Domestication

Question 1

What use did cats have for domestication?

Answer 1

To kill rats.

Question 2

What animal did the Romans domesticate and why?

Answer 2

Ferrets, to flush rabbits from ground holes.

Question 3

What is the difference between domestication and taming?

Answer 3

Taming is a kind of systematic habituation of an individual, as opposed to domestication, targeting a species.

Question 4

Domestication is more than just taming or socializing animals. It assumes what?

Answer 4

Human control of breeding, feeding and general care of the animals.

Question 5

Per Hale (1969), what are five facilitating factors for domestication?

Answer 5

Gregarity.

Imprinting.

Precociality.

Omnivorous diet.

Paternal care or at least permanent male presence.

Question 6

What is unique about most dog breeds relative to Hale’s factors?

Answer 6

Most not predicated on paternal care and it may have been selected against. Best fathers are those closest phylogenetically to wolves.

Question 7

There are exceptions to Hale’s factors. Animals domesticated as pets do not seem to follow the same rules, mainly _____ and _____. What may explain this difference?

Answer 7

Dogs; cats.

Importance of neoteny (retention of juvenile features in adults) and paedomorphosis.

Question 8

Describe neoteny in relation to cats and dogs.

Answer 8

Cats: domestic cats are relatively social, wild ancestors are not (frozen at the “kitten” stage).

Dogs: mature dogs are socially the equivalent of yearling wolf pups.

Question 9

What did Gould state about neoteny and what was the example he used?

Answer 9

Humans unconsciously and naturally seeking neoteny.

Evolution (re-design) of Mickey Mouse since its creation = juvenilization.

Question 10

What were Lorenz’s thoughts on neoteny? What are things adult humans focus on?

Answer 10

Features of juvenility act as IRMs for affection and nurturing in adult humans, triggering oxytocin. Judge animals using juvenile criteria.

Observe head, eyes, chin.

Question 11

What is heterochrony (Klingenberg, 1998)?

Answer 11

Changes in rate, time and order of developmental events.

Question 12

A lesser number or slower sequence of developmental changes is what? More/faster?

Answer 12

Less/slower: paedomorphosis.

More/faster: peramorphosis.

Question 13

Data suggests what three things regarding dogs?

Answer 13

Go through more changes in their first year.

No general slowing-down of developmental rates.

No delays in timing or emergence.

Question 14

What did Miklosi (2007) propose?

Answer 14

We should give up the conceptualization of neoteny and paedomorphosis in dogs.

Question 15

What is a benefit to slowed development? Provide an example comparing humans to apes.

Answer 15

More time to teach new things.

Some may theorize plasticity over decades allows complex language in humans, versus other apes which mature more quickly.

Question 16

When did we start actively selectively breeding dogs versus simple association?

Answer 16

~8000 years ago.

Question 17

What was Lorenz’ theory that was retracted in the mid-70s?

Answer 17

Floppy ears = jackal ancestry.

Question 18

List four changes from wolves to dogs.

Answer 18

From 1 to 2 estrous periods a year.

From advanced to no paternal behaviour.

From long head, long limb and large body size to short head, short limb and smaller body size.

From complex to atrophied body language and vocal communication. Wolves have 12-15 vocalizations; dogs have ~4.

Question 19

There is overall increased submissiveness in dogs, particularly in females. Which breed is an obvious example of this?

Answer 19

Doberman Pinscher. Males receptive to aggression, females opposite.

Question 20

High trainability in dogs is based on what?

Answer 20

Wolves’ sensitivity to social reinforcement.

Question 21

Tamed wolves are great at what, but poor at what?

Answer 21

Great problem solvers, poor learners (low trainability).

Question 22

Siberian Huskies are _____ vs. German Shepherds, which are highly _____.

Answer 22

Problem-solvers; trainable.

Question 23

According to Morey (1994), dogs are _____ compared to wolves.

Answer 23

Paedomorphic.

Question 24

Wolf behavioural characteristics that favoured taming (and typical of juvenile wolves) include what? What is the goal of training, then?

Answer 24

Submissiveness, sensitivity to social reinforcement.

Goal: maintain those traits through adulthood.

Question 25

Domestication of dogs extends what period? What is the sensitive period, in this case?

Answer 25

Period of socialization.

Between 8-12 weeks before fear of unknown.

Question 26

In the Belyaev/Trut fox studies, 10% had no fear or withdrawal response. What were the findings of this study? What was Dr. Gadbois’ addition to this?

Answer 26

30 generations later, all were seeking human company and competing for human attention. Gained puppy characteristics without being selected for (tail wagging for social greeting, floppy ears, etc.).

Added by Gadbois: domesticated foxes mated sooner than wild foxes and up to twice a year.

Question 27

What were the neurochemical and hormonal changes in domesticated foxes versus wild foxes?

Answer 27

Higher levels of serotonin and tryptophan hydroxylase, the key enzyme of serotonin synthesis.

Hormonal: inhibited adrenal response to stress.