It is possible that dogs are currently undergoing a third phase of domestication, directed by humans' preference for pets that possess traits such as friendliness, calmness and a predisposition to a relatively sedentary lifestyle.
Just a few decades ago, dogs were commonly regarded as working animals, assigned with tasks such as controlling pest populations, facilitating the movement of livestock, and protecting their residential surroundings.
priority for pet owners.
Researchers have discovered that this shift has notably increased levels of a hormone associated with social attachment in dogs, with a particularly notable impact on service dogs.
Research found that the hormone oxytocin is the driving force behind a dog's desire to interact with its owner.
Just as humans domesticated wolves into the loving pets we know today, canines' sensitivity to the hormone oxytocin increased, indicate the researchers.
The study, conducted by researchers at Sweden's Linköping University in 2017, looked into how dogs developed their distinctive ability to collaborate with humans, including their readiness to request help when confronted with a challenging issue.
The researchers had a hunch that the hormone oxytocin was at play, given its established role in interpersonal connections between individuals.
The effect of oxytocin relies heavily on its ability to bind effectively to its receptor present within cells.
Previous research has demonstrated that genetic variations near the gene responsible for encoding oxytocin receptors in dogs significantly affect their communication abilities.
In essence, a dog's social abilities have a genetic component - namely, the genes that regulate their sensitivity to oxytocin.
Researchers observed sixty golden retrievers as they tried to remove the lid from a jar containing treats, which was deliberately designed to be impossible to open.
They also collected DNA samples from the inside of the dogs' nostrils to identify which subtype of the oxytocin receptor each dog had.
The dogs conducted this behavioral test twice, once after receiving a dose of oxytocin nasal spray and once after receiving a dose of neutral saline nasal spray.
The researchers timed how long the dogs would try to open the jar by themselves before seeking assistance from their owner.
The research revealed that canines possessing a specific genetic variation in the receptor responded more profoundly to the oxytocin spray, and were more inclined to seek assistance when administered oxytocin compared to saline, compared to other dogs.
These findings provide new understanding of how domestication has modified the genetics affecting dogs' social behavior.
Experts on canine behavior, including Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods, suggest that dogs' behavioral characteristics are currently experiencing a third phase of domestication.
As the part these animals play in our lives has evolved from utility workers to affectionate companions, their behavior and possibly their biology have also undergone changes.
Dr Hare is a professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University and the director of Duke's Canine Cognition Center. Professor Hare oversees the Puppy Kindergarten program at the center, which trains young dogs to become service dogs.
This puppy kindergarten also serves as a long-term research project to evaluate the effect of varying training methods on the behavior and mental development of dogs.
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These canines are "highly trained professionals" who can assist their owner with tasks, remain calm and quiet when not actively working, and possess uniquely friendly temperaments.
Peculiarly, unlike most pet dogs, service dogs show an affinity for strangers, even from a young age,
We're finding that as dogs are being domesticated, which is largely the result of selective breeding for pleasant temperaments, it seems their physical characteristics may also be evolving to become gentler.
These exceptionally trained dogs embody the characteristics of the perfect canine companion. They blend effortlessly into the lives of their owners and into the contemporary world.
"Service dogs seamlessly integrate into the life of their owner, much like the unique role that many human pet owners aspire to achieve with their own dogs," Woods and Hare wrote.
Just a few decades ago, people held a vastly different perception of dogs. They were primarily viewed as working animals, trained for tasks such as hunting, herding, and protecting their surroundings and the people within them - bred to be highly active and vigilant.
Until the 1990s, dogs spent most of their time outdoors. Without the widespread urbanization present in our current era, they had ample space to roam and explore freely.
898 homeless cats in that single experiment showed a significant reduction in parasite infestation after 28 days as a result of living with the dogs.
But nowadays, more dogs live in densely populated areas, and as a result, they spend a great deal of time indoors. Additionally, they encounter unknown dogs and individuals much more often.
This shift has led to some behaviors that made dogs appealing to our ancestors becoming maladaptive, according to Woods and Hare. For example, 'guarding against unfamiliar people and animals may make a dog harder to walk through the neighborhood.'
We have found that dogs with above-average energy, excitability, fear, or anxiety levels are more likely to be abandoned at shelters, making it difficult for them to secure a new home.
Woods and Hare believe that these emerging social pressures are pushing for a third wave of canine domestication, with service dogs being the most highly advanced members of the pack.
Researchers state that service dogs, which often appear to be ordinary Labrador Retrievers, are virtually a distinct breed compared to military working dogs or the average family Lab.
'The distinctiveness between Canine Companion dogs and pet dogs also highlights how significantly separate a population of dogs can become in fewer than five decades,' they added.
The process of domesticating canines has its roots stretching back between 40,000 and 14,000 years. The first wave of domestication is believed to have occurred when humans lived as hunter-gatherers, with scraps of food frequently left behind on the outskirts of their early settlements.
Wolves that exploited this predictable, energy-rich food source acquired a survival advantage, Woods and Hare point out. 'As a result, over generations, the animals' preference for humans replaced their fear and aggression.'
This second wave emerged following the Industrial Revolution. At this period, the growing middle class sought dogs that reflected their homeowners' refined taste and socioeconomic standing.
This prompted Westerners to start selectively breeding dogs for certain physical characteristics, which ultimately led to the creation of the vast majority of the approximately 200 dog breeds recognised by the American Kennel Club today, the researchers noted.
As we enter a new era of domestication - one centered on adapting dogs' traits to our contemporary society - Woods and Hare propose that humans should take a proactive role in shaping this process.
To bring joy to dogs and their owners, it's essential for humans to breed and train more service animals, as we usher in a new era of dog domestication tailored to the reality we've created for them.
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