[Leica] (no subject)

[larry.k at rcn.com (larry.k@rcn.com)]

Hello Bob, 
 You have raised some interesting points. It is pretty clear that dogs and 
humans co-evolved over a long period of time, as you pointed out. It does 
appear that dogs are able to display a high level of empathy towards their 
human keepers. I'm sure that empathy took a long time to develop, learning 
to wait for your master to feed you instead of eating your master! ;-) 

  Another example of co-evolution exists between insects (pollinators) and 
flowers. Flowers don't have color just so that Henning can take those 
beautiful photographs. Flowers attract insects with their colors and 
dispense nectar as a reward so that the insects will pollinate other 
flowers. Food for sex. This co-evolution took place over millions of years. 

 This makes me think of my old beekeeping days, using honeybees to satisfy 
my need for sugar... ;-) 

  Regards,

  Larry 


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An evolutionist made some interesting observations about why dogs are so 
different from the wolves they evolved from. It wasn't merely a matter of 
mutation, but of the effects of adrenalin which made changes very rapidly in 
behavior and particularly in appearance because the dog had different 
emotional demands. No wolf has floppy ears, nor do wolves bark. He also 
pointed out that dogs evolved from lazy wolves, who hung around human haunts 
to scavange for leftovers. 

So dogs have smaller brains than wolves because they didn't need much 
intelligence to scrounge food. Beats hunting every time, that requres a lot 
of brainpower. 

And make no mistake about it, we humans were influenced by the dogs that 
hung out with us. Which explains why many of us love dogs often more than 
human beings. And why we spend a fortune on them. Dogs know how to 
ingratiate themselves. 

Me, I have no particular liking for dogs. But they keep the kids busy and 
test the AF speed of my cameras and are essential for the walking cure. 

Bob