The New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society Newsletter WINTER

FORUM
WINTER/SPRING 2012- Volume 16
The New Guinea Singing Dog Conservation Society Newsletter
© Joan Dalgleish
www.newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org
Janice Koler - Matznick M.S., A.C.A.A.B.
Study of dental adaptations
© NGSDCS
From the Publisher
A warm thanks to members
who submitted pictures and
articles for this issue. Please
keep them coming in. This is
your newsletter and your input
is always welcome. Please
submit all newsletter material
to:
Joan Dalgleish
singingdog@telus.net
All photographs submitted
should have written permission
for use in the newsletter.
Please note that all articles,
artwork and photographs in
this newsletter remain the
property of the original owner
and any reproductions require
the written consent from the
author or photographer.
NGSDCS FORUM • VOLUME 16
© Janice Koler-Matznick
02
Members Jan Koler-Matznick and Bonnie Yates are replicating a study which
compared the teeth and jaws of 27 species of wild canids, including gray wolves,
dholes, jackals, coyotes and foxes, by using Australian dingoes, Singers, domestic
dogs of generalized type, and red wolves. The original study, by B. Van
Valkenburgh and K.-P. Koepfli (1993. Cranial and dental adaptations to
predation in canids. Symposium of the Zoological Society, London, No. 65:
15 – 37), used 30 measurements to create 17 ratios of size and shape for the teeth
and jaws. They found a clear difference between those canids that regularly take
prey much larger than their body weight (gray wolves, African wild dogs, dholes,
and South American bush dogs) and the rest of the canids, which all take prey
smaller than their own body weight. No dogs of any type were included in the
1993 study, for the simple reason the authors felt these were unnatural due to
artificial selection, and thus the results would not be valid. However, Jan feels
that, as the most ancient lines of dog, ones still existing as predators, the dingoes
would be valid subjects.
She measured 7 Singer skulls/teeth and 7 Australian dingo skulls/teeth from
various museums. The domestic dogs were added at the suggestion of a mammalogist at University of Calif., Berkeley, for comparison to the dingoes, and only
those similar in size and general appearance to the dingoes will be used. The red
wolves were added just because they were not included in the first study, and Jan
had access to over a dozen skulls at the US Fish and Wildlife Service National
Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, where she has volunteered and worked on contract
for 12 years.
The canids in the original study that regularly take prey larger then themselves
are obligate pack hunters. The only reason they can kill extremely large prey is
they work in cooperative packs. The dingoes do not specialize on extremely large
prey (there are no native prey the size of large deer or moose in Australia or New
Guinea) and normally hunt alone or in pairs, yet are capable of taking prey up
to four times their body weight. Similar-sized jackals and coyotes do not. Red
wolves have a skull very different than the dingoes and dogs, hunt in small packs,
and specialize on mid-size prey (up to large deer size).
Supposedly, there are no canids that regularly take prey
larger than their own body size unless they are working in
packs. Jan is curious to see if the dingoes/dogs are the only
canid adapted to that ecological niche, and so have teeth
and jaws designed for taking prey larger than their body
size. Results of her study will be posted on the NGSDCS
discussion list as soon as we have them, and will be in the
next Forum. If they are scientifically relevant they will be
published in a scientific journal.
Research continued...
Singer Morphology Comparison
Veterinary student Andrew J. Massaro, Cornell
University College of Veterinary Medicine, Class of
2015, inquired in December 2011 about NGSDCS
cooperation for his project on comparative dog
morphology. He wanted to know if there was enough
information to do it on Singers vs. domestic dogs.
Jan sent him the three Singer hip x-rays she knows
about and photos of the extra-long soft palates (the
mouth lining that extends beyond the back edge of
the upper palate, forming a uvula in humans) of the
Singers she has dissected. This, with information on
their unique breeding season, was enough for Andrew
to use for his project and also got him hooked on
Singers. He is now a member of the NGSDCS.
Andrew’s professor, mentor for the comparative
morphology study, is a dog orthopedics expert. He
was surprised by the conformation of Singer hips,
and at the “wide sit” position they can use. Hopefully,
having a project like this at a veterinary college will
get some present and future veterinarians interested in
studies of the unique characteristics of Singers.
Papua New Guinea: Wild Singers
The NGSDCS purchased 5 Bushnell Trail Cam Pro automatic trail cameras for the people in the NGSDCS Papua
New Guinea to use, along with rechargeable batteries and
two battery chargers that will work on international voltages. These cameras, which can take both stills (at night
with infra red flash) and video, will be deployed in locations where wild Singers have been reported in the recent
past, to try and get some of the first pictures ever taken of
wild Singers. The only known picture of a wild Singer was
taken by Australian mammalogist Dr. Tim Flannery at a
site called Dokfuma, in the remote Papuan Star Mountains, in about 1987. It was of a black and tan Singer, and
was published in his book The Mammals of New Guinea.
