It is widely reported that all domestic dogs are descended from the wolf, Canis Lupus, also known as the grey wolf or the timber wolf. The wolf is a survivor of the Ice Age and as such, has been around for over 300,000 years. Today there are over 300 different dog breeds which are recognised by the American Kennel Club, and these breeds have evolved over this period by man’s cross breeding and development of the original wolf.   The biggest question is whether man first approached the wolf to aid him in his domestic endeavours, or whether the wolf indeed approached man as he identified that man was a ready source of food and shelter, essential for the wolf’s survival and not always easy to obtain. Some experts feel that it is the latter which is true. Was this the first example of owning a dog? The intelligence of the wolf should not be under-estimated and should be remembered and taken seriously, even in our relationship with our beloved companion, the domestic ...[Read article]