on the sofa, and teach them tricks. Yet, when it comes to feeding, many are of the opinion that they have a wolf and hunter sitting on their sofa at home. And between us: the idea of a pack of Chihuahuas trying to hunt a cow does make us smile a little 😉

Even stray dogs prefer to join humans and feed on their waste rather than hunt for themselves. Just as the wolf did many decades ago. Life with humans conserves resources and is therefore species-preserving.

MY DOG, THE VEGAN…?

So why is it that, when it comes to nutrition, the wolf ancestry is repeatedly cited as an argument for a meat-heavy diet?

Due to their domestication, unlike the wolf, dogs are able to metabolize starch and are therefore, like us humans, omnivores (5). Dogs can digest plant protein just as well as animal protein, provided it is available to them in a suitable form. So, dogs need proteins, not meat!

Tessa Zaune-Figlar, founder of VEGDOG

Today, dogs eat far too much meat – just like we humans do. It is easily available and cheap. Unlike in the past, when it was a special treat. In the 90s, for example, feed contained only 4% animal by-products, whereas today the meat content is up to 80% pure muscle meat. This also accounts for the increasing number of feed allergies. Some dogs can no longer even tolerate animal protein, especially in large quantities (10, 11), as confirmed by BMC Veterinary Research:

The most frequently reported food allergens involved in CAFRs in dogs were beef (102 dogs, 34 %), dairy products (51 dogs, 17 %), chicken (45 dogs, 15 %), wheat (38 dogs, 13 %) and lamb (14, 5 %). Other less commonly reported offending food sources were soy (18 dogs, 6 %), corn (13 dogs, 4 %), egg (11 dogs, 4 %), pork (7 dogs, 2 %), fish and rice (5 dogs each, 2 %).

BMC Veterinary Research by Mueller et al., 2016 (9)

A meat-heavy dog diet is therefore inappropriate, whereas a plant-based one is not only possible, but in some cases even advisable.

What matters is that the dogs enjoy it and are provided with all the necessary nutrients. And that is exactly what our VEGDOG products stand for. If we can save lives and protect the climate on the side, vegan dog nutrition should no longer be a cause for debate. Even one veggie day per week makes a big difference, because EVERY CAN COUNTS!

Wolves are wonderful animals and we are grateful that the wolf is the ancestor of our dogs. Without them, our furry friends would not exist. But the wolf lives in its wilderness, and the dog lives in our apartments and houses. The other way around would not even be possible today. It is therefore time to stop comparing dogs to wolves when it comes to nutrition.

SOURCES

(1) Vilà, C., et al., Multiple and Ancient Origins of the Domestic Dog. Science, 1997. 276(5319): p. 1687.

(2) Skoglund, P., A. Götherström, and M. Jakobsson, Estimation of Population Divergence Times from Non-Overlapping Genomic Sequences: Examples from Dogs and Wolves. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2010. 28(4): p. 1505-1517.

(3) Freedman, A.H., et al., Genome sequencing highlights the dynamic early history of dogs. PLoS Genet, 2014. 10(1): p. e1004016.

(4) Galibert, F., et al., Toward understanding dog evolutionary and domestication history. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 2011. 334(3): p. 190-196.6.         Axelsson, E., et al., The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet. Nature, 2013. 495(7441): p. 360-364.

(5) Axelsson, E., et al., The genomic signature of dog domestication reveals adaptation to a starch-rich diet. Nature, 2013. 495(7441): p. 360-364.

(6) Statista (2021), Pet owners in Germany by number of dogs in the household from 2017 to 2020. 23.02.2021.

(7) Archer, J., Why do people love their pets? Evolution and Human Behavior, 1997. 18(4): p. 237-259.

(8) Topal, J., Attachment behavior in dogs (Canis familiaris): A new application of Ainsworth’s (1969) Strange Situation Test. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 1998. 112(3): p. 219-229.

(9) Mubanga, M., et al., Dog ownership and the risk of cardiovascular disease and death – a nationwide cohort study.Scientific Reports, 2017. 7(1): p. 15821.

(10) Mueller, R.S., T. Olivry, and P. Prélaud, Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (2): common food allergen sources in dogs and cats. BMC Veterinary Research, 2016. 12(1): p. 9.12.       

(11) Meyer&Zentek, Dog Nutrition, 7th ed. 2013, Berlin: Thieme Verlagsgruppe