When asked for permission to reproduce this photo for
educational and Singer conservation purposes, Dr. Flannery told Jan Koler-Matznick he has lost the negative and
has no other prints, but gave the NGSDCS permission to
scan and use the one that appeared in his book.
New photos of wild NGSDs in their natural environment
will help the NGSDCS secure funding for further study
of the wild Singers. Singers have been the apex (top) land
predator of New Guinea for at least 6, 0000 years (the
lowest estimate of genetic separation of dingoes from
modern dogs). They must be preserved to ensure the
future viability of the ecosystem in New Guinea.
If someone wants to contribute specifically to research on
wild Singers, the NGSDCS will guarantee that donations
earmarked for that purpose will be set aside only for that.
Tell the NGCSDCS that you want your contribution to
be allocated to the Wild Singer Project. Every member of
the NGSDCS and all who donated for specific projects,
have the right to ask for an accounting of expenses for the
wild Singer project to be sure your donations were used
as promised.
Photo showing a male NGSD skull
www.newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org
NGSDCS FORUM • VOLUME 16
Research
03
Laura Stadtmore, DVM, a NGSDCS member,
is a practicing veterinarian in San Diego, CA.
She shares her home with several Basenjis and
Huli, a male NGSD born at the San Diego Zoo.
In her columns Laura will address important
medical issues relevant to the NGSD. If you
know a Singer with any medical problem,
please let Jan know and she will add it to the
record and notify Laura, who is developing a
medical database for the Singers
Recently, some medical conditions have been
reported in Singers for the first time. This does
not mean they were not present before, but
merely went unnoticed or unreported to us.
Because the Singers have such a small inbred
population where all are very closely related,
either the mutation that causes the disease
or the tendency to acquire the medical problem could be present in a large portion of the
population. One of the problems is Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). PRA has been
diagnosed by a veterinary ophthalmologist in
a 5 year old female Singer, Hali, whose owner
only recently realized had a vision problem.
The exam showed Hali is essentially blind.
Three more suspected cases have since been
reported. Laura’s first column is about this
potentially devastating inherited disease.
Progressive Retina
Atrophy (PRA)
Laura Stadtmore, DVM
PRA is a degenerative disease of the retina. The retina is a
light sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. It
can be equated to a camera’s film. In PRA, the retina (film)
is not functioning properly and hence can’t produce a usable
image.
In normal dogs, the retinal photoreceptors continue to
mature from birth to about 12 weeks of age. The retina is
composed of 2 types of photoreceptors, rods and cones.
The rods are more numerous and sensitive. Cones are
responsible for the eye’s sensitivity to color.
PRA in the dog is an inherited disease. In most breeds, it
is inherited by simple autosomal recessive mode. It is
more common in pure breed dogs, but is also seen in mixed
breeds. The age of onset and rate of progression varies by
breed.
Clinical signs of PRA include a gradual decrease in vision.
Initial vision loss is appreciated in dim light, as in night
blindness. Since dogs, and other animals, have a great
ability to adapt to vision loss, an owner may not be aware
of the problem until the pet is faced with an unfamiliar
setting or rearrangement of the furniture.
NGSDCS FORUM • VOLUME 16
A diagnosis of PRA is based on a history of decreasing
vision and an examination by an ophthalmologist. An
ocular exam will reveal signs that the retina is degenerating.
These include thinning of the retinal blood vessels, signs
of tapetal hyperreflectivity, dilated poorly responsive pupils,
fundic changes. Definitive diagnosis may require electroretinography (ERG).Cataracts are a common
secondary complication of PRA. Cataract removal is
not recommended.
04
There is no treatment for PRA. Most dogs will go blind
slowly. Fortunately, it is not a painful condition. Most dogs
adapt well to blindness with help from their owners.
(Hali)
Since it is an inherited disease, affected dogs should not be
bred.
www.newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org
News from Papua New Guinea
The NGSDCS Papua New Guinea has become
affiliated with the PNG Biological Research
Institute. This is the first step required for
permits to do field work in PNG. This recognition of the NGSDCS PNG opens the door to
obtaining grants for the study of wild Singers.
A few months ago the NGSDCS USA sent
two top quality automatic trail cameras to the
NGSDCS PNG, and has three more ready to
send. The members of the PNG Society will
deploy the cameras in places recently reported
to have wild Singers. Pictures and video
captured will be used to verify the presence
of wild Singers, and for promoting their
conservation to funding organizations and the
public. Mr. Kenn Mondiai will make the first
deployment this month.
