How come different dog breeds look so different

[cville]

But not different, say, horse breeds? Like there are dogs that looks like wolves and ones that look like mops and ones that look like they smashed their faces into a wall, but all horses and sheep and squirrels generally have the same shape.

Evolution is weird.

[sequins]

Because there's more human interference in dog breeding than in horses? Idk

[cville]

Aug 29, 2015 21:41:37 GMT -5 @astrid said:

Humans messed with dogs a lot more.

I get this in theory, but I feel like that isn't explanation enough. However many thousands of years of human dog breeding doesn't explain greyhounds vs. Lhasa apsos vs. Pugs to me.


Eta: I sound like an idiot here. Obviously if breeding is the explanation then it is. But it's crazy to me. Like that article that said there was no big bang and so the universe just always was. What?! There can be no always was! There was a before.

[liverandonions]

My only thoughts are because horses and sheep have fewer intended purposes-run fast, pull something, breed etc. But different dogs have hunting skills, vs. swimming abilities vs. tracking etc. IDK if that's actually why.

[jane6672]

Dunno!

[thinkofthesoldiers]

I think people who know horses can see the difference. For example, I can tell Arabian versus Morgan versus Quarter, etc. But I am familiar with horses. Plus, horses have always kind of done the same kinds of jobs and need to be physically able for those (some differences, obviously), but that isn't the same for the jobs that dogs were bred for. Or that makes sense in my mind and I'm totally wrong.

[liverandonions]

Aug 29, 2015 21:51:46 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

I think people who know horses can see the difference. For example, I can tell Arabian versus Morgan versus Quarter, etc. But I am familiar with horses. Plus, horses have always kind of done the same kinds of jobs and need to be physically able for those (some differences, obviously), but that isn't the same for the jobs that dogs were bred for. Or that makes sense in my mind and I'm totally wrong.

Sounds similar to my theory above.

[fuckyourcouch]

It really is just selective breeding.

www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/01/5/l_015_02.html

[cville]

Aug 29, 2015 21:51:46 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

I think people who know horses can see the difference. For example, I can tell Arabian versus Morgan versus Quarter, etc. But I am familiar with horses. Plus, horses have always kind of done the same kinds of jobs and need to be physically able for those (some differences, obviously), but that isn't the same for the jobs that dogs were bred for. Or that makes sense in my mind and I'm totally wrong.

That's my point. You need to be familiar with horses to see the differences, but anyone with two functioning eyes can see that a St. Bernard doesn't look like a Whippet.

[marylennox]

I have wondered about this too.

I totally thought this was going to be a happywife post when I opened it. lol

[cville]

Aug 29, 2015 21:59:12 GMT -5 mofongo said:

Also, this is totally a stoner question. lol

Just two glasses of wine, I swear

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Aug 29, 2015 21:52:53 GMT -5 liverandonions said:

Aug 29, 2015 21:51:46 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

I think people who know horses can see the difference. For example, I can tell Arabian versus Morgan versus Quarter, etc. But I am familiar with horses. Plus, horses have always kind of done the same kinds of jobs and need to be physically able for those (some differences, obviously), but that isn't the same for the jobs that dogs were bred for. Or that makes sense in my mind and I'm totally wrong.

Sounds similar to my theory above.

Yeah seems we have the same thought process, and I was typing when you posted. :-)

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Aug 29, 2015 21:56:49 GMT -5 cville said:

Aug 29, 2015 21:51:46 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

I think people who know horses can see the difference. For example, I can tell Arabian versus Morgan versus Quarter, etc. But I am familiar with horses. Plus, horses have always kind of done the same kinds of jobs and need to be physically able for those (some differences, obviously), but that isn't the same for the jobs that dogs were bred for. Or that makes sense in my mind and I'm totally wrong.

That's my point. You need to be familiar with horses to see the differences, but anyone with two functioning eyes can see that a St. Bernard doesn't look like a Whippet.

Well I think you can think about the time and resources it takes to breed horses (or whatever) and dogs too. The gestation period for a horse is 11 months, and for dogs it is 63 days. Larger litters for dogs with larger variation to choose from for the next generation, versus that of horses.

[cville]

Aug 29, 2015 22:05:45 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

Aug 29, 2015 21:56:49 GMT -5 cville said:

That's my point. You need to be familiar with horses to see the differences, but anyone with two functioning eyes can see that a St. Bernard doesn't look like a Whippet.

Well I think you can think about the time and resources it takes to breed horses (or whatever) and dogs too. The gestation period for a horse is 11 months, and for dogs it is 63 days. Larger litters for dogs with larger variation to choose from for the next generation, versus that of horses.

I look forward to horses with noses of dramatically different length in 2,000 years.

[usuallylurking]

I'm still stuck on discovering that candy corn looks like corn

[miso]

Asian people are like horses and sheep.

[WOT?*]

Aug 29, 2015 21:56:49 GMT -5 cville said:

Aug 29, 2015 21:51:46 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

I think people who know horses can see the difference. For example, I can tell Arabian versus Morgan versus Quarter, etc. But I am familiar with horses. Plus, horses have always kind of done the same kinds of jobs and need to be physically able for those (some differences, obviously), but that isn't the same for the jobs that dogs were bred for. Or that makes sense in my mind and I'm totally wrong.

That's my point. You need to be familiar with horses to see the differences, but anyone with two functioning eyes can see that a St. Bernard doesn't look like a Whippet.

On the St. Bernard/Whippet theory, a Belgian does not look at all like a Welsh pony or a Thoroughbred horse.  There are similarities and differences between a Belgian draft horse and a Shetland pony, for example, just as there are with a greyhound and a whippet because they serve similar purposes (deer courser v. small animal courser) just at different weights and sizes (carts vs. wagons or sledges, carrying children vs. carrying large men with armor.)  Millions of years ago, horses were the size of dogs and didn't have hooves, they had five toes and pads just like dogs do.  Evolution and selective breeding worked with horses just as it did with dogs.

It's easier to tell the different breeds and purposes of horses than it is to differentiate cats, imo.  Cats serve no purpose other than being cats. lol.

/horse nerd.

[lissaholly]

Not a horse person, but horses can be vastly different .

Even more interesting ( to me!) than how varied dogs can be is what they are. I read A book by Temple Grandin that explained that modern domesticated dogs are basically adolescent wolves. Shorter snouts and more submissive demeanor make them good pets. They are like teenagers, fully grown, but still under their parents order. It's kind of creepy when you think we made a whole species that is dependent and loyal and looking for a leader.

In thinking more, bears have some good variety too. Not to the degree of dogs, but if humans wanted to, could be more.

[jigsy]

Aug 29, 2015 22:39:36 GMT -5 miso said:

Asian people are like horses and sheep.

Mind blown. All look same. But to the trained eye, all look different.

[sapphireblue]

Aug 30, 2015 14:14:13 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

You want to know something else fucked up? If you pick out two random field mice from the same general area, there's more genetic diversity between them than between two people from the opposite ends of the earth.

This is fascinating to me.