Nature (1982–…): Season 25, Episode 12 - Dogs That Changed the World: Dogs by Design - full transcript

15,000 YEARS AGO,

AFTER THE LAST
GREAT ICE AGE ENDED

AND MAN FIRST BEGAN TO LIVE

IN PERMANENT SETTLEMENTS,

ANOTHER SPECIES WAS WATCHING
CLOSELY FROM THE FOREST.

AND THEY SAW US

AS A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITY.

WITHIN JUST A FEW HUNDRED YEARS,

THESE WOLVES CHANGED
FROM DEADLY PREDATORS

INTO MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

CANIS LUPUS FAMILIARIS,



THE VERY FIRST DOGS.

THIS TRANSFORMATION
FROM WILD WOLF TO TAME DOG

PROVED REVOLUTIONARY

TO MAN.

DOGS BECAME OUR
HUNTING PARTNERS,

PROTECTORS OF OUR
SETTLEMENTS AND OUR LIVESTOCK.

WHEREVER WE
VENTURED IN THE WORLD,

WE TOOK THEM WITH US.

BUT AFTER THOUSANDS OF
YEARS OF WORKING TOGETHER,

WE DISCOVERED SOMETHING
COMPLETELY NEW ABOUT THE DOG...

THIS ANIMAL IS AN
EVOLUTIONARY MIRACLE.

IN THE SPACE OF 150
YEARS IT HAS BECOME

THE MOST VARIED
SPECIES ON THE PLANET.

FIERCE...



FRIENDLY...

HAIRY...

BALD...

CUTE...

WRINKLED...

MASSIVE...

TINY.

WITH OVER 400 INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED BREEDS,

THE DOG HAS A GREATER
RANGE OF SHAPES AND SIZES

THAN ANY OTHER MAMMAL.

SOME OF THESE DOGS
ARE BEING TRAINED

TO HUNT THE KILLERS
OF THE FUTURE.

SOME OF THESE
DOGS FACE PROBLEMS,

AND THEIR VERY
SURVIVAL IS IN QUESTION.

THIS IS THE STORY

OF HOW A CHINESE EMPRESS

AND A VICTORIAN PASSION

CREATED THE MOST
VARIED MAMMAL ON EARTH.

IT'S ALSO THE STORY
OF HOW OUR CHOICES

WILL DETERMINE THE DOG'S FUTURE.

PROFESSOR OF BIOLOGY
RAYMOND COPPINGER

IS ABOUT TO SHOW US HOW THE WOLF

WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO 400 BREEDS

OF DOG.

Abraham: AS HIS SIMPLE
EXPERIMENT WILL PROVE,

IT'S ALL ABOUT HUMAN CHOICES.

Coppinger: CAN YOU HELP
ME WITH AN EXPERIMENT, SIR?

YES, SIR. TELL ME.

WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS,

I WANT YOU TO LOOK
AT THESE PUPPIES,

AND I WANT YOU TO PICK

YOUR FAVORITE ONE.

MY FAVORITE ONE?

YEAH, WHICH ONE IS
YOUR FAVORITE DOG?

WHY DO YOU LIKE THAT ONE?

Man: BECAUSE THAT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S ORIGINAL,

IT'S DIFFERENT FROM THE REST.

Abraham: IN THIS
PARK IN MEXICO CITY,

THE PROCESS THAT MOLDED
THE FIRST PRIMITIVE DOGS

INTO SO MANY DIFFERENT FORMS

STILL HAPPENS TODAY.

WOW.

NOW, WHY DID YOU PICK THAT ONE?

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT HAS VERY

STRANGE EYES.

I LIKE THIS FACE...
WELL, I LIKE THEM ALL,

AND THE BLACK ONE IS
BEAUTIFUL, BUT THIS...

WELL, I THINK THIS ONE.

THAT ONE THERE?

WHY DO YOU LIKE THAT ONE?

BECAUSE HE SHOWS MORE INTEREST.

I SEE.

LIKE, HE'S MORE CURIOUS.

SO HE'S PROBABLY
GOING TO BE, LIKE, MORE,

HE'S GOING TO DEVELOP MORE...

MORE COMMON SENSE.

WHY DID YOU PICK THE BLACK ONE?

BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW,

IT IS SIMILAR TO MY SOUL.

Coppinger: WE JUST DID
THIS LITTLE EXPERIMENT,

AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT
LITTLE EXPERIMENT,

BECAUSE, RATHER THAN
PICK THE AVERAGE ONE,

IT'S A KIND OF A HUMAN RESPONSE

TO PICK ONE OF THE EXTREMES.