The NGSDCS PNG has developed an
illustrated hand-out to distribute to locals
in areas where there may be wild Singers.
The hand-out details some of the ways Singers
differ from village dogs so the locals can better
identify the Singers if they see them, and provides information on where to report sightings. This is to minimize the mistaken reporting of free-ranging domestic dogs as Singers.
Mr. Mondiai shared with us pictures of a
village dog that is reported to have had a wild
Singer grandparent. The wild grandparent
was captured as a pup by a hunter and raised
in the village where it bred with a village dog,
and then one of the offspring was bred by
another village dog. The fact that this wild
Singer must have been captured only about
five years ago (estimated from the apparent
ages of the dogs) is an indication that there
are still wild Singers in that area. It is also
informative that the owner of the dog knew
its “pedigree” and that the village dogs and the
Singers are not the same. Those that have dogs
that are part Singer seem to be proud of that
fact.
© Kenn Mondiai
© Kenn Mondiai
© Kenn Mondiai
NGSDCS FORUM • VOLUME 16
Veterninary Bulletin
05
Mariano Zamorano
© Roman Horsky
The male and female sibling Singers, puppies of Kota and
Belle at Exmoor Zoo in the UK, were sent to Zoo Zlin in
Czechien (Czech Republic). They are doing just fine and enjoy
their huge exhibit. Although these two are not very interactive
with the keepers, they love them. We are looking to find
a compatible male for the female living in Zoo Zlin so the
male could go to Tierpark Neumünster in Germany and be
with Palatina, the female we exchanged for the Tierpark
Neumünster male Benji who went to the US.
So I hear you thinking just go get the Czech female a new boy
friend and send the male to Palantina … well easier said than
done, and certainly not as easy as many of you might think.
In Europe the zoos must follow a long list of strict rules about
exchanging animals and hire specialists to move them using
expensive permits. It has to be worth the expense and work.
The EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums)
doesn’t agree with us that Singers are a species worthy of
keeping, taking the limited space away from an endangered
species. However, some EAZA Canine TAG Committee
(Taxon Advisory Group: they recommend what species to
keep and plan breeding programs) members disagree with
this statement and would love to have Singers in their collection because they once long ago already had them in their
collections. They even remember each of them well after such
a long time.
At this point there are some other parks in Europe which have
shown interest in keeping Singers in their collection, but most
of them don’t have an exhibit free, or would need to build one
completely new and do not have the donations and other cash
sources to build new exhibits.
What makes my Singer work in the European zoo field more complicated is that some stupid scientists (Ooops, did I say that? Sorry!) — I
mean some ‘crazy’ scientists — declared all dogs are some subspecies of
the gray wolf, Canis lupus! So yes, according to their view, even Grandma’s cocker spaniel and Cousin Emma’s Chihuahua are part of a subspecies of the wolf, Canis lupus familiaris! Think of that as they lick your
face! However, in one way this may work to the Singer’s advantage. They
are not Canis lupus familiaris, but a different subspecies in this view: either Canis lupus dingo (along with the Australian dingo) or Canis lupus
hallstromi. Strangely enough, International Breeding Programs for
Endangered Species say we need to start breeding programs for all
species and subspecies of the wolf, other than the domestic dog, to
preserve them from extinction.
Last year was a bad one for me, I unfortunately was
involved in an bad car accident a few months ago
and just started trying to get back to work a couple of
weeks ago.
So for this time, just an small update, Palantina is
doing okay at Tierpark Neumünster. She has a
neutered Aussie Dingo as a companion dog and they
get along very well. But Tierpark Neumünster would
love to get a compatible male Singer for her. Tierpark
Neumünster has a new young Director with a new
modern view of things, which is good for the park
and its residents.
Also, at the time I wrote this, it seemed maybe a small zoo in Denmark
(not part of EAZA) could still have Singers, which would not be related
to the rest we have. I will be getting in touch with them to check,
and if they do, and they are still capable of breeding that would be great.
I have checked all the EAZA member zoo records and there are no
pure Singers left except those that came from the US. So let’s cross
our fingers for a bit of luck that I will find some in the small private
zoos.
Dear Singer friends,
NGSDCS FORUM • VOLUME 16
I must say, I was totally impressed by how beautiful England is. It was
not what I imagined from wildlife films on National Geographic. The
English countryside is very diverse, with so many very, very, very old
oak trees! I came ashore in Dover with its world famous white cliffs and
then across the country to the west side where the climate already was
in full spring. It was so very green with many flowers; just “lovely “as
the British say. I discovered what looks close on the map is really so far
away, and what supposedly would be a 4 hour drive turned out to be an
8 hour drive. Anyway, my visit to the UK made one thing clear. I have to
go back to enjoy nature and wildlife and to visit Exmoor Zoo with its
Singers. So next time I will get more pictures from Exmoor Zoo!
