In the past, dog owners looking to find the perfect dog gifts for their
canine pals were often laughed at and mocked. After all, how could someone
value an animal so much that they would actually want to buy it a present?
Times have changed. With the advent of large department-style stores catering
to owners of all types of pets, dogs have finally secured their position
as worthy gift recipients-even among the most cynical of people. Nonetheless,
it has been a long time coming.
Humans first domesticated dogs around 15,000 years ago. However, some
scientific evidence suggests that man's best friend may have entered the
human world as many as 100,000 years ago. While these wolf-descendents
were important to their human families, they still hadn't earned the supporting
role of "mans best friend" yet.
The first domesticated dogs were working dogs. As pack animals, they were
easily trained and longed to please their human families. However, dog
gifts were still unthinkable, and dogs made due with extra rations or
the occasional pat on the head. No wonder, then, that those working dogs
began to nuzzle their way into the hearts of human owners.
Not surprisingly, humans eventually began breeding their dogs to bring
out specific traits and intelligences thousands of years ago. At first,
dogs were bred to bring out traits-such as exceptional hunting or tracking
skills-necessary to human survival. However, as humans began to appreciate
dogs more, they began breeding them for looks and temperament, as well.
Some common dog breeds today are:
German Shepherds. Bred for their willingness to bark at predators,
these dogs became effective guardians against threats to livestock.
Basset Hounds. With exceptional sensitivity to scent, basset
hounds were a natural choice as tracking dogs.
Labrador Retrievers. Retrievers by nature, labs were bred
to hone their skills and retrieve small game for hunters.
However, intelligence also played a role in dogs' transformation from
employee to family member. Unlike many other animals, dogs are one of
the few species able to read and interpret facial expressions of humans
and respond accordingly. Obviously, it is intelligence that likely secured
the necessity of dogs in daily human routines-and secured their later receipt of dog
gifts and human respect.
Today, people of all economic, social, and ethnic backgrounds keep dogs
for a wide variety of reasons. Whether dogs have found their niche in
human society as guide dogs, sport dogs, hunting dogs, show dogs, or constant
companions, their evolution has become forever intertwined within human
history.
Without a doubt, this respect for the animal that has served society so
well is one of the driving forces behind the ever-booming pet market-resulting
on more than $31 billion in pet sales every year.
Today's humans may not need dogs as much for survival, but their need
to shower them with unique and individualized dog gifts is stronger than
ever. Yes, the time has finally come.
IPRWire Staff Writer: Visit http://www.bigpawdesigns.com
for more information about dog gifts and the other products we offer.
