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New episode is published!

Four years in the making: it’s finally time for the Ethnocynology episode about ancient dogs, domestic wolves, anthropology, and archaeology! So many of you requested a chat with the iconic David Ian Howe, whose focus is canines and people. 

The ep covers dog breed histories, what evidence we have for doggies being friends, how wolves tamed themselves, why our relationships with canines make us what we are, talking dogs, if it’s fair it ask your dog to love you back, corn paws, and why your dog is trying to make fetch happen.

Have you listened yet? What did you think? Let’s discuss below.

Also last week I did a mega-encore about wildfires and Indigenous fire ecology because we were right next to the evacuation zone and needed to prep the house and pack our bags. Did anyone hear the loooong secret at the end of last week’s? Bizarre, right? 

Okay stay safe and I promise to do the same.

-Your Father of  Pod, Alie Ann Ward

https://www.alieward.com/ologies/ethnocynology

Files

Ethnocynology (HUMANS & DOGS THROUGH TIME) with David Ian Howe - alie ward

Ancient dogs! Domestic wolves! Anthropology! Archaeology! It's all Ethnocynology: when humans and dogs started living and working together. The wonderful and iconic David Ian Howe is an educator and professional archaeologist whose focus is canines and people. So let's curl up and be cute - like dog

Comments

mish the fish

this episode makes me want a dog so much! i am worried that i won't be able to take care of the dog properly (i have chronic illness) but i do aspire to get one 🐶

Priyal

How exciting. I haven't had a chance to listen yet (travelling) but anything on the special relationship we have with dogs makes my little heart happy. Another expert I'd love to see an episode with is Shay Kelly, canine behaviourist and all round good egg. Also, hope you and your loved ones are safe Alie.

Georgia Claire

I hope Gremmie makes a guest appearance

Rachel Cannon

Loved this one. I now have some insight into why my mutt (who is part German Shepherd) patrols the yard like it's his job and cannot be persuaded to do anything else outside.

Seán Thomas Kane

Loved this one! My last dog Noel, a shih poo, and I got to know each other well enough that I could understand her facial expressions. There's an interesting discussion of familiarization in domesticated dogs in the early Spanish colonies in the Americas (16th century) in Marcy Norton's new book "The Tame and the Wild" covering the intersection of especially Nahua and Spanish domestication practices. Hope you guys stay safe with the fires!

Laura Wood

This came out on my dog’s birthday! Excellent timing! Love this one.

Matt Ceccato

The info on dogs and music was great.

Katy

The way I immediately bumped this to the top of my queue! Can't waaaaaait to listen.

Eating dog hair for a living

I am a dog groomer, and I've had people call me the dog whisperer just because I understand them so well and I can calm them down and they trust me. I love my job!

Alice In NewZealand

As a veterinarian I love this episode so much! Thank you Alie, and David Ian Howe, for such a great conversation. I wanted to share my own Las Vegas minibar story - I've been to Vegas once, for a vet conference, and did notice the sign on the fridge re: the charges for moving anything or putting one's own items in the fridge. I hate food waste so when I had most of a giant salad I had for dinner left over, I made my own fridge by filling the room sink with ice, placing my boxed-up salad inside and covering it with a layer of towels. It worked a treat! But took roughly ten trips to the ice machine.

Lene Olszeth

I loved this episode! It was really fascinating to hear the concept "dogs are biotechnology", and how a lot of things are true that seem kind of buckwild for dogs to do, like smell our emotions! I listened to this on my way home from work, and our neighbours dog was out in her yard. She's not always, but she always wants to play fetch when she is, so we did! Oh, and related to dogs who love music, please everyone search up Billy. He loves classical music, and keeps demanding live music from his owners (via buttons). So he got invited to a live orchestra practice! I love him.

Emily Krieger

dang y'all might make me get a dog now, after hearing they are ice age bio-tools and that i could find a breed that has the sexy indifference i like. this was lovely!

Emily Krieger

also loved your answer to what dogs mean to you. so sweet! i have learned a lot about boundaries and self-care from my bunnies :)

Katy

He talked about his GSD that way, but I'd also recommend looking into primitive aka landrace aka natural type dogs. Highly recommend buying or borrowing the book 'Meet Your Dog' by Kim Brophy. It's a fascinating and easy to read guide to the differences between breed types and what will work best for you.

anna sotiriades

Does anyone have any books on this topic they recommend? I looked up the book by Bryan Cummins but for some reason it’s $100+ dollars on amazon? There has to be more out there, right?