So, if some scientists say Singers are an subspecies of the wolf, and zoos
say we need to protect all species and subspecies of the wolf, then who
am I challenge this change of scientific name for the Singers? I have
started writing some letters to the EAZA and to the EAZA Canine Tag
Committee members telling them about the Singers being a separate
wolf subspecies, but so far without any reaction….yet. I wonder why,
but it is probably because still so many zoo people in EAZA really think
Singers are merely feral domestic dogs, which was the opinion of most
until we got genetic proof they are dingoes. I still hope that someone in
EAZA will respond to my messages, and take the Singers seriously as
worthy of conservation.
Zoo Zlin in Czech Republic
06
I recently traveled to the UK because I was invited by Dartmoor
Zoological Park to host several seminars on behavioral enrichment for
their animals. I had planned to visit Exmoor Zoo and meet the Singers and the director there, Mr. Danny Reynolds, in person. Danny likes
their Singers very much and often spends time visiting them in the
exhibit. Unfortunately, I did not find the time to visit Exmoor Park.
© Roman Horsky
Zoo Zlin in Czech Republic
www.newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org
© Roman Horsky
I started looking and asking around about
Singers in the small zoos because someone
in the US imported from Europe some dogs
labeled as Australian Dingoes, but they look
more like Singers than Australian dingoes.
I would love to investigate more on this case,
because the documents say they were bred
in a Dutch Zoo, and I happen to know by
the Zoo Records Keeping System that there
haven’t been Dingoes kept in the Netherlands
for the last twelve years! But it still has a
chance that they are Singers, from some private breeder, and the name on the paperwork
was incorrect (well, not completely incorrect
as the Singers ARE dingoes, just not the Australian dingo usually known by that name).
I hope I can investigate this mystery further.
I’ll send updates as I have more information.
Thankfully, I am now recovering well from
my accident, and back to my duties as the
official NGSDCS European Representative.
In promoting the Singer cause, I will be that
unwanted biting terrier that bites and doesn’t
let go. We plan to start an official European
Division of the NGSDCS, run from my office
in Germany. Updates on that later, but meanwhile anyone interested in helping, assisting,
offering ideas or anything to further the
Singers in Europe, please feel free to contact
me. My contact information is on the
NGSDCS web site.
Cheers from Europe, Mariano Zamorano
NGSDCS FORUM • VOLUME 16
European Singers ...
an update
07
About Behavior
Janice Koler - Matznick M.S., A.C.A.A.B.
This column is a new feature of the Forum provided by
NGSDCS members who are board certified applied animal
behaviorists and trainers with many decades of experience.
It will feature short articles about different aspects of canine
behavior specifically tailored to the NGSD, although most
dogs would benefit from the suggestions. If you have a topic
you would like to see, or a question you would like to ask
about NGSD behavior in general or about a specific
problem behavior of your NGSD, please email Janice at
jkoler@ccountry.net.
Behavioral Enrichment or
Fun and Games
Singers are active and extremely intelligent canids. They
need both physical and mental stimulation, and sometimes
these can be combined. Each Singer will have its own favorite activities, and you can judge their level of interest by how
excited they get about an activity and how long they will do
that activity. Through trying different things you can build
up a list of your Singer’s favorites, and then rotate through
this list to prevent your Singer from getting bored with any
individual activity.
NGSDCS FORUM • VOLUME 16
The most stimulating activities plug into natural Singer
behaviors, things that in some way resemble what they have
evolved to do in the wild. Singers are supreme predators and
so hunting and “killing” prey are their strongest instincts.
Although they are not a pack animal, social interaction is
important to their mental well-being. They have a sensitive
sense of smell and appear to enjoy investigating scents, a behavior also related to hunting and social interactions. Here
are a few activities to try to keep your Singer mentally and
physically active (in no particular order):
08
1. Hide and Seek
You can use bits of any treat your Singer loves or a favorite
toy to create a pseudo hunt. We will call this the “lure.” First,
choose a term that will tell the Singer it is time to play Hide
and Seek. This can be anything as long as you are consistent
in using the same term. We will use Find It as our example.
To introduce the activity, show the Singer the lure and while
it is watching, slowly place it behind or underneath something, such behind a trash can or under a small box, open
side down.
