National Geographic Channel to Premier “And Man Created Dog”
August 3, 2010 by Paris Permenter and John Bigley
Filed under News
On August 8, 2010 at 9pm ET/PT, National Geographic Channel will premier “And Man Created Dog,” a new two-hour, high-definition special that traces the evolution of the wolf into a dog–as well as our working partner, protector, and best friend.
Coinciding with this program is the publication of Made For Each Other, a book about this special relationship between man and dog and how it has evolved since prehistoric times. This book is authored by Meg Olmert, who also wrote the National Geographic Channel special.
We were recently sent a preview copy of the TV special and were impressed right away with the premise of the show. The program not only traces the evolution of the dog/human relationship from its very beginnings but it also stresses the extent to which the dog as a species has been literally invented by humans. Backed by exhaustive research (after all, it is National Geographic) and illuminated by evocative visual set-pieces and computer-aided graphics, the program describes how mankind has shaped the dog’s evolution from wolf to man’s best friend.
First domesticated by ice age hunter-gatherers to help hunt their prey and guard their camps, the dog became more than a tame wolf, eventually evolving into a different species with characteristics treasured by their keepers. No wonder, then, that dogs now are the most varied mammal on the planet, coming in all shapes and sizes, but all sharing the same interdependence with humans.
Overall, the story is a tale of triumph, culminating in a relationship which benefits both the animal and human species. Yet, the program’s sobering coda reminds us that, having created an animal for our own ends, humans have a responsibility (sadly not always fulfilled) to ensure our dog partners are cared for properly.
Whether one sees the development of the dog as genetic engineering or as natural selection, the long journey shared by humans and dogs is a fascinating one; “And Man Created Dog” illustrates it beautifully.
Sneak Peek:
For more information:
Photo Credit: © Evergreen Films Inc.
About Paris Permenter and John Bigley
DogTipper publishers Paris Permenter and John Bigley are a husband-wife team of full-time writers. The couple has authored over two dozen books and 2,500+ magazine articles.
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