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hunting skills. Cave dwellers probably offered the dog food and protection in exchange for use of its keen hunting instincts and a different kind of protection. People who lived in a type of family group probably threw scraps to hungry animals hovering around. The wolves soon realized that people had hunting skills of their own (weapons) and began treating them as leaders when permitted. After awhile, people began to take interest in the wolves and their cubs, maybe even adopting some and treating them as members of their own family “pack.” Over time, these wolves probably took part in people’s hunts, flushing and isolating the prey for people to kill.

may spend some time playing. If there is more food in the area, the pack may stay in the area awhile. If not, the leader decides when the pack moves on. If some members have strayed or been separated from the pack during hunting or play, the canines will howl to gather the pack together. The male leader remains so until it is unseated by a more dominant dog or dies. DOMESTICATION It is believed that the ancestor of the domestic dog—the wolf—was the first canine welcomed into the life of humans about 12,000 or more years ago, largely because of its pack instinct and

In 1350 English spaniels were divided into seven breeds: the clumber, the Sussex, the Welsh springer, the English springer, the field, the

Irish water, and the cocker, shown here.

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