Bob in Oregon

Best doggo companion story recommendations?

Gomez

I have a rescue beagle/shephard. Gomez and I have so many questions for David!

Evelyn Uyemura

I asked one time if there were any human cultures that did not like/appreciate dogs, and I was told that Muslim cultures (maybe just in the Middle East?) did not appreciate or like dogs. Is this true of that culture? Is it unique to that culture? Re there any human cultures that don't *have* dogs?

Brittany Chamberlain

So good! I highly recommend everyone read How Dogs Love Us: A Neuroscientist and His Adopted Dog Decode the Canine Brain by Gregory Berns. It's a fascinating book that really makes you appreciate dogs.

GhoulNextDoor

Such an interesting episode! I feel so lucky to have had so many incredible dogs in my life so far! I am excited to adopt my next whenever the time feels right. More than a year after mine passed it still feels too soon. They’re such important members of the family

GhoulNextDoor

I looked some up to order from my local book store and the most expensive one was ~70 dollars though there were some around 30. So better but still pretty steep. You might could find some used on Thrift Books

Priyal

Tamed by Alice Roberts goes into the history of domestication of dogs and it's fascinating!

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

I loved how enthusiastic they are about dogs. I want a pupper but It's not feasible. Hope y'all are staying safe! Love you, Dadward!

anna sotiriades

Thank you!!! I also found one called Our Oldest Companions by Pat Shipman!

Dylan

this one was just so warming to the soul

B Miller

The long secret made me cry. I have a fortune cookie paper in my phone case, where I can see it everyday, and it says "All the darkness in the world cannot put out a single candle." It's a reminder to myself to be the light. Thank you Alie and Jarrett for sharing that moment. 💕

Cas

Canine domestication is one of my absolute favorite niche topics. So excited for this episode!!

Cas

Not exactly this specific topic but “How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog)” by Lee Dugatkin is incredibly fascinating!

Danny Peterson

What about astronauts? Are you doing this please?! Because I have a question, maybe there’s a really simple answer, I don’t know. I’ve purposefully not looked into this because I really enjoy the way you break these down and either get the guest ologist to answer them or you do a splendid aside and usually answer it even better. So, my (first question asker) question is regarding cold welding in space. Is it practically a problem, or more of a neat side bar to working in space. Do the astronauts ever need to feel stress while out on a space walk that they will touch two like metals together that will immediately fuse together forever or is it more of a theoretical, oh, that’s neat sort of thing? Here’s to not fucking up too badly in space. Cheers. DP

Jen Clinton

I loved this episode - the best thing I learned was how dogs and humans may have co-evolved where we have better sight and they have (much!) better hearing. It's making me think about hikes with my dog and how we're helping each other stay safe. <3

Maya

This was an incredible episode!!

Alyssa Arguijo

Loved this episode, definitely one of my favorites! I have a German shepherd too and everything David said about his dog is spot on with mine too. They’re so insanely smart! Thank you for an awesome episode!

Alie Ward

I had never thought about that before either! Listen to this week's Eco-Odorology ep which goes into more detail -- it's so good

Alie Ward

I'm sure I can find an Aeronautics Technologist! my neighbor actually works for NASA in the Mars landing department. So he's got connections aplenty.

Alie Ward

Listen to this week's on nature-sniffers!

Alie Ward

Oh wonderful. Thank you for listening through that mega encore. Luckily we are still safe.

Alie Ward

Oh good! I'm so glad people liked it so much!

Alie Ward

I hope you get to pet some dogs even if you don't have one personally!

Alie Ward

they really are. Got any names lined up?

Alie Ward

Oh nice~ thank you for this recc!

Alyssa Arguijo

Yes!!! He’s constantly patrolling the house and the backyard when he goes outside. Also the thing he said about his dog not wanting to sleep with him in bed and always needing to sleep where he can see the door, same with mine too!!

Cas

You have no idea how excited I was to see that episode just pop up

Kate E

For some reason, the aside describing "Shut Up and Pet Me" really resonated. I pet and talk to my dog all the time, but I'm being more mindful and intentional in petting him to show him how much I love his sweet doofus doggy self. Thank you!

Katy

I've had the phrase "no evidence of satiation for petting" stuck in my head for WEEKS now, and have since realized that the theme song for most dogs must be "Satisfied" from 'Hamilton'

Rachel Robinson

One of my favorite episodes of all time now. Sometimes I go back and relisten for dogo happiness