Domesticated dogs seem to fit snugly into human lives, but are we harming them?

In short:

Humans and dogs have a relationship that dates back thousands of years.

In more modern times, our co-habitation and selective breeding has had a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.

The majority of dogs in the world live without human intervention and retain their independence.

Dogs have been part of our lives for so long even the science about when and how we domesticated them from the wild animals they once were is murky.

What is less of a grey area is the huge role they play in our lives today, with Australians on average spending $4,000-plus on their dogs per year.

But is all that pampering and attention we dedicate to dogs eroding their natural instincts and resilience?

It is a question University of Melbourne canine welfare scientist Dr Mia Cobb has long been fascinated by.

“Our relationship with dogs goes back a long time. I can’t tell you exactly how long because science is still working that out,” she said.

“We’ve got some conflicting stories, but a reasonable estimate is around 10,000 years.

“More recently, looking at the last 100 years or so, we’ve begun to shape dogs in ways which suit us in more functional roles — herding livestock or hunting animals.”

As our lives and occupations changed so too did our relationship with dogs.

While dogs like the Scottish terrier were being used as hunting dogs as early as the 16th century, today the breed is more desired for its loyalty and friendly nature than its ability to kill rats and mice.

In South Australia’s Riverland, Scottish terrier breeder Manda Appleyard fell in love the breed when she was an 8-year-old.

“[Hunting vermin] isn’t their role anymore. They are more of a companion dog now,” she said.

It is that affectionate nature which has brought fellow lovers of the breed to her doorstep for the past 16 years. 

It is a common story among many pedigree dog breeds, which were once bred for work but are now bred to be companions.

In some cases, such as with flat-nosed breeds like the pug, that human interference has been to their detriment, according to Professor Cobb.

“Select[ing dogs] for what we think is cute is not always compatible with what is comfortable or healthy for dogs to live in,” she said.

Most dogs roam free

Another way humans can negatively impact dogs’ health is by taking away their agency, the researcher said, with their freedom to make choices being important to their overall happiness. 

The majority of dogs in the world live without human intervention and retain their independence. 

“One of the things most people don’t realise is about 80 per cent of the world’s dogs aren’t living in our homes,” Professor Cobb said.

“So the majority of dogs would actually be okay, although they might miss the rubbish and food we create.” 

Playing both sides of the field

Third-generation dryland farmer Brenton Kroehn is someone who still uses his dogs for what they were bred for.

At his property outside Waikerie in South Australia’s Riverland his kelpies Sam and Jack spend their days working the sheep and never cross the threshold into the house.

In stark contrast the family’s other two dogs, a labrador and a golden retriever, have their sole responsibility as pets despite both breeds being traditionally bred as working dogs.

The farmer said the distinction between the roles of the dogs was very clear for the Kroehn family. 

“The work dogs don’t come inside — you want to have a work dog that obviously knows his job but is safe around the kids,” he said. 

“On the flip side, the house dogs might come down to the sheep yards, but they’ll generally just sit down and watch from a distance.”