Marching To The Beat of a Different Drummer

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402 – September, 2021

By Chris Robinson

A 2013 study published in the journal Science contends that it was hunter-gatherers in the Bavarian Forests of Germany, not farmers in East Asia or the Middle East, who were the ones who initially tamed the grey wolf and that was the true beginning of canis lupis familiaris. For many generations, in that area of Germany, there were wild, ferocious dogs, known as die Tuefelshunde or the devil’s dogs that, even when captured and tamed as very young puppies, retained their independent, contrarian natures. In other words, even with the best care and training available, these dogs continued many of their “wild dog” ways. If domestic dog breeds did indeed spring from those wild Bavarian dogs, there are some of their descendants who retain their independent, contrarian, march-to-the-beat-of-a-different-drum traits today. I can speak with authority on that point as I’ve owned, hunted with, watched or judged several of them over the years.

One was a black Labrador Retriever who was owned by a man I hunted with now and then. In fact, the German word “Teufel” was part of the dog’s fancy name and, although the pronunciation is incorrect, that was shortened to “Tuff” which was altogether appropriate for this particular dog because he was tough and definitely had a mind of his own. It was also clear that his owner had allowed the dog to watch way too many movies starring Humphrey Bogart because if there ever was a canine version of Bogie, it was Tuff who had a side as black as his coat.

Click here to read the complete article
402 – September, 2021

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