Which ones would survive?

adojrts

New Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2006
Messages
4,089
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Ontario, Canada
#1
The other thread got me thinking (ya I know scary lol).

A little scenario here;
Lets say the earth all of a sudden was human free, no person on the entire planet. And all the animals were free.
Which dog breeds would survive and why?
Which dog breeds would fail to survive and why?
And how would having all those dogs free impact other species?

Poof!! Humans gone and their animals left standing on the street.................
 

Giny

Active Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2005
Messages
5,544
Likes
4
Points
38
Location
Maine
#2
Oh my goodness, mine would be the first too go...they'd end up being someones meal.

So that said,most little dogs probably wouldn't last long, sadly. Or I should say all "companion only" little dogs. The small working dogs like terriers would do quite well.

All dogs that need grooming would probably also have a hard time surviving once their fur grows to a length that impeaches on their health. They'd get so matter up and with wet then cold weather they'd have a difficult time keeping warm.

I'd say the breeds that would fair well are the ones closet resembling the wolf, such as the GSD, Huskies, Mals, and many flock guarding breeds.
 

*Amy*

New Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
904
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
34
Location
FL
#3
That'd be really sad if they were all just left standing there on the street! :( What's sad is the smaller dog breeds would probably be the ones less likely to survive because of larger predators. And as far as impacting other species...I think the squirrels and rabbits wouldn't be so happy! :p
 

BostonBanker

Active Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
8,854
Likes
1
Points
36
Location
Vermont
#4
Honestly, I think most of them would go pretty quickly. The dogs that did survive would obviously not hold their breed type, and in a few generations, would probably be pretty indistinguishable.

Depending on the climate, I'd be on either the nordic breeds or the terriers holding out the longest - both are breeds that are fairly capable in the hunting department.
 

adojrts

New Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2006
Messages
4,089
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Ontario, Canada
#5
I think location would have a huge impact on which breeds survived. Smooth coated dogs of any size would be in serious trouble during the winter months in most of Canada. I would expect they could last longer or in fact survive in warmer climates.
Would a Great Pyr. survive? Could it go back on so many generations of stock protection to hunt? Would it have the speed and agility to hunt? Could it last on just being a scavenger? Or would it switch rolls and be the protector of a den sight (pups of the hunting dogs)? and have its food delievered?

How many breeds of dogs would end up crippled and unable to defend its self or hunt becasue of hip dysplasia? That one alone would cull so many.
Which types/breeds of dogs would 'pack up'?

Oh so many questions and answers!!!!!!!!!! This is fun.
 

Dizzy

Sit! Good dog.
Joined
Sep 14, 2005
Messages
17,761
Likes
1
Points
38
Location
Wales
#6
They'd end up looking like an average dog before long.

They'd all be bonking each other - that's natures way!
 

Groch

Gadget Hound
Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
270
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Denver Colorado
#7
Oh my goodness, mine would be the first too go...they'd end up being someones meal........All dogs that need grooming would probably also have a hard time surviving once their fur grows to a length that impeaches on their health........
If human's left suddenly we would leave a LOT of garbage around...and some of the smaller breeds are really good scavengers. But I am afraid you are right Giny, our poodles would just turn into giant fur balls....perhaps the clever ones would learn to roll out of danger ;)

Cats on the other hand do fine on their own, and often treat their owners as if they know it.

I heard a funny quote yesterday, Churchill I think:

"Dogs look up to you, cats look down on you, but pigs...they look you right in the eye as an equal."

George
 
Joined
Aug 22, 2006
Messages
614
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Kentucky
#8
My first thought is bigger dogs would survive better than small dogs. On the other hand, my sister had a Yorkshire Terrier (died of old age) and let me tell you, that dog did not understand that she was a small dog. She would let her big Lab have it, she was a tough little dog. Sweet as she could be to people or small dogs, but big dogs she was all over! :lol-sign:
 
Joined
Jul 17, 2005
Messages
5,634
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
35
Location
Ontario, Canada
#9
Climate is a huge deal, but on average I would say the primitive breeds that still have it in them to not only catch and kill, but devour too. That in itself weeds out a log of breeds (as many fail the very first step -catch. They only chase).