IN THE LONG HAUL,
WHAT THAT MEANS IS

THAT YOU'RE INCREASING
THE AMOUNT OF VARIATION

THAT YOU ARE GETTING,
BECAUSE YOU ARE

PICKING THE EXTREMES
OF THE LITTER,

SO THEN YOU ARE
BREEDING THEM BACK

TO OTHER EXTREMES OF THE LITTERS

AND SO YOU KIND OF JUST
FAVOR THIS ENDLESS VARIATION

THAT GOES ON AND ON AND ON.

Abraham: PEOPLE DISCOVERED THAT

BY BREEDING TOGETHER
THE DOGS WITH TRAITS

AND CHARACTERISTICS
THEY LIKED BEST,

THESE WOULD BE PRESERVED
AND EVEN EXAGGERATED

IN THE NEXT GENERATION.

BUT, AS WE HAVE SEEN,

THE REASONS WE CHOOSE

A PARTICULAR DOG DEPEND
VERY MUCH ON WHO WE ARE.

NEARLY 8,000 MILES AWAY,

THIS IS THE ARRISHEH
DESERT IN JORDAN.

TEMPERATURES HERE CAN REACH

OVER 120 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.

IN ONE OF THE HARSHEST
ENVIRONMENTS ON EARTH,

WHERE ONLY THE VERY

TOUGHEST OF SPECIES SURVIVE,

MAN AND DOG MAKE
A FORMIDABLE TEAM.

FOR 6,000 YEARS, THE BEDOUIN
HAVE CONSISTENTLY BRED

FROM ONLY THE QUICKEST, MOST
LONG-LEGGED AND AGILE DOGS

WITH THE BEST EYESIGHT.

THESE CHOICES HAVE CREATED

ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR
DOGS KNOWN TO MAN.

THE SALUKI CAN OUTRUN

ALMOST ANYTHING THAT
MOVES ON THE HORIZON

AND SECURE NUTRITIOUS MEAT

FOR ITS MASTERS.

THEIR STAMINA AND
STRENGTH ARE BREATHTAKING.

THE SALUKI HELPED
TURN THE HOSTILE DESERT

INTO A HOME FOR ALI'S
BEDOUIN ANCESTORS,

WHO TREATED IT
AS A GIFT FROM GOD.

Interpreter: WHAT
MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL

IS THE SHAPE OF THE
DOG, THE LONG LEGS.

THEY CAN RUN QUICKER
THAN THE OTHER DOGS,

WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT
FOR THE HUNTING.

WHEN THE SALUKI KNOWS
IT'S GOING OUT HUNTING,

IT IS VERY EXCITED, BECAUSE
IT KNOWS IT'S GOING OUT

TO RUN AND CATCH THE HARE.

IT'S READY FOR IT AND
ENJOYS IT VERY MUCH.

Abraham: HUSSEN IS JUST 12.

HIS UNCLES ARE TAKING HIM

ON HIS FIRST
SALUKI HUNTING TRIP,

TEACHING HIM THE
SKILLS THAT THE BEDOUIN

HAVE PASSED DOWN THROUGH
COUNTLESS GENERATIONS.

THERE IS LITTLE COVER,
AND ANY CREATURE

WILL SEE THEM APPROACHING
FROM MILES AWAY.

THE ONLY WAY TO CATCH
A HARE IS TO OUTRUN IT.

IT IS THE PHENOMENAL SPEED

OF THE SALUKI, CREATED
BY SIMPLE HUMAN CHOICES,

THAT IS THE KEY TO ITS SUCCESS.

THEY ARE THE ORIGINAL
SPEED DEMONS,

PRECURSORS OF THE GREYHOUND,

PERFECTLY SUITED FOR THE DESERT.

IF WE LOOK UNDER
THE SALUKI'S SKIN,

WE CAN SEE HOW CAREFUL BREEDING

HAS TRANSFORMED
THE PRIMITIVE EARLY DOG

INTO THE ULTIMATE SPRINTER

AND THE BEDOUIN'S DEADLY WEAPON.

THE SALUKI HAS BECOME
HIGHLY STREAMLINED.

ITS BONES ARE LIGHT,

AND ITS RIB CAGE AND
WAIST INCREDIBLY SLENDER.

SALUKI DOGS HAVE A
UNIQUELY FLEXIBLE SPINE,

SIMILAR IN DESIGN TO A
CHEETAH, WHICH ALLOWS THEM

TO TURN ON A DIME
IN PURSUIT OF PREY.

THE STRIDE IS HUGE.

AT TOP SPEED,

IT FLIES 12 FEET
ACROSS THE GROUND.

THE HEART CAN BE UP TO A
THIRD LARGER THAN OTHER DOGS',

WITH A SUPER-SIZED AORTA

PROPELLING BLOOD
TO ITS MUSCLES FAST,

GIVING THE DOG THE POWER TO
REACH FULL STRIDE VERY QUICKLY.

