Nonfiction Blog

                                                                Dogs All About Them 

                                                        By:Alvin and Virginia Silverstein

   First, the book says that dogs were a helpful source to humans in the Stone Age. Dogs were hunting partners and were able to be a very helpful security for the family as well. Then that's when jobs were suggested to dogs like herding and guarding the masters animals. Next, the book explains  what a dog is and what It looks like, as well as explains a dog from a wolf. It gives an example saying that a child would say "dog" or "puppy" to both dog and wolf.  A wolf has a much more larger skull and  than a dog has. Wolfs are much more powerful then dogs and rely on their abilities, such as running, powerful jaw, and captures the prey with a wolf pack. Then, a description of the three senses a dog has, body language, and sounds. Dogs use sound because it's a way to help locate objects. When dogs use their three senses it's smell, hearing, and sight as a way to communicate. The book also gives examples of a dog being angry, confused, unsure, threatened, and happy all with just their tail and the way it moves. Last, the book gives a list or more like a group of the types of dogs that fit in with each other. There is seven groups for all dogs, they are the Sporting dogs, Hounds, Working dogs, Herding dogs, Terriers, Toys, and Non-sporting dogs. Each dog would be able to fit in these groups, but maybe some dogs won't.

  A passage I found interesting was how In the Stone Age, people used wolves as part of a survival piece, but the wolves had to be tamed when their young enough. In pg. 23- 24 of the book it says "wolf pups can be tamed easily if they are caught young enough. The age of about three weeks is a critical period in a wolfs life; at time it's eyes are open, and it is just starting to move around actively and get acquainted with its world. This is when the pup becomes socialized, learned about the pack and all the proper wolf "manners." If it is raised by humans, the wolf pup bonds to them instead, giving them the love and devotion it would normally give to the wolves of its pack. When it grows up it remains loving and loyal to the humans who raised it. A full-grown tame wolf can be nuisance at times-imagine having your pet wolf greet you each time you came home leaping up to put its huge paws on your shoulders and affectionately  bite your nose! But the Stone Age people found their four-legged friend companions very useful for guarding the camp and helping in the hunt." This whole passage was so interesting to me, maybe because it actually is possible to raise a wolf. The way the Stone Age people treat the wolfs could have had desipline, but a little later found out that sometimes they can be their as a companion. Wolves are related to dogs but both dog and wolf are different in many ways. 

   Some things I've learned that I won't forget is the way dogs use their tails as a way to show an emotion.   Some examples are a tail wagging means friendly, a tail that held low and wagging means it's ok you can pet me, one last example is when a dogs tail is held high and not moving that would mean it dangerous to touch the dog. One last thing I've learned that I won't forget is each breed has its own special bark. Next time when I hear a dog barking I'll listen for the tone of it. Overall this book was very interesting and gives lots of facts.

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