It helps if someone is holding the Singer or it is
behind a see-through barrier like a baby gate or wire
crate. If this is not possible, temporarily tether it
with a leash where it can’t reach the lure unless you
release it. Immediately after placing the lure and say
Find It in a happy voice while releasing the Singer.
It “should” go right to the treat. Gradually put the
lure in places a bit more difficult but still within the
Singer’s view. When you can say Find It without the
Singer watching the placement (hide it before hand)
and the Singer starts to search the room you know
it understands the term means you have hidden
something. Then, gradually make the task harder
and expand to different rooms and the yard. Soon
you should be able to hide two or three lures in wide
spread places and the Singer will get busy hunting
them down when it hears Find It.
2. Puzzle Boxes
Collect small cardboard boxes of various sizes. Place
a highly desired lure in a box and seal it with masking (paper) tape (do not use plastic or cloth tapes).
At first, let the Singer watch you put the lure in the
box so it knows there is something to Get and use
just a small bit of tape to make the task easy. As you
place the box on the floor, say Get It in an encouraging voice, and the Singer will learn this term means
there is something to find. After a few times, test the
Singer understands the game by saying Get It without a box in view, but still in your hand out of the
Singer’s view. If it starts to look around to see where
the box is, you know it has the concept. Immediately
reveal the box and let the Singer have it. Then start
making the task harder. Seal the box up with more
tape. Place a smaller sealed box inside of a larger
sealed box. You want the Singer to have to work at
the task.
3. Scent Stations
Singers are highly attracted to certain scents. Many
trigger a desire to “scent roll” or rub on the scent,
and this activity appears to be highly stimulating and
satisfying to Singers. A drop of scent can be placed
on the ground, floor, low shrubs, toys, even small
pieces of paper that are placed in various locations.
Try different scents to see which your Singer likes
the best and only use at most one a day, rotating
them so the Singer does not get tired of them. Some
scents that have really gotten Singers stimulated are:
peppermint, vanilla, perfume, trail scents (sold to
help train hunting dogs: pheasant and coyote seem
especially attractive to Singers).
www.newguinea-singing-dog-conservation.org
4. Cheap stuffed toys
Fortunately Singers are not inclined to swallow anything that
is not real food, so in general when being supervised they can
be trusted to enjoy tearing up stuffed toys without worry about
them eating parts. Dollar stores, thrift shops, discount catalogs
have toys for a dollar or two. Make sure there are no small hard
parts like plastic noses or eyes that could choke the Singer (you
can remove these before giving to the Singer). Or, you can
make them out of old socks with some stuffing and maybe a
squeaker. If there is a squeaker the Singer will probably target
that first, make a hole and extract it. At that point if it is still
functioning pick it up and save it to use again. Next the Singer
will “gut” the toy as it would prey, by sticking its lower teeth
into the hole it has made and pulling the stuffing out. Often the
toys end up inside out. Poly and rag stuffing is easy to clean
up and the pleasure the Singer gets from “killing” its prey is
well worth the effort. It may take three or four sessions to
completely gut the toy, so don’t take it away too soon.
© Joan Dalgleish
Squeaker toys are a huge favorite
© Joan Dalgleish
Even scents on sticks
NGSDCS FORUM • VOLUME 16
© Joan Dalgleish
09
Reprinted by permission from The Modern Basenji - Worldwide
[Vol. 2 Issue 1 Spring 2012]. Further reproduction of this article
is prohibited without their consent.
First
Dogs
By Janice Koler-Matznick, MS, ACAAB, CPDT
Biography
Janice has a Masters in environmental science, a
certification in applied animal behavior (Board of
Certification of the Animal Behavior Society), and in
dog training (Certification Council for Professional Dog
Trainers). She has authored/co-authored journal
papers on the New Guinea dingo, dog origin, dog
cognition, and uses of dogs.
Today the hypothesis that the dog is a
domesticated gray wolf is almost universally
accepted. However, the only strong evidence
for the wolf being ancestral to the dog is that
they are extremely close genetic relatives,
and this can have other explanations such as
dog and wolf having a recent common
ancestor.
I
have an alternative hypothesis that I believe is
consistent with the close wolf/dog relationship and is
more realistic. I first came to this conclusion by
looking at the indigenous aboriginal dogs, including
the Basenji. About two decades ago, after studying biology and
animal and human behavior, and getting some hands-on
experience with captive wolves, I began to doubt that a gray
wolf could be the direct ancestor of the dog. I started by
looking for clues in library books and anthropology articles as
to what the original dog might have been like, searching for
information about dogs of the indigenous people of the
non-industrialized Old World. Of course, when the internet
was developed, my research expanded.
