Over the years, the dog has changed the role it has played for centuries.
If one goes through the history of the dog, it was first a guard and also a source of helping in procuring food for primitive man.
Dog As A Protector
Later, through the medieval ages, it served in varying roles, like dogs of war or to entertain barbaric animal fights. Almost all the prevalent breeds in these periods were aggressive and prone to violence.
This was primarily because society at that time needed the dog more as a protector than a friend. Breeds like the Doberman were bred primarily to protect tax collectors from bandits. Others like the Mastiff took part in gladiatorial combats.
Moving Towards Docility
From the early twentieth century, the need for dogs began to change. Even during this period, the dogs served as guards like the Boxer, Alsatian,n e, etc but other lap dogs began to be seen. Possibly, society in itself began to transform into a more peaceful nature, and this was reflected in the breeds that began to gain popularity. Labradors, Golden Retrievers, poodles, etc, shot to prominence and have to date remained popular.
The other noticeable change that began to take place was that breeds that were bred for protection, like the Boxer, were transformed into more docile breeds. In the past fifty years, it has turned into a family-oriented dog, and it is very rare to find a nasty Boxer.
Dog As The Sponge
So what then has provoked such a drastic change in the popularity of present-day breeds? Well, the most obvious answer is that society in itself has transformed beyond recognition. It is very rare to see the conventional joint family in cities today, and instead, we have a new tradition of nuclear families.
This means that in a double-income family with young kids, there is no source of emotional support for the children. This makes it imperative for the family to have a sponge to soak up all the emotions and tensions that run riot in our day-to-day lives.
Ever notice how a dog greets us even after we shout at it? It’s wagging its tail, the very next second, and this should teach us an important lesson about how to ideally behave. Dogs have this uncanny ability to see only the best in their owners.
Inculcating Responsibility & Love
The second reason why a pet is needed is that they bring about a change in our children by bringing about a sense of responsibility. This, according to me, is the most important reason why one needs to keep dogs.
With the absence of the guiding hands of the traditional grandparents in most homes to teach the art of unconditional love, it’s up to the children now to learn from existing examples. Who else can they learn from than man’s best friend, who seems to live only to please others?
Children have also been seen to mature better as they have to shoulder the responsibility of another life, as they feed, groom, bathe, and walk their dogs. Worldwide psychologists are asking parents to go in for pets for troubled children. With problems in cosmopolitan cities beginning to mimic the West, such advice would then bear great relevance here.
Dog As Security
Security is, of course, also an important reason for families to for pets. With both parents going to work and the house being left alone for long hours with the children, a dog is a useful deterrent for possible intruders. Even a small lap dog that yaps away continuously brings about fear in the minds of people who will be wary of entering these homes.
All said and done, in this modern age, it is no longer a luxury but a necessity to have a pet, especially a dog. However, I would strongly recommend that the reader choose a breed that suits his own needs rather than go in for one his neighbor has. But then is what we will tell you in another article on how to choose the best breed for your home.