I think severely Bracycephalic (sp?) breeds such as Pugs would go pretty quick as they just wouldnt fair well during warmer months when they dont have an ACed house to escape too and MUST still be able to be active during the warmer months.

Sadly, I think the bully breeds and terriers would go pretty quick too (but likely not before making an influence or two in the gene pool - meaning they survive for a bit). Yes they are tough, yes many of them have the instinct to catch and kill, even devour HOWEVER where they would fall short is being too driven. That "no quit" attitude of theirs that make them so good at what they do. Think about it, when a healthy wolf is challeneged by a minor threat that doesnt back away when he gives warning, he will more than likely just back down and leave. If he was cornered it'd be a whole other story of course, but so long as the option of fleeing is available he would take it before fighting (not taking into account breeding rights or fights for food here, just meeting upon a random threat in the woods that really doesnt pose a high danger). Bully breeds and terriers however would go toe to toe with that challenge and not back down until they win or their body doesnt let them go on. That doesnt help survival. The wolf knows that even a minor injury could be life threatening when it comes to survival. The bully breeds and terriers are blind to the pain and just keep going.

Back to the primitive breeds I was talking about earlier, breeds such as thin-coated sighthounds wouldnt fair too well in cold climates so they may die out in the north but I could see them thriving in warm climates. Double-coated breeds that dont have excessive coat (like the Siberians) could do well in any climate they choose as their coats are very adaptable. The ones who are in warmer climates, over a few generations would likely evolve to have thinner/shorter coats. heck that already happens with current Sibes living in warm temperatures! The ones with excessive double coats (like the CO) would thrive in colder climates but probably not do so well in warmer climates.

Like others have said, eventually evolution would simply differentiate the canines by region rather than breeds. I predict the dogs of the south would take on the look of the current Pariah Dogs whereas the dogs of the north would take on the look of the current wild dogs (a mixture of coyote and wolf with some dog-ish features). Dogs living in moutainous regions would be built with shorter legs and a stockier body for ease of flying through the rocky area after prey. Dogs of the plains however would be much leggier and lankier.

Its an interesting thing to think about! Thanks for bringing it up!
 

adojrts

New Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2006
Messages
4,089
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Ontario, Canada
#10
Ok, please let me clarify.........yes we all know that they will interbreed, thats a given. Its not what they will look like in future generations etc.
The question is which breeds or types do you think will adapt as they are now? Which breeds have the conformation, brains, speed and agility to cope?
Which ones are wiley like a fox? Adaptable like a coyote? Or tough like a wolf? Size isn't everything.
And there is no land fills or garbage in my little world here lol, so they can't scavenge like that, no stores either because I know a few dogs that would figure out how to live in a store lol.
 

BostonBanker

Active Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
8,854
Likes
1
Points
36
Location
Vermont
#11
The question is which breeds or types do you think will adapt as they are now? Which breeds have the conformation, brains, speed and agility to cope?
Which ones are wiley like a fox? Adaptable like a coyote? Or tough like a wolf? Size isn't everything.
I think it is mainly the ability the hunt that would matter (although the point about dogs like terriers getting themselves killed is interesting!). The thing is, we've bred that ability out of a lot of dogs. Our herding dogs are smart and wiley and tough, but they have been bred for generations to stop the hunting process before they catch and kill. Sure, some individuals can and will, but in general, I don't think they would do as well. Same thing with retrievers; we've bred them to be soft with prey - would enough of them be able to actually catch and eat animals to survive?

I'll stick with the nordics and terriers (altough I can see some trying to take on a bear and ending up as a meal). Maybe add in some hound breeds.
 

