Man's Best Friend

This week my news editor briefed me for an advertorial for the newspaper I do a little freelancing for from time to time.

"I need 350 words on man's best friend, the Dog."

Ok. The dog. So this is what I belted out for the masses.

Feature: MAN'S BEST FRIEND

Rover, Bounder, Gambler and Terry. These names are not the beginnings of a list of uncles who tend to drink too much at family funtions. No, these are some of the more commonly used titles we humans like to name man's best friend – the dog.

Murray, Wilson, Claude and Baxter are less commonly chosen names, but suitable none the less.

The History and Evolution of the Dog

The 'canis lupus familiaris' or dog, is a domesticated form of the Gray Wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora.

The Domestication of the Dog

Domestic dogs are said to have inherited a complex social hierarchy and behaviors from their wolf ancestors. They're pack animals with a complex set of behaviors related to determining each dog's position in the social hierarchy, and they exhibit various postures and other nonverbal communication which reveal their states of mind. These attributes have earned dogs a unique relationship with humans despite being potentially dangerous predators.

Traditional Uses of the Dog

Hunting, herding, protection, rodent control and assisting individuals who have physical or mental disabilities with common everyday tasks.

Common Uses of the Dog.

Patting – for people whose friends don't visit them very often.

Walking – for the purpose of exercise (until the family lab get's arthritis, leaving you alone to walk around the football field by yourself).

Getting sticks – your typical household dog likes to entertain memories of its ancestors refined hunting and gathering skills by returning the soggy thing back to you.

Drooling – for the purpose of self ventilation.

Food – by some people in East Asia, the Pacific Islands and pre-columbian Mexico. Western countries generally regard dog meat as taboo, regardless of flavour.

Medicine – some parts of rural Poland suggest dog fat has medicinal properties which are good for the lungs.

Security – whose dog's not going to roll over for a chocolate wheaten?

Keeping the heater warm in winter.

If you're an owner of a 'Terry', 'Rover' or 'Baxter' then you know, like we humans, they require the right food, exercise and products to maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle. So check out the professionals advertising on this page and treat the old boy to the TLC it deserves.

Sit Ubu sit. Good dog.