Some Wolves Have It Good

and they deserve it

I’ve mentioned before that much, much, much has changed since I received my undergraduate degree in biology in 1973, but I am so fascinated by biology that I really try to keep up with the areas I find most interesting — evolutionary science, infectious disease, genetics, and molecular biochemistry are a few. I do not keep up with changes in taxonomy, the customary Latin wording which categorizes living things into more and more similar groups eventually reducing them into the single most similar group with words most people probably recognize, genus and species — anyone reading this is Homo sapiens (Homo is our genus which used to include other closely related, but now extinct, species like Homo erectus). Honestly, I’ve actually come to thoroughly dislike taxonomy because virtually everything taxonomic I ever learned, which is completely useless to me now, occupies a considerable amount of space in my brain that could be employed for many practical purposes. For instance, I wouldn’t know a Lasionycteris noctivagans if one landed on my nose, but this scientific name for the silver haired bat may be comfortably snuggled into the memory space I need right now to recall whether my wife is returning from an outing before dinner tonight or if I’m on my own. So, imagine how debilitating it is being unable to forget any of it — the five species of the malarial genus Plasmodium (vivax, malariae, falciparum, ovale, and knowlesi), that snakeflies are in the order Raphidoptera or that Peromyscus maniculatus is the Eastern deer mouse (not to be confused with its western cousin Peromyscus sonoriensis, occasionally associated with outbreaks of deadly Hantavirus in the western U.S.). My brain is awash with this gibberish — bacteria, parasites, insects and mammals from my coursework…..50 years ago! The last thing I need is more.

But I was a little interested to learn that advances in genome sequencing of mitochondrial DNA has led to a debate around a taxonomic adjustment for man’s best friend, designated by Linnaeus in 1758 as Canis familiaris —dogs. It seems my buddies (here staring at me right now) have been recategorized, or proposed to be recategorized, as a subspecies of Canis lupus — the gray wolf — Canis lupus familiaris. There does not, however, seem to be complete agreement on this — one source suggests either is acceptable. Linnaeus made his decision based upon the fact that a dog’s tail is upturned, and a wolf’s is not, so different species. My suspicion is that those who debate taxonomic issues as a profession, and probably cannot even remember to put pants on most days what with all that Latin swirling around in their heads, are in disagreement over whether tail direction should be determinative in justifying a separate species. Meanwhile I now know for certain that my wife will not be home for dinner (text exchange), and dogs are great even if they are technically still wolves.

Our rescued English Springer spaniels Addie and puppy Clark

I think one reason dogs are so popular is that we, in a sense, evolved together. It would likely be an overstatement to suggest Canis lupus familiaris saved Homo sapiens from extinction by helping hunt and by guarding early human groups. Our domestication of wolves seems to have occurred about 20,000 years ago (some say 40,000) by which time most anthropologists estimate Homo sapiens was the single remaining “human” population (although having interbred with other Homo species). It’s impossible to guess whether the world human population that far back in “pre-history” was so small as to have been at existential risk without dogs, but it’s clear that our shared history of cooperation took dogs from wolves as we know them to the range of incredible pets and service dogs we enjoy today. Anyone with a dog knows that a steady supply of food and treats can go a long way.

Dogs are hunters, trackers, guards, blood sugar and allergen detectors, eyes and ears, personal assistants, mobility facilitators, seizure alarms, police, soldiers, rescuers, herders, bomb sniffers and truffle diggers. The most amazing dog superpower is their unbelievable sense of smell — 10,000 times more sensitive than humans. In these ways and many more dogs outshine cats (Felis domestica) by a mile. In the convenience department, not so much.

Dogs, like wolves, are pack animals, and for us to become a responsible member — hopefully leaders — of the pack requires surrendering our time, our attention and our privacy to the pack. Sometimes, all of our privacy — like every minute — or every second — or every millisecond. It could be their extreme passion for life, and for us, that some people (cat lovers) find disconcerting — dogs want to be in the middle of everything, like when you go to put on socks. And, of course, dogs can be dangerous, something that puts a great deal of responsibility on owners.

Addie, at 10-years old, welcomed Clark into our pack and watched over him as he matured into the scallywag he is today

For some of us it’s a dog’s passion for life and unconditional love that can’t be matched. We’re currently on our third English Springer, all three adopted through the English Springer Rescue Association. This organization and countless others help to rehome dogs whose owners are not able to care for them (age, death, housing change) or dogs who end up in a pound. Clark was a surprise addition at just 7 weeks old (now 18 months) and puppies are a handful. But it is comforting to know that we’ll never again have to go to the bathroom alone — even if we close the door — even if we turn out the lights and be really quiet. Whichever the case, there’s always at least one somewhat smaller, considerably less wild, and much funnier gray wolf guarding the pack just on the other side.

The sad story with dogs is their relatively short life expectancy — 10 to 14 or 15 years on average. As best I can determine the precise reason is not fully understood, but a higher metabolism rate seems to be included in educated speculations. In some cases, selective breeding contributes by narrowing genetic diversity. Most dog owners are aware of this unfortunate mismatch between our respective species and it’s common after losing a dog to swear off dog ownership….for a time. Our first Springer Dulci lived beyond 17 years, and we were literally unable to consider taking in another dog for a year after she died. Then again, nobody handed us a 7-week-old Clark during our mourning period. I’m confident we would have caved earlier had that been the case.

It has occurred to me recently that at my stage of life the tables may have turned — Clark may be the one who’ll have to deal with the loss of his best buddy instead of that load falling on me again. Yet I can promise you he’s not thinking about that at all. No worries for him — it is what it is — we’ll just enjoy every single minute until that time comes. And that is, in fact, the very best thing we can learn from dogs anyway. It is what it is — enjoy the moment.