Giny

Active Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2005
Messages
5,544
Likes
4
Points
38
Location
Maine
#12
I think many of the breeds with herding, retrieving instincts would after a while prevail to their hunger and end up scavenging for food. They wouldn't have to hunt down big prey to survive. I remember watching a documentary/movie about Arctic wolves surviving on mostly mice. I know many dogs who not only would hunt down mice but also easily scoff it down.
 

RD

Are you dead yet?
Joined
Aug 1, 2004
Messages
15,572
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
34
Location
Ohio
#13
I can easily see sighthounds of all kinds surviving in warm climates, from Whippets to Wolfhounds. Out of all the breeds, I think they have the keenest drive to chase and hunt, so even if there was nothing to scavenge, they'd be able to acquire their own food. Smooth coated terriers would definitely survive here in Arizona, there are more gophers than you could shake a stick at.

I think little dogs would be able to survive, so long as they were relatively dog-shaped. Dogs like toy Manchesters should have no problem getting around, because they haven't been deformed to the point of disability as so many breeds (english bulldogs or shih tzus for example) have.

Border Collies, it's hard to say. They have the build, coat, drive and speed to survive in the wild, and the brains to outwit most of the competition, but most don't have the inborn hunting skills of hounds or terriers. I think they'd learn quickly, and they certainly have stealth on their side (BCs are the ninjas of the dog world) but you must keep in mind that these dogs were bred NOT to hurt prey animals. The end result (the kill) of the chain of hunting behaviors (herding) that they perform has been bred out of them, and I think it'd take desperate starvation for a border collie to realize that their quarry is actually food. Also I have to admit, I don't know if a breed that was developed to work closely with humans would be okay without them. If I went *poof*, I don't know if Eve would ever stop waiting for me.
 
Joined
Jul 17, 2005
Messages
5,634
Likes
0
Points
0
Age
35
Location
Ontario, Canada
#14
Grace brought up a few great points! The more dependent breeds would be horribly lost without someting to look up to, take direction from, and follow example by. Some may be lucky and find themselves next to a good example (a dog that does know how to survive) but i think others would find themselves spending more time looking for guidance than surviving.

Something else I forgot to mention. EBs would be the first breed to die out for the simple fact that they can not concieve or give birth naturally.
 
Joined
Oct 25, 2006
Messages
248
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Valdosta GA
#15
The other thread got me thinking (ya I know scary lol).

A little scenario here;
Lets say the earth all of a sudden was human free, no person on the entire planet. And all the animals were free.
Which dog breeds would survive and why?
Which dog breeds would fail to survive and why?
And how would having all those dogs free impact other species?

Poof!! Humans gone and their animals left standing on the street.................
LOL here's my take :D:

I think it would eventually sort itself out to different "tribes" living in their own areas to which they were best suited. Husky-type dogs would probably naturally migrate further north and breed creating new long coated hybrid wolf dogs while smaller dogs like chihuahuas would probably run around on beaches like little sandpipers and live in shore caves and sand dunes. Collie-type dogs would befriend billy goats and form a working relationship in mountain ranges and cliff ledges. All Retreivers, Terriers and Setters would breed amongst themselves and head south eventually ending up as a swamp-dwelling bird/beaver/hog/gator catchin' hybrid dog aka "Tasmanian swamp dog". Poodles would dwell in the upscale apartment ruins of Los Angeles and reluctantly breed in with what was left behind of the blue strain of neo-APBTs aka "American Bullys". What is left of their spiked collars would become a valuable commodity on the street and these poodle/bully hybrids would be seen most afternoons selling the spikes on street corners. :p
 
Joined
Mar 30, 2006
Messages
909
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Indiana
#16
Hmm--well for my own dogs--I think Honey would probably die instantly from the sound of me and DH collapsing on the floor (enough to scare her to death)--Wrigley would then eat our bodies and go on his merry way....
 

Xerxes

Mr Poopy
Joined
Aug 20, 2007
Messages
1,016
Likes
0
Points
0
#17
Climate is a huge deal, but on average I would say the primitive breeds that still have it in them to not only catch and kill, but devour too. That in itself weeds out a log of breeds (as many fail the very first step -catch. They only chase).

