Canis lupus hominis

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

10 Responses

1. on September 7, 2009 at 9:37 pm Jess

   Have you read S.O.S. Dog, by Johan and Edith Gallant? Good reading. They are involved in the africanis landrace, village type african dogs.

   
   
   • on September 8, 2009 at 12:31 am retrieverman

     That’s the first time I’ve heard of it.

     
     
     • on September 8, 2009 at 2:50 am Jess

       It’s about where the dog fancy has gone astray and how to fix it.

       
       
2. on September 7, 2009 at 11:19 pm cyborgsuzy

   That’s a pretty good page. Sums things up nicely.

   His theories about Darwin and Galton are … interesting. That part needs to be culled (ha ha) from his little essay, but the rest is pretty good.

   
   
   • on September 8, 2009 at 12:25 am retrieverman

     The bit about their families being smart?

     Yes. I’d get rid of it.

     But the rest of it is fine.

     If the sociobiology people used that one, I think they would be in trouble!

     
     
   • on September 8, 2009 at 12:29 am retrieverman

     I know Galton best from something I use all the time– linear regression analysis. I don’t normally get to use OLS. I wish I could.

     
     
   • on September 8, 2009 at 12:31 am retrieverman

     Regression towards the mean is Galton’s thing.

     
     
   • on September 8, 2009 at 12:36 am retrieverman

     For the record he’s against eugenics:

     http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2008/12/eugenics-man-at-kennel-club.html

     
     
3. on September 9, 2009 at 11:43 pm Marie

   The photo reminded me of a report I had to write on Carolina Dogs during my apprenticeship. Similar body type. They used to be one of the few breeds humans hadn’t screwed up. Now of course people are controling their breeding which I’m sure will screw them up in the long run to.

   There is also no such thing as survival of the fittest anymore in breeding at the hands of humans. All pups get saved (which I don’t disagree with per say) and then some are used in future breeding programs. (but should they be?)

   At the same time we need responsible breeders that ARE keeping an eye on the long term prize. How do we make it easier for THEM to continue?? AND educate those that want to do right but are following that outdated poppycock??

   
   
   • on September 9, 2009 at 11:49 pm retrieverman

     The dogs in the photo are pye dogs from Sri Lanka.

     There are responsible breeders, but I think the problem is systemic, until you actually change the system, the culture, and all the a prioris that go along with it.

     You can cull for genetic disorders to hell freezes over, and all that you’ll do is decrease genetic diversity and make new ones pop up. In fact, a lot of breeders actually inbreed to bring out the genetic disorders– just to see if they are there.

     I think long-term, you have to start thinking of these animals as biological organisms. Remember, Skye terriers are more endangered than giant pandas.

     
     

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