1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Horizon Last Night: The Secret Life of the Dog

Discussion in 'Serious' started by GreatOldOne, 7 Jan 2010.

  1. GreatOldOne

    GreatOldOne Wannabe Martian

    Joined:
    29 Jan 2002
    Posts:
    12,094
    Likes Received:
    115
    I know that Horizon is guilty of dumbing down science these days, but did anyone else see this last night? It was a look into how dogs may have been done a disservice on how intelligent we believe them to be, and how they came to be mans best friend.

    I found it utterly fascinating that two separate species (dogs / wolves & humans) have has such a profound impact on one another's development.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pssgh/Horizon_20092010_The_Secret_Life_of_the_Dog/

    The bits with the Austrian Collie & the Russian experiments with silver foxes where just amazing. And the behavioural 'evolution' of domesticated dogs vs wolves was pretty cool as well - the fact that it's now in their genetic makeup to be devoted to us whereas wolves couldn't care less.

    Well worth a watch, even if you're not a 'dog' person.

    (I'm technically a cat person, but once I have enough time and money, I want a wolfhound like the chap in the pub... or maybe a husky or two. :))
     
  2. Flibblebot

    Flibblebot Smile with me

    Joined:
    19 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    4,904
    Likes Received:
    413
    I saw it, and was fascinated, especially by the sheepdog that could recognise 300 words and understand abstract representations of objects.

    The BBC have done something like it before, because I've definitely heard about the Russian silver fox experiment before - it might have been from the days when Horizon was good?
     
  3. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

    Joined:
    23 Oct 2001
    Posts:
    34,751
    Likes Received:
    2,255
    It was very interesting, although nothing that I didn't know or suspect before.

    There is nothing unusual about the symbiotic relationship between two species, and how this relationship influences the evolutionary development of both. The dogs/humans symbiosis is just a nice example. :)
     
  4. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    Lovely Goo! Watching it now!! :D
     
  5. Krikkit

    Krikkit All glory to the hypnotoad! Super Moderator

    Joined:
    21 Jan 2003
    Posts:
    24,062
    Likes Received:
    762
    A fascinating program for sure, one point I don't agree with... Horizon isn't dumbing down science, they've been forced to dumb down because they have to justify spending money on a program with viewer numbers.

    Having said that there have been a couple recently which are a little too sciency for non-scientists.
     
  6. oasked

    oasked Stuck in (better) mud

    Joined:
    24 Aug 2005
    Posts:
    4,126
    Likes Received:
    91
    Thanks for the heads up!

    [​IMG]
     
  7. Baz

    Baz I work for Corsair

    Joined:
    13 Jan 2005
    Posts:
    1,810
    Likes Received:
    92
    This was a great documentary. The domesticated Silver Foxes were particularly incredible.
     
  8. Guest-23315

    Guest-23315 Guest

    ^^ Mhmm... I want one sooo bad. How cool would it be when some asks what sort of dog is that to say 'sorry, its a fox'.
     
  9. DarkLord7854

    DarkLord7854 What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    22 Jun 2005
    Posts:
    4,643
    Likes Received:
    121
    Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh UK only noessss
     
  10. GreatOldOne

    GreatOldOne Wannabe Martian

    Joined:
    29 Jan 2002
    Posts:
    12,094
    Likes Received:
    115
    Can't you see it via a proxy server?
     
  11. s1n1s

    s1n1s What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    5 Aug 2009
    Posts:
    163
    Likes Received:
    2
    yeah was really good one actually probably the best one thats been for a while.

    P.S. I always knew it was down to my dogs that we've come this far lol
     
  12. Nexxo

    Nexxo * Prefab Sprout – The King of Rock 'n' Roll

    Joined:
    23 Oct 2001
    Posts:
    34,751
    Likes Received:
    2,255
    That is probably an exaggeration. More likely it was one of multiple factors. In the end, it is to do with human creativity in modifying and exploiting the environment, not dogs specifically.
     
  13. thehippoz

    thehippoz What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    19 Dec 2008
    Posts:
    5,780
    Likes Received:
    174
    there's an american version that came out a few years back.. had the whole thing on the russian foxes and the evolution of bulldogs, was on pbs for quite awhile- interesting how breeders can breed traits they want

    there's alot of inbreeding with the pure breeds and they do end up with some really retarded ones.. but to the dog show people, if they can hit that one out of 3 that's money in the bank

    like how certain breeds like the terriers were bred just to catch rats and mice on farms.. the weimaraner is a classic example of selective breeding- those dogs think they are human XD
     
  14. Flibblebot

    Flibblebot Smile with me

    Joined:
    19 Apr 2005
    Posts:
    4,904
    Likes Received:
    413
    It's probably the original British version that I remember from awhile back with an American voiceover. The BBC used to make a lot of its documentaries in conjunction with Discovery or WGBH Boston.
     
  15. Guest-16

    Guest-16 Guest

    I really want one.
     
  16. thehippoz

    thehippoz What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    19 Dec 2008
    Posts:
    5,780
    Likes Received:
    174
  17. leveller

    leveller Yeti Sports 2 - 2011 Champion!

    Joined:
    1 Dec 2009
    Posts:
    1,107
    Likes Received:
    24
    The fox has been done a much bigger disservice!

    http://www.youtube.com/user/kittymcpherson
     

Share This Page