I felt that the aboriginal dogs had to be the most ancient
types, and from them I hoped to get some idea of what the dog
ancestor could have looked like. What I found were
“landraces” that all had a similar appearance: variations on a
theme. Except for the small number taken from their natural
ranges that become registered, and the oriental gazehounds
whose breeding has been under human selection for a thousand
years (and therefore are not typical aboriginal dogs), these
landraces cannot properly be called “breeds.” A breed is
commonly defined as an artificial subdivision of dogs
developed and maintained by direct human selection, usually
for a specific purpose. Landraces are, in contrast,
geographically or culturally-defined subpopulations of dogs
similar to natural subspecies in that they are descended directly
from the earliest dogs in that area thousands of years ago, and
they have evolved adaptations to the local environment
(physical and cultural) through mostly natural selection. The
non-gazehound landraces are frequently termed “village” dogs
or “pariah” dogs.
Pure landraces still exist in the less developed areas of
moderate climate in the Old World where free-ranging dogs
have traditionally co-existed with people: S.E. Asia, Indonesia,
the Pacific Islands, India, Arabia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Japan had landrace dogs, a population founded at least 9,000
years ago, but the landrace has been mixed with imported dogs
(Akita) or subdivided into breeds (Shikoku, Kai Ken, Shiba
Inu, etc.). Then there are the dingoes of Australia and New
Guinea, descended from primitive dogs taken to those places at
least 12,000 years ago, and the only populations of dogs living
The Modern Basenji - Worldwide - www.themodernbasenji.com | 14
today that still survive as wild predators without any support
from humans such as purposeful feeding or indirect through
scavenging garbage. I believe they still closely resemble the wild
canid that originally decided to throw in its lot with humans, and
are the only populations I term “primitive” because they are not
biologically adapted to living with humans through either natural
(as in the aboriginal dogs) or artificial (as in the gazehounds and
modern breeds) selection.
Over the last
New Guinea dingo
decade genetic
P
studies that
H
O
included
T
O
ancient
L
landrace dogs
Y
and dingoes
N
N
have proven
J
what I
A
deduced long
C
K
ago: they are
S
O
remnants of
N
the original
dogs from
6,000 years ago or earlier. These aboriginal and primitive dogs
are very similar: between 25 – 45 lbs, upright ears, tapering
muzzle of moderate length, sickle-shaped to curled tails (the curl
accentuated though artificial selection in the purebred registered
Basenji and Shiba Inu), and somewhat almond-shaped eyes. The
predominant colors are red/brown and black with or without tan
points. All can have varying white markings called “Irish
pattern” on face, neck, chest, feet, and tail tip. Today, in some
areas such as India, there are high percentages of piebald (white
with various spots) village dogs: piebald color is considered a
sign of mixing with modern breeds, but could be merely a chance
mutation in a local population, or due to some local artificial
selection favoring dogs with more white. An early color
mutation is the dilute of red — cream – present in Australian
dingoes and some landraces, for instance, Basenjis and the
village dogs of Borneo. Aboriginal dog coats are seasonally
double (coarse outer hairs and felt-like underfur) in temperate
climates, like the dingoes, and fine-haired single, like the Basenji,
in universally warm or tropical climates.
P
H
O
T
O
J
A
N
K
O
L
E
R
Borneo Punan dog
At least the heads of these landraces have not changed much
from their ancient type. The skulls of living Thai dogs and
dingoes match those from 3,500 years ago, and resemble skulls
as old at 26,000 BP (years before present) from prehistoric
archaeological sites all over Europe and Asia. The landrace dogs
have had no reason
to change, as they
were, and are,
superbly adapted to
their local
environment and
the human cultures
they live with,
which have also
been similar or
constant for at least
3,000 years in most
areas. The dogs
have been basically
Indian Native Dog
free-ranging and
free-breeding (choosing their own mates) at least since humans
first established permanent settlements about 12,000 years ago.
Their size and shape do the best living as scavengers around
non-industrial human habitation.
A secondary support for the dingo type being ancestral is
that in areas where modern Euro-derived breeds can become feral
and live as free-ranging scavengers, the population tends to
“revert” back to a long-term pariah morphology (LTPM: has
dingo or aboriginal dog-like shape and size). Because new strays
of various types are constantly joining the LTPM gene pool, there
is more variation than in an ancient landrace, but over many
generations of freely breeding and surviving on their own, the
average specimen fits the description above. One example that
made it into the purebred dog registries is the Carolina dog.
These long-term feral populations never “revert” back to a
wolf-like type.
Dog genetics studies that included large numbers of samples
from aboriginal dogs reveal that the indigenous dogs of Africa,
the Middle East
The Haho Awo - found in Togo, Africa
(including the
saluki) and S.E.
