Origin of Dogs Traced

For quite some time, scientists and researchers have thought that dogs have descended from wolves most likely in the Middle East.

Researchers now have found that most dogs share a common gene pool, and genetic diversity is highest in East Asia, suggesting that dogs have been domesticated there the longest.

The researchers studied gene sequences from the dogs' mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited directly from the mother. The findings indicated that the major present-day dog populations at some point had a common origin from a single gene pool.  It looks as if 95% of current dogs come from just three original founding females.

Separate research from Harvard University and the Wolf Hollow Wolf Sanctuary studied behavior of modern day dogs and have concluded that dog's ability to interpret human social cues is inherited and not learned.  The study found that even 9 week old puppies can interpret cues better than our closest animal relatives, the chimpanzees.

Read the full BBC article, it's an interesting read.

Toughest Race on Earth

I've started watching a new reality series on Discovery channel, Toughest Race on Earth: Iditarod.  You guessed it - they follow sled dog teams on the Iditarod race.  I'm only through the first one hour episode but I'm hooked!

So far it looks like they will be showing the grueling side of the whole thing but will tug some heart strings too.   100 mile days burning 10,000 calories per dog per day, heat (40 degrees lol!), giant exercise wheels, diabetes, breast cancer, crashes, air lifted dogs...

Last time I was in Alaska I saw a sled dog demonstration of dogs that help patrol Denali National Park in winter.  The dogs were the highest energy I have ever seen - they couldn't wait to pull.  They barked and tugged and howled and generally went nuts until they took off.  This new series highlights that incredible energy.

Check out the new series on Discovery Channel on Tuesday nights.

Safety Items

Fall in the upper Midwest has been great so far this year - today was a beautiful 80 degree day.  But now, it's 8pm and pitch dark outside...

One of my favorite products for helping to see my dog (a pitch-black Black Lab) in the dark is the Ruff Wear Beacon.  It has both a ring and a clip on the back to attach to collars and jackets - all the Ruff Wear jackets have a special loop for it.  It kicks out a ton of red light making it easy to spot your dog in the backcountry or when you let her out the back door for a potty break.

Check out all Safety Items for Your Dog at Backcountry K-9.

Canicross

I've been catching up on some reading - including some good articles by The Gear Junkie, Stephen Regenold.

This summer the Gear Junkie posted a cool article about Canicross.  The basic idea is your dog pulls you along on trail runs through a harness and bungee-style leash attached around your waist.

Described as a "turbo-charged run", the average athlete can shave minutes off their times while Olympic caliber sprinters in European events have recorded times 5 - 10% faster than running alone.

Read the Gear Junkie's article

The New Ruff Wear Gear is Here!

All the new Fall Ruff Wear gear is in at Backcountry K-9.  Blog readers save 10% on any order in October with coupon code 664BEB.

Shop all the new gear now.

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