The Genuinely Interested Podcast Ep 38 - Brian Hare - The Genius Of Dogs
DOGS!!
Now that I have your attention - today's guest is Brian Hare. Brian is a Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology, Psychology, and Neuroscience at Duke University. He is also the co-author, alongside his wife Vanessa Woods, of the bestselling book "The Genius of Dogs".
I read the book and loved it. I reached out to Brian because I wanted to learn more about this fascinating topic. Dogs and Homo Sapiens are a very unlikely pairing in evolutionary terms - both being top predators, tens of thousands of years ago, who would have been vying for the same prey. Yet, the wolves that were once our enemies have evolved into dogs that are members of our families.
Brian says its survival of the friendliest, not the strongest, that has allowed dogs to evolve alongside us. From their start as wolves benefiting from our leftover food, they have gradually become the animals we love so much today.
Dogs have evolved to read our facial expressions, movements, and body gestures. They can get a read on our emotional well being, and are better at this than almost any other animal. They really are "Man's best friend".
My Take - Dogs are an amazing evolutionary "accident". We are lucky to have them beside us, and they, in return. reap the benefits of being the most loved animal in the world. Unlike wolves, their distant family member, who are extinct/on the verge of extinction almost everywhere they used to roam - dogs are ubiquitous everywhere, in every country, on every continent. They are truly remarkable in their story, abilities, and adaptability.
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