Asia/ S.E. China are
indeed ancient
lineages, and that
they have been
genetically isolated
from each other for
thousands of years.
European, and
northern Asian
breeds have small
subsets of the genes present in the aboriginal dogs. S.E. Asian/
S.E. China indigenous dogs have the greatest genetic diversity
and the most unique gene haplotypes, with the Middle East a
close second, an indication that these could have been locations
of dog domestication or of the first major populations of the
original dog. The third greatest genetic diversity is found in
African village dogs, proof they are also a very ancient
population. Brown, et al. (2011) state:
“Thus, extant Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian village
dog patrilines clearly reflect a deep divergence reaching at
least as far back as 10,000–16,000 years. Moreover,
comparison to the previously published Y chromosome STR
and SNP haplotypes of African breeds indicate these reflect
at least one more divergent paternal lineage of dogs not
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present in Asia. This finding emphasizes the need for
fossils older than that, and I think that the dogs now known as
expanding Y chromosome analysis to African village dogs,
dingoes traveled from the mainland (they are most closely related
such as those previously investigated at mtDNA and nuclear
to the Thai village dog) with the original people of New Guinea
markers, to explore the age and origins of these dogs as
and Australia some 50,000 years ago. The dingoes could have
well.” (p. 6).
arrived later with SE Asian seafarers, but if so, the Australian and
These landraces share some genes, showing they probably
New Guinea cultures show no reliable evidence of contact with
originated from the same ancestors, but each has some unique
any other cultures until about 2,500 years ago, and the dingoes
genes (unique compared to the other landraces) which could
were there well before that.
indicate past hybridization with local wolves (especially the
My hypothesis that there was a natural dog species,
Middle eastern dogs) or mutation in long isolation. The Bali
descended from an ancestor in common with the gray wolf, is not
landrace is at least 3,300 years old, and related all pacific island
currently supported by any paleontological or archaeological
dogs sampled and to the S.E. Asian landrace.
evidence. Neither is the hypothesis that the gray wolf was
The distribution of ancient warm-climate landraces makes
domesticated and somehow “became” the dog. However, the
sense when compared with early human population expansions
paleontological and archaeological records for S.E. Asia/S.E.
and prehistoric trade routes. There is a map showing a few of the
China prior to 5,000 years ago are sparse because in forests and
aboriginal breeds, and the Carolina dog, at http://www.indog.co.
tropical climates bones and non-stone artifacts rot rather then
in/AboriginalNativeBreeds.html. Sometime around 50,000 BP
become preserved (except in caves), At low sea levels during the
modern humans began to expand from their Ice Age refuges in
Ice Ages, S. E. Asia was connected with island Malaysia,
India through S. E. Asia and the Middle East, displacing protoSumatra and Borneo by a 1.85 million km2 plain with large rivers
human Homo erectus, which had lived in the area for tens of
known as Sundaland. Much of the potential evidence is now
thousands of years. The modern humans were culturally adapted
under 20 or more meters of water.
to hunting large game in fairly open savannahs and woodlands,
Prehistoric seafarers were trading goods like feathers, shells,
and had to adapt to hunting the smaller and harder to locate game
stone for tools, and cultural artifacts through the South Pacific by
in the dense forests they encountered in S. E. Asia. Perhaps they
at least 25,000 years ago. They were also transporting live
discovered the ancestral wild dog in S.E. Asia, and after some
animals such as monkeys, rats (as a food source), and perhaps
habituation, the two species realized they could fare better if they
larger animals, between islands. Animals did not have to be
hunted the dense forests together. The dogs would have long been “domesticated” to be transported, merely confined or habituated
acquainted with Homo erectus and may have learned that when
to human handling. The Pacific north equatorial current runs
people killed game too large to carry whole back to camp, they
westward from just south of the equator past New Guinea,
could scavenge the offal. So they developed the cultural habit of
between New Guinea and Sumatra, past island Indonesia to the
trailing hunting parties.
east coast of Africa, then down past Madagascar and finally turns
If my hypothesis is correct, unlike the wolves, these dogs
northeast and passes the western coast of Australia back to
Indonesia. The north equatorial counter current runs north from
were small enough they posed no threat and were too swift and
Indonesia past India to the east African coast above the main
wary to be purposefully hunted with spears (bow and arrow were
current, then loops back and flows east just north of the westward
not yet in use). Neither targets of purposeful hunting (which
equatorial current back to Indonesia. During the monsoons the
would have taught the dogs to fear humans), nor dangerous, the
Indian Ocean surface currents actually reverse. Ancient trade and
dogs might have been allowed to hang about outside camps,
human movement along these currents are reflected in the
where they cleaned up the protein and nutrient-rich proto-human
landrace dogs and the genetic relationships of the indigenous
feces that otherwise drew annoying insects and pests. Gray
people.
wolves are almost exclusive carnivores, requiring large amounts
of meat for proper growth and
reproduction, while the mid-size generalist
predators are more omnivorous and can
adapt to eating vegetable matter as a major
portion of the diet. Omnivores and
generalist predators adapt easily living as
camp/village scavengers, thriving on a
variable diet. Mammal examples are the
red fox, jackal, coyote, raccoon, Virginia
opossum, and, I would argue, the original
dog and the modern dog.