I think severely Bracycephalic (sp?) breeds such as Pugs would go pretty quick as they just wouldnt fair well during warmer months when they dont have an ACed house to escape too and MUST still be able to be active during the warmer months.

Sadly, I think the bully breeds and terriers would go pretty quick too (but likely not before making an influence or two in the gene pool - meaning they survive for a bit). Yes they are tough, yes many of them have the instinct to catch and kill, even devour HOWEVER where they would fall short is being too driven. That "no quit" attitude of theirs that make them so good at what they do. Think about it, when a healthy wolf is challeneged by a minor threat that doesnt back away when he gives warning, he will more than likely just back down and leave. If he was cornered it'd be a whole other story of course, but so long as the option of fleeing is available he would take it before fighting (not taking into account breeding rights or fights for food here, just meeting upon a random threat in the woods that really doesnt pose a high danger). Bully breeds and terriers however would go toe to toe with that challenge and not back down until they win or their body doesnt let them go on. That doesnt help survival. The wolf knows that even a minor injury could be life threatening when it comes to survival. The bully breeds and terriers are blind to the pain and just keep going.

Back to the primitive breeds I was talking about earlier, breeds such as thin-coated sighthounds wouldnt fair too well in cold climates so they may die out in the north but I could see them thriving in warm climates. Double-coated breeds that dont have excessive coat (like the Siberians) could do well in any climate they choose as their coats are very adaptable. The ones who are in warmer climates, over a few generations would likely evolve to have thinner/shorter coats. heck that already happens with current Sibes living in warm temperatures! The ones with excessive double coats (like the CO) would thrive in colder climates but probably not do so well in warmer climates.

Like others have said, eventually evolution would simply differentiate the canines by region rather than breeds. I predict the dogs of the south would take on the look of the current Pariah Dogs whereas the dogs of the north would take on the look of the current wild dogs (a mixture of coyote and wolf with some dog-ish features). Dogs living in moutainous regions would be built with shorter legs and a stockier body for ease of flying through the rocky area after prey. Dogs of the plains however would be much leggier and lankier.

Its an interesting thing to think about! Thanks for bringing it up!
Great post and it summed up my thoughts almost exactly. The only thing I would add would be that your northern spitz types especially the dogs that are considered ancient and have lots of hunting in their history would probably excel in all climates except for the desert.

I can tell you that in particular areas of the world the predominance of typey dogs would be very noticeable. Essentially north american dogs would end up looking alot like the so called "native american dogs" or the "carolina dogs." In Austrailia you'd continue to have Dingo-like dogs. And in the Middle east, and Northern Africa you'd continue to have sighthound types as well. Just as in the UK area you'd likely end up with a rough coated mid sized dog with close ears, some pricked, some not. So IMO geography will play a huge role and impact structure.
 
Joined
Dec 20, 2003
Messages
94,266
Likes
3
Points
36
Location
Where the selas blooms
#18
Oh, Filas would survive. They don't need us to survive; they're perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, hunting and foraging for themselves, protecting themselves, working together in packs or as solitary hunters.
 
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
1,743
Likes
0
Points
0
Location
Niagara NY
#19
Central Asian Shepherd dogs bred from Working lines.
They are problem solving smart and work in packs.

The females hunt and kill small game, all have heavy undercoat but not long. Can handle extreme in temp from hot to cold ( not humid)-naturally protect.

Central asians have impacted the creation of many breed dating back to the oldest know molosser the TM.

The bully breeds would also some of them survive in warmer climates.

But wonder how many would be sad with no human interaction... as company
 
Joined
Dec 20, 2003
Messages
94,266
Likes
3
Points
36
Location
Where the selas blooms
#20
I think, PM, that, adaptable as the Filas, the CAOs and some of the other breeds like them are, they'd form bonds among each other. After a couple of generations they wouldn't miss us - having never have known human interaction.
 

Members online

No members online now.
Top