Genetic distance from wolves affects family dogs’ reactions towards howls

Abstract

Domestication dramatically changes behaviour, including communication, as seen in the case of dogs (Canis familiaris) and wolves (Canis lupus). We tested the hypothesis that domestication may affect an ancient, shared communication form of canids, the howling which seems to have higher individual variation in dogs: the perception and usage of howls may be affected by the genetic relatedness of the breeds to their last common ancestor with wolves (‘root distance’) and by other individual features like age, sex, and reproductive status. We exposed 68 purebred dogs to wolf howl playbacks and recorded their responses. We identified an interaction between root distance and age on the dogs’ vocal and behavioural responses: older dogs from more ancient breeds responded longer with howls and showed more stress behaviours. Our results suggest that domestication impacts vocal behaviour significantly: disintegrating howling, a central, species-specific communication form of canids and gradually eradicating it from dogs’ repertoire.

Intraspecific Interactions Decrease Stress Affecting Welfare in Shelter Dogs: A Comparison of Four Different Housing Conditions

“…It is known that in shelters, a dog that starts barking (or howling) almost always drags the other dogs into the barking (or howling) activity, especially if housed in the cages in the same corridor [27]. There is some indication that in the original environment of adaptation, collective barking and howling had the function of intimidating rival packs even at considerable distance in order to keep them away from resources [28].…”

Dog breeds and conformations in the UK in 2019: VetCompass canine demography and some consequent welfare implications

“…Varying theories are still proposed on whether domestication of the dog occurred across multiple geographical areas with later merging of these populations or whether a single domestication occurred with later admixing by wolves from other regions [13,15,17,19]. Either way, present-day diversity across more than 400 genetically distinct domestic dog breeds as defined by kennels clubs worldwide is a much more recent phenomenon, although many behavioural and physical phenotypes in domestic dogs still link variably to their original wolf progenitors [20][21][22] During the mid-19 th century, the advent of breed clubs and the concept of breed standards provided structure for reproductive isolation of canine sub-populations, with the aim of ensuring breed differentiation and standardisation [23,24]. This delineation between breeds was reinforced by new breeding practices such as the repeated use of popular sires, breeding to perpetuate desired physical or behavioural characteristics, promotion of the breed barrier rule, and population maintenance via inbreeding within closed familial lines [25][26][27].…”