Modern humans expanding into S.E.
Aboriginal dogs in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Asia would soon have noticed the H.
Photo Credit: Pepper Trail
erectus-habituated forest dogs finding
hidden prey, and maybe the dogs
Except for the few traditional aboriginal cultures that have
transferred their sanitation service to the new humans, initiating a
symbiosis that ultimately resulted in the domestication of the dog. chosen to insulate themselves and reject westernization, in all
places aboriginal village dogs still exist, they are under threat of
Although the geneticists are estimating from their rather
genetic extinction due to interbreeding with modern Euro-derived
precarious formulas based on DNA mutations, that the dog
imported dogs. The Australian dingo is now about 80%
originated only about 20,000 years ago, there are definite dog
The Modern Basenji - Worldwide - www.themodernbasenji.com | 16
hybridized with imported dogs, and not much chance the still
pure population will be protected. Soon what these dogs could
tell us about the origin of the dog will be lost. Unfortunately,
indigenous people often prefer Euro dogs, even mixes, as
“exotic” status symbols, and believe these dogs are more
intelligent and trainable that their own village dogs. They do not
realize that local ordinary village dogs are superlative in their
environment. They have adapted to the local conditions through
thousands of years of mostly natural selection, have efficient
digestive systems that enable them to survive on minimal food,
and resistance to local pests and disease. Given a chance to
develop a close personal relationship with people, aboriginal dogs
are exceptional problem-solvers and can be trained to almost any
task needed.
Basenji and a New Guinea Singing Dog
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Brown et al (2011: p. 1) said:
“Our findings demonstrate the importance of village dogs
as windows into the past and provide a reference against
which ancient DNA can be used to further elucidate origins
and spread of the domestic dog.”
What can be done to save these ancient landraces? It is
impossible to conserve village dogs by bringing a few out of
country and creating a “purebred” breed in a closed registry in
Western society. In order to maintain the vital genetic diversity
and maintain their unique adaptations, the village dogs must be
maintained as a free-ranging, free-breeding (choosing their own
mates) population. I was struck by the comment of a woman who
was visiting an Indonesian island and saw two young boys
throwing rocks at an aboriginal dog pup. Rather than rebuke
them, she got some food and in a couple minutes taught the pup
to sit on command. The boys were fascinated, and she showed
them what to do. They had big smiles on their faces as she left,
repeatedly getting the pup to sit for them.
Perhaps, then, a good way to get the locals to value the dogs
is to teach them that those dogs cleaning up the waste and
garbage are capable of many things when trained through positive
reward. Another approach would be to educate the people about
the history of the dogs, so they can develop pride in them and
protect them as their ancient cultural heritage. Here is a program
similar to what I envision for teaching locals about their dogs:
http://www.fundanenja.co.za/ Some have suggested that if there
was a stable market for pure aboriginal dogs, the people could
profit from keeping Euro dogs away from their native dogs and
selling pure aboriginal pups, but there is little likelihood such a
market could be developed. We all know keeping aboriginal
dogs as confined pets in modern society is a challenge, and if
potential owners are informed about what it takes to keep such
dogs happy and safely confined most will decline the challenge,
especially since collecting and importing the pups would be
exorbitantly expensive.
For those who would like to contact people around the world
interested in preserving aboriginal dogs, there is a Primitive and
Aboriginal Dog discussion list at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aboriginaldogsociety/
References:
Brown SK, Pedersen NC, Jafarishorijeh S, Bannasch DL,
Ahrens KD, et al.
(2011) Phylogenetic Distinctiveness of Middle Eastern
and Southeast Asian Village Dog Y Chromosomes
Illuminates Dog Origins. PLoS ONE 6(12): e28496.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0028496
[left] Village dogs in Swaziland, South Africa.
Photo credit: Johann Gallant
[below]
Aboriginal ridged dogs of Phu Quoc island off of Vietnam.
Ridged native dogs are also found on islands throughout
Indonesia. Photo Credit: Janice Koler
The Modern Basenji - Worldwide - www.themodernbasenji.com | 17
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