From Enemy to Friend Wolves and dogs are closely related. Most scientists believe that dogs’ ancestors were wolves. Through time, wolves became tame enough to live with humans and help them. The change from wolf to dog was probably a result of careful breeding. Early humans allowed only the friendliest wolf pups to remain near them. This ensured that, over time, the wolves that stayed with groups of humans became tamer and tamer.

Wolves were influenced by their relationship with humans. So, they slowly became what we know today as dogs. They became adept at protecting and herding sheep and other animals whereas their ancestors would have made a meal of them. This ability made dogs very useful. However, although they are quite similar, wolves and dogs are also quite different.

Wolves are wild animals that live in packs, or groups, and eat only meat. They find their food by hunting. The most common noise they make is a howl. They may also bark, growl, yelp, and whine. All wolves look very much alike, although their colors vary slightly. They are large, slender, powerful animals with long legs and tails. Wolves are quite wary of people; they don’t trust them. They attack people only on rare occasions, usually when they are startled.

Dogs, on the other hand, are tame. They have been influenced by people for many, many years, which has made them quite different from wolves. For one thing, dogs eat vegetables and grains as well as meat products. They are much more likely to bark than to howl. Their sizes range from gigantic animals that are much larger than wolves to tiny animals that can sit comfortably in a cereal bowl. Large dogs are not only taller than wolves, but they are much heavier, and their appearances can vary as much as their sizes.

However, the main difference is found in dogs’ relationship with humans, whom they usually prefer to be near. The main effect of this is that most dogs are friendly to people. Some show hostility, but almost always only to strangers. Although most dogs are no smarter than wolves, they can certainly be trained more easily. They rarely hunt prey to eat and depend on their owners to supply them with food. This reliance on people just adds to the closeness of the relationship.

Wolves and dogs both pant to stay cool. They both can hear and smell very well, and they both can run silently. They even have the same number of teeth: 42. However, no matter how similar wolves and dogs may seem to be, wolves can never be made into a pet. They are also worthless as guard animals because they are shy. Domestic animals, such as cats and small dogs, are in more danger from wolves than humans are, but small children can also be in danger. The Big Bad Wolf may exist only in fairy tales, but real wolves can be as much of a threat, especially if they are not understood.