THEY ARE SIGHT HOUNDS.

AND ONCE THEY'VE
SPOTTED THEIR PREY,

IT STANDS LITTLE
CHANCE OF ESCAPE.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
IS TRULY INCREDIBLE.

THE BEDOUIN TRAINING HAS ALTERED

THE SALUKI'S NATURAL
INSTINCT TO KILL.

INSTEAD, IT CATCHES

AND HOLDS THE PREY

FOR ITS MASTER.

Abraham: TODAY, THE BEDOUIN
NO LONGER RELY ON THE SALUKI

TO CATCH ALL OF THEIR MEAT.

BUT IN THE PAST,
HUSSEN'S ANCESTORS

WOULD HAVE DEPENDED ON
THEM FOR THEIR VERY SURVIVAL.

THE BOND THAT STILL EXISTS

BETWEEN ALI, HUSSEN,
AND THEIR DOGS IS SPECIAL...

BUT NOT UNIQUE.

FROM HAULING

AND HERDING...

TO RUNNING FAST AND TRACKING,

ON EVERY CONTINENT, FROM
THE DESERT TO THE ARCTIC,

THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING WITH

AND DEPENDING ON
THEIR DOGS EVERY DAY.

OUR PUPPY EXPERIMENT IN MEXICO

SHOWED US HOW PEOPLE
INVARIABLY CHOOSE DIFFERENT PUPPIES

FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

THE RIGHT CHOICES
PRODUCE DOGS ADAPTED,

WILLING AND ABLE TO
LIVE AND WORK WITH US,

WHATEVER AND
WHEREVER THE CHALLENGE.

BUT, AS THE VICTORIANS

WERE TO DISCOVER 150 YEARS AGO,

MAKING VERY DIFFERENT
CHOICES WILL GET YOU

VERY DIFFERENT, AND
SOMETIMES PROBLEMATIC, RESULTS.

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

IN THE 19th CENTURY
WOULD CHANGE THE WORLD

BEYOND RECOGNITION.

IN VICTORIAN ENGLAND,

IT CREATED A HUGE UPSURGE

IN THE URBAN MIDDLE CLASS...

A WHOLE NEW GROUP OF PEOPLE

WITH MONEY AND
TIME ON THEIR HANDS.

AND BECAUSE OF THEM,

THE ARRIVAL OF THIS
TINY CHINESE DOG

IN QUEEN VICTORIA'S
LONDON COURT IN 1860

WAS TO HAVE FAR-REACHING
CONSEQUENCES.

THE PEKINGESE WAS CREATED

NOT BY THE HARSHNESS
OF AN ENVIRONMENT,

BUT BY THE POWER
OF RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

ALSO KNOWN AS THE "LION DOG,"

THE PEKINGESE IS FIRST RECORDED
TO HAVE BEEN KEPT IN CHINA

AT THE TIME OF THE ZHOU
DYNASTY 2,000 YEARS AGO.

CHINA HAD RECENTLY
BECOME A BUDDHIST COUNTRY.

BUT THIS CONVERSION FACED A
SIGNIFICANT STUMBLING BLOCK.

THE LION, WHICH
BUDDHA HAD TAMED,

CREATING A FAITHFUL SERVANT
AND POWERFUL PROTECTOR,

DIDN'T EXIST IN CHINA.

FACED WITH THE NEED FOR SUCH
A POWERFUL RELIGIOUS SYMBOL,

BUDDHIST MONKS TURNED
TO DOGS FOR THE ANSWER

AND CHOSE THE PUPPIES
MOST LIKELY TO HELP.

Man: IF YOU LOOK IN
ANY LITTER OF DOGS,

THERE WILL BE

A VARIATION IN SIZE OF PUPPIES.

AND IF YOU WANT TO
DOWNSIZE, IF YOU SIMPLY BRED

FROM THE SMALLER
MEMBERS OF THE LITTER

TO OTHER SMALL MEMBERS
AND KEEP DOING THAT,

A SELECTION THAT YOU SELECT
TO BREED FROM ONLY SMALL DOGS,

THEN YOU WILL DOWNSIZE IN
TERMS OF THE SIZE OF THE BREED.

Abraham: THE PEKINGESE
WAS MOLDED INTO EXISTENCE

BY BREEDING FROM THE
SMALLEST, HAIRIEST DOGS

THE MONKS COULD FIND, TO PRODUCE

A MINIATURE LION.

THEY WERE SO SUCCESSFUL

THAT THE DOGS BECAME
SACRED SYMBOLS,

OWNED EXCLUSIVELY
BY THE IMPERIAL FAMILY.

REMOVING THEM FROM
THE PALACE PRECINCT

WAS A CRIME PUNISHABLE BY DEATH.

THE PEKINGESE IS ONE
OF THE EARLIEST BREEDS

WITH A WRITTEN STANDARD
SETTING OUT EXACTLY

WHAT THE ANIMAL SHOULD
OR SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE.

THIS TEXT, WRITTEN BY THE
EMPRESS DOWAGER TSU H'SI

AND DISCOVERED IN THE MID-1800s,

WOULD HAVE INFLUENCED
WHICH PUPPIES

WERE CHOSEN FOR BREEDING

AND WHICH MAY
HAVE BEEN DISCARDED.

As Empress Dowager: LET
THE LION DOG BE SMALL.

LET ITS FACE BE BLACK.

LET ITS FOREHEAD
BE STRAIGHT AND LOW.

LET ITS EARS

BE SET LIKE THE
SAILS OF A WAR JUNK.

LET ITS EYES BE
LARGE AND LUMINOUS.

LET ITS NOSE BE LIKE THAT

OF THE MONKEY GOD OF THE HINDUS.

LET ITS FORELEGS BE BENT,

SO THAT IT SHALL NOT
DESIRE TO WANDER FAR

OR LEAVE THE IMPERIAL PRESENCE.

Abraham: THE EMPRESS
DOWAGER'S INSTRUCTIONS

WERE DISCOVERED UNDER
DRAMATIC CIRCUMSTANCES.

IN 1860, THE SUMMER PALACE

IN BEIJING WAS STORMED
BY ENGLISH TROOPS,

HERALDING THE END OF
THE MIGHTY CHINESE EMPIRE.

THE IMPERIAL DOGS,
CAREFULLY BRED AND NURTURED

FOR MANY CENTURIES,
WERE SLAUGHTERED

TO PREVENT THEM FROM
FALLING INTO FOREIGN HANDS.

BUT FIVE OF THE
ANIMALS SURVIVED,

UNNOTICED IN THE CHAOS.

THESE DOGS WERE
BROUGHT TO ENGLAND,

AND THE SMALLEST ONE WAS
PRESENTED TO QUEEN VICTORIA.

ITS TINY LEGS AND
FLATTENED SNOUT

CAUSED A HUGE STIR

AND BECAME A FAST
FAVORITE IN HIGH SOCIETY.

OWNING A LAP DOG WAS THE
ULTIMATE STATUS SYMBOL.

AND FOR THE NEWLY MONEYED

MIDDLE CLASSES WITH
TIME ON THEIR HANDS,

IT WAS JUST THE INSPIRATION
THEY'D BEEN LOOKING FOR.

BREEDING DOGS AND
KEEPING THEM AS PETS,

OR THE DOG FANCY,
AS IT WAS KNOWN,

QUICKLY BECAME THE
HOBBY OF CHOICE...

AN AFFORDABLE OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE MIDDLE CLASSES

TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN VERSIONS

OF THE ELITE'S ESSENTIAL
CANINE ACCESSORY.

Woman: ONCE PEOPLE
HAD THE LEISURE TIME

TO START PLAYING AROUND

WITH THE DIFFERENT
SIZE AND FORMS OF DOGS,

YOU CAN START

SELECTING THE SMALLEST
ANIMAL FROM A LITTER

AND MATING THEM TOGETHER.

AND ALSO ANIMALS THAT
WOULD BE SLIGHTLY UNUSUAL,

THAT WOULD BE, ACTUALLY HAVE
SOME OF THESE GENETIC MUTATIONS,

THINGS LIKE LONG HAIR
RATHER THAN SHORT HAIR

OR DWARFED LEGS.

AND BECAUSE PEOPLE
REALLY ARE CURIOUS, I THINK,

ABOUT SOME OF THESE
KINDS OF DIFFERENCES,

IF YOU'VE GOT THE TIME

AND ENERGY AND RESOURCES
TO PLAY AROUND WITH THAT,

I THINK IT'S PART OF OUR
HUMAN NATURE TO JUST SEE

WHAT WE CAN DO WITH THEM.

Abraham: THE VICTORIAN
PASSION FOR BREEDING TINY DOGS

ALSO APPEALED TO ANOTHER
SIDE OF HUMAN NATURE.

A TOY DOG HAS A
PUPPY-LIKE APPEARANCE.

THE BIG EYES AND TINY NOSE
REMIND US OF OUR OWN OFFSPRING,

AND WE ARE PSYCHOLOGICALLY
PROGRAMMED TO RESPOND

AND WANT TO CARE FOR
AND NURTURE THE DOG

IN THE SAME WAY WE
WOULD RESPOND TO A BABY.

SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING
THAT A TINY DOG FROM CHINA

WOULD HAVE SUCH AN EFFECT
ON THE VICTORIAN DOG BREEDERS...

AN EFFECT THAT WAS TO HAVE

FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES.

Man: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS

DOG-BREEDING HOBBY DOES MARK

A TOTALLY NEW
CHANGE, A NEW TREND,

IN OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE DOMESTIC DOG.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE EMPHASIS

SHIFTED FROM THE KIND OF JOB

THE DOG COULD PERFORM

TO BASICALLY
WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.

AND THIS IS AN ENTIRELY
NEW WAY, REALLY,

FOR HUMANS TO LOOK AT DOGS

AS OBJECTS OF
AESTHETIC APPRECIATION.

Abraham: IN 1873, THE
KENNEL CLUB WAS FORMED

IN LONDON, THE FIRST
OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.

AS THE HEADQUARTERS
OF THE DOG FANCY,

IT KEPT TRACK OF THE
MULTITUDE OF NEW TYPES

BY SETTING INDIVIDUAL STANDARDS

FOR EVERY BREED.

IT WAS ALSO THE DRIVING
FORCE BEHIND DOG SHOWS...

AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PROUD

DOG BREEDER TO PARADE
HIS LATEST CREATION.

THE DOG SHOW... WHERE THE
WINNER WAS THE CLOSEST MATCH

TO THE KENNEL CLUB
BREED STANDARD...

BECAME A FIXTURE OF
THE SOCIAL CALENDAR.

THIS NEW PASSION LED TO A
PROFUSION OF NEW BREEDS.

UP UNTIL THE
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION,

DOGS HAD BEEN
LOOSELY CATEGORIZED

INTO 40 WORKING TYPES.

AND FROM THIS MIXED BATCH,

THE VICTORIANS CREATED

A PHENOMENAL ARRAY OF SHAPES

AND SIZES, WHICH GAVE US

THE 400 INTERNATIONALLY
RECOGNIZED BREEDS WE KNOW TODAY.

Man on speaker: THE
MINIATURE PINCER.

Abraham: THE MODERN DOG IS

QUITE SIMPLY THE
MOST VARIED MAMMAL

IN THE WORLD.

NO OTHER HAS EVEN A
QUARTER OF THE RANGE

OF THE INDIVIDUAL
CHARACTERISTICS FOUND IN DOGS.

Man: AND NOW, WE HAVE
HERE THE CHINESE CRESTED.

THE INCREDIBLE VARIETY WE
CAN SEE IN DOMESTIC DOGS

IS EVEN MORE ASTOUNDING

WHEN YOU CONSIDER
THEIR GENETIC HISTORY.

ALL DOGS... WHATEVER
THEIR SHAPE AND SIZE...

ARE DIRECT DESCENDANTS

OF THE WOLF.

Man: IF YOU TRY TO IMAGINE

GOING FROM SOMETHING
LIKE A WILD WOLF,

YOU KNOW, THOSE
GREAT BIG YELLOW EYES

LOOKING OUT AT YOU
OUT OF THE FOREST,

AND TRANSFORMING THAT ANIMAL

INTO A PEKINGESE.

FROM A GENETIC POINT OF VIEW,

YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND...
WHAT A REVELATION,

THAT YOU COULD
ACTUALLY DO SUCH A THING.

Abraham: THE
CONVENTIONAL DARWINIAN

UNDERSTANDING OF EVOLUTION

AS A SLOW AND GRADUAL PROCESS

JUST CANNOT EXPLAIN
HOW THE GENES OF A WOLF

CAN GENERATE THIS HUGE VARIATION

IN JUST 15,000 YEARS.

SO HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

Crockford: OKAY, PUPPY.

ZOOLOGIST SUSAN
CROCKFORD BELIEVES

THAT SOMETHING MUST
BE CONTROLLING THE GENES

AND THEIR EXPRESSION.

SHE IS STUDYING ONE
OF THE HORMONES

THAT DETERMINE THE DOG'S GROWTH.

Crockford: THESE
PUPPIES AROUND ME

ARE GREAT DANES,

AND, AMAZINGLY,

THEY ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AGE

AS THIS LITTLE CHIHUAHUA HERE.

EACH OF THESE DIFFERENT BREEDS

IS GROWING AT QUITE
A DIFFERENT RATE.

THE GREAT DANE PUPPIES ARE

ON A REALLY, REALLY
RAPID GROWTH TRAIN,

TO ALLOW THEM

TO BE ONE OF THE TALLEST

OF THE DOG BREEDS
THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

Abraham: ACCORDING TO CROCKFORD,

THE WAY A DOG GROWS
DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH THYROXIN

IS AVAILABLE AT CRITICAL TIMES.

IN THE WOMB, THE PUPPY RECEIVES

PULSES OF BREED-SPECIFIC
AMOUNTS OF THYROXIN

FROM THE MOTHER,
VIA THE PLACENTA.

AFTER IT'S BORN,

THE PATTERN IS SET.

THE PUPPY'S OWN THYROID GLAND

TAKES OVER PRODUCTION

AND RELEASES THYROXIN

UNTIL THE DOG'S
ADULT SIZE IS FIXED.

THIS CAN HAPPEN AT
VERY DIFFERENT TIMES

IN DIFFERENT DOGS.

Crockford: NOW WE'VE
GOT THESE TWO BREEDS

AS TWO-YEAR-OLDS.

THE CHIHUAHUA IS FULLY
GROWN AT THIS POINT.

HE'S SEXUALLY MATURE,
HE'S PUT ON WEIGHT,

HE'S GOT THE FULL
COORDINATION OF A TRUE ADULT.

THIS BIG BOY STILL HAS

A WAYS TO GO.

HIS BONES MIGHT BE
ALMOST FINISHED GROWING,

BUT HE'S GOT SOME
WEIGHT TO PUT ON STILL,

SOME COORDINATION TO DEVELOP,

AND THAT'S GOING TO
TAKE A FEW MORE MONTHS.

Abraham: FULLY
GROWN, THE GREAT DANE

CAN WEIGH 170 POUNDS

AND THE CHIHUAHUA
AS LITTLE AS TWO...

AN EXTREME EXAMPLE OF HOW
DIFFERENT GROWTH PATTERNS

CAN PRODUCE SUCH
DIFFERENT BREEDS.

Crockford: EACH BREED OF DOG

ACTUALLY HAS A BREED-SPECIFIC

GROWTH RATE.

SO IF THYROXIN RHYTHMS

ARE ACTUALLY WHAT IS
CONTROLLING THAT GROWTH RATE,

WE CAN THEN PROPOSE

THAT THYROXIN RHYTHMS
MUST BE DIFFERENT

FOR EACH OF THE
DIFFERENT KINDS OF BREEDS.

Abraham: SUSAN'S
THEORY IS PROVOCATIVE,

BUT IT COULD BE AN EXPLANATION

FOR HOW THE DOG HAS TRANSFORMED

INTO OVER 400 DIFFERENT BREEDS

IN THE BLINK OF AN
EVOLUTIONARY EYE.

AND OF ALL THE
BREEDS IN THE WORLD,

THE BULLDOG IS PERHAPS THE
MOST OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE

OF JUST HOW FLEXIBLE
THE DOG'S FORM IS.

Woman: IZZY!

IZZ!

IZZY-LOU,

COME ON.

Abraham: DEBBIE CHARWIN,

A BULLDOG BREEDER
FOR OVER 10 YEARS

AND A SHOW JUDGE, HAS A
PROFESSIONAL APPRECIATION

OF THE BREED'S SPECIAL FEATURES.

Charwin: THEIR NOSE SHOULD
BE SET BACK FROM THE FACE,

GOING INTO A FURROW,
WHICH IS THIS BIT,

OVER A BROAD
HEAD, FLATTISH SKULL,

AND THESE LOVELY ROSE EARS.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE PRICKED UP
OR ANYTHING, THAT IS INCORRECT.

THIS IS WHAT THEY
CALL AN UPSWEEP,

UPSWEEP JAW WHICH COMES
DOWN AND GOES ROUND.

SHE'S GOT A NICE
WIDTH OF CANINE,

AND THAT'S WHAT
THEY CALL UNDERSHOT.

THE TOP LOT SIT RIGHT BACK.

THEY CAN BE LIKE A
PICKET FENCE RATHER THAN

IN A STRAIGHT LINE, AS
LONG AS THEY ARE THERE.

NOT MUCH ATTENTION
IS PAID TO THAT, REALLY.

THAT'S ALLOWED.

AS YOU CAN SEE, SHE HAS GOT

A VERY POWERFUL NECK,

INTO THESE VERY, WHAT THEY CALL

TACKED-ON SHOULDERS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE WHOLE
DOG WHEN THEY ARE SET UP,

THEY LOOK LIKE THEIR
SHOULDERS HAVE BEEN PUT ON

AS AN AFTERTHOUGHT.

AND THAT IS UNIQUE
TO THIS BREED.

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOP
THE HEAD OFF—SOUNDS AWFUL,

AND STICK IT BETWEEN THEIR LEGS,

AND IT SHOULD FIT
NICE AND SQUARE.

IT MEANS THE DOG

IS WELL PROPORTIONED.

Abraham: FOR
DEBBIE, IT'S NOT JUST

JUST THE BULLDOG'S
PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES

THAT MAKE IT SO ATTRACTIVE.

Charwin: THEY'RE A VERY
BIG DOG IN A SMALL BODY.

THEY ARE A TRUE CHARACTER.

I THINK SHE'S JUST
PERFECT. TO ME.

Abraham: HISTORIAN DAVID HANCOCK

IS ALSO A BIG BULLDOG FAN,

BUT HE PREFERS A
MUCH OLDER VERSION.

Man: IF YOU LOOK AT
THE BULLDOG OF 1870

AND THE BULLDOG

OF THE TURN OF THE CENTURY,

TO MY MIND THERE
IS NO COMPARISON.

THE 1870 DOG

IS AN ATHLETIC DOG,

IT'S A HANDSOME DOG,

AND IT'S A HEALTHY DOG.

THIS ONE, THAT HAS
DEVELOPED SINCE,

IT'S NOT WELL BUILT AT ALL.

ITS JAW IS TOO SHORT,

ITS BUILD IS TOO SQUAT,

THERE IS NO CANINE
ATHLETICISM THERE AT ALL.

IT IS PURELY BREEDER WHIM.

Abraham: ORIGINALLY, THE
BULLDOG WAS NOT A BREED,

AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.

IT WAS SIMPLY

A GENERAL TERM FOR A DOG

THAT HAD A CERTAIN
SET OF TALENTS.

BULLDOGS WERE USED BY BUTCHERS

TO CONTROL LIVESTOCK IN
THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE YARD.

THEIR SPECIALIST SKILL WAS
TO PIN DOWN WAYWARD CATTLE.

BULLDOG OWNERS

WOULD SHOW THIS OFF
AT BULL-BAITING EVENTS

FOR THE PUBLIC TO WATCH.

Hancock: THESE ARE THE
BULLDOGS AT THE BAITING RING,

TAKEN ABOUT 1830.

YOU NOTICE THAT THE BULLDOGS

HAD GOOD, LONG MUZZLES.

THEY DO NOT HAVE
SHORT, SQUASHED FACES.

THEY ARE AGILE, ATHLETIC,

CAPABLE OF LIGHTNING MOVEMENT.

IF THEY DIDN'T,
IF THEY COULDN'T,

THE BULL WOULD HAVE VERY
QUICKLY ENDED THEIR LIVES.

Abraham: BY THE
END OF THE CENTURY,

BULL-BAITING HAD BEEN BANNED,

THE FIGHTING ARENAS CLOSED,

AND THE BULLDOG
ENTERED THE VICTORIAN

SHOW RING, INSTEAD.

Hancock: THIS IS A DEPICTION

OF THE TREMENDOUS CHANGE

THAT TOOK PLACE

IN BULLDOG BREEDING
AND FANCYING.

THIS BECAME THE
BULLDOG THAT SURVIVED.

THE OLD TYPE WAS
NO LONGER FAVORED.

THE GREAT SADNESS
OF THE PICTURE IS

THAT THE FAR HEALTHIER BULLDOG

IS DEPARTING THE SCENE,

AND A LESS HEALTHY DOG,

MORE EXAGGERATED DOG,

IS TAKING CENTER STAGE.

Abraham: THE STANDARD THAT
WAS DRAWN UP FOR THE BULLDOG

JUST OVER 100 YEARS AGO

IS WHAT CREATED THE
BREED AS WE KNOW IT TODAY.

THE SNOUT HAS
SHORTENED DRAMATICALLY,

BY OVER THREE INCHES.

SO ITS TEETH ARE
OFTEN OVERCROWDED

AND PROTRUDE OUTSIDE THE MOUTH.

BULLDOGS ARE BRED TO HAVE
BROAD BREAST BONES AT THE FRONT

AND NARROWER HIPS AT THE BACK.

THE PROCESS HAS
BEEN SO EFFECTIVE

THAT MANY PUPPIES
ARE NOW TOO WIDE

TO PASS THROUGH THE BIRTH CANAL,

AND ARE DELIVERED BY
CAESAREAN SECTION INSTEAD.

ITS IMPRESSIVE WIDE SHOULDERS

MAKE IT LOOK POWERFUL,

BUT THE BULLDOG'S
STRENGTH IS ONLY SKIN DEEP.

LIKE IT OR LOATHE IT,
THE PHYSICAL CHANGES

THAT TRANSFORMED THE BULLDOG

ARE VISUALLY STRIKING.

AND ALL PEDIGREE DOGS
HAVE GONE THROUGH

A SIMILAR PROCESS OF
SELECTIVE BREEDING.

SOME EXPERTS THINK IT'S
TIME WE STOPPED TO CONSIDER

THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE DOG.

Man: THE SHAR-PEI IS A LOVELY
DOG, LOVELY TEMPERAMENT.

BUT PHYSICALLY THEY
ARE JUST A DISASTER.

THEY HAVE VERY
COMMON EYE PROBLEMS

WHERE THEY HAVE TO HAVE

LAYERS OF SKIN REMOVED
FROM THEIR EYELIDS

BECAUSE IT'S SO
HEAVY, IT ACTUALLY

STARTS TO AFFECT THEIR EYES,

AND THEY CAN END UP
NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE.

THEIR SKIN IS NOW SO LOOSE

THAT APPARENTLY THE SAYING IS,

A SHAR-PEI COULD TURN
AROUND IN ITS OWN SKIN,

IT HAS SO MUCH LOOSE SKIN.

THE RESULT OF THAT IS,
IT FORMS THESE HEAVY,

THICK LAYERS OF SKIN.

AN EXCESS OF BODY HEAT

BUILD UP WITHIN THOSE

THAT CAN START TO CAUSE SORES

AND IRRITATIONS UNDER THE SKIN.

AND PEOPLE DON'T WANT THEM

UNLESS THEY ARE REALLY
WRINKLY, YOU KNOW,

WHEN IN FACT THEY NEED
TO BE MUCH LESS WRINKLY.

Abraham: PRODUCING SUCH
UNUSUAL FEATURES AS WRINKLY SKIN

CAN REQUIRE THE MATING

OF VERY CLOSELY
RELATED INDIVIDUALS.

AND IT'S THIS INBREEDING
THAT HAS CAUSED

SOME OF THE CLINICAL PROBLEMS
THAT CAN OCCUR IN PEDIGREE DOGS.

Sampson: WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE
LAST COUPLE OF HUNDRED YEARS

IS TO ESSENTIALLY NARROW
DOWN THESE GENE POOLS.

ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES
IS THAT IT CAN BRING TOGETHER

UNWANTED MUTATIONS THAT
CAN CAUSE CLINICAL PROBLEMS.

AND BECAUSE OF THE NARROWNESS
IN OUR MATING PROGRAMS...

DOG BREEDERS CALL
IT LINE BREEDING,

IN HUMANS, WE
CALL IT INBREEDING...

BECAUSE OF THOSE,
THOSE VERY FEATURES

OF THE WAY DOGS HAVE BEEN BRED,

THE CHANCES OF THESE
RECESSIVE MUTATIONS

BEING BROUGHT
TOGETHER ARE FAR HIGHER.

AND THEREFORE,
THERE ARE FAR MORE

INHERITED DISEASES
AS A CONSEQUENCE.

Abraham: BUT THE CHOICES WE MAKE

ABOUT WHICH DOGS TO BREED

CAN HAVE POSITIVE OUTCOMES.

WE CAN USE EXACTLY
THE SAME PRACTICES

TO REVERSE AND
REPAIR EARLIER MISTAKES.

Sampson: THE WAY
THAT DOGS LOOK TODAY

IS CERTAINLY NOT
STUCK WHERE IT IS.

IT CAN BE AN ONGOING PROCESS.

IT'S A VERY PLASTIC SITUATION.

IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF
GETTING THE BREEDERS

TO CHANGE THEY WAY THEY
SELECT PARENTS TO BREED FROM.

THAT TIME FRAME CAN
BE RELATIVELY SHORT,

AS FEW AS THREE OR
FOUR GENERATIONS.

THE SAME GENETIC PRACTICES
THAT HAVE BEEN USED

OVER THE YEARS TO
PRODUCE WHAT WE HAVE TODAY,

THEY CAN BE USED AS EFFECTIVELY

TO REVERSE SOME OF THESE
EXAGGERATED FEATURES

THAT WE SEE.

Abraham: JUSTAS IT'S
BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING,

THE CHOICES WE MAKE WILL
CONTINUE TO SHAPE AND CHANGE

THE DOGS WITH WHICH

WE NOW SHARE OUR LIVES.

Crockford: I SEE IT AS
ACTUALLY MOVING TOWARDS

JUST MODIFYING THOSE KINDS
OF SELECTION PROCEDURES

SO THAT WE END UP WITH
DOGS OF DIFFERENT TYPES...

PERHAPS NOT NEARLY SO MANY,

PERHAPS NOT NEARLY SO EXTREME...

BUT THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE

DIFFERENCES IN SIZE, SHAPE

AVAILABLE TO US TO CHOOSE FROM.

Abraham: THE VICTORIAN
PASSION FOR BREEDING

DIDN'T JUST RESULT

IN DRAMATIC PHYSICAL
CHANGES IN DOGS.

IT FUNDAMENTALLY ALTERED

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

Serpell: I THINK ONE
OF THE BYPRODUCTS

OF THIS RECENT EVOLUTION

OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH DOGS

IS THAT WE KIND OF
SEEM TO HAVE LOST TOUCH

WITH WHAT DOGS ARE.

THEY'RE STILL DOGS,

AND THEY STILL HAVE
THEIR OWN NEEDS.

PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY

GET BACK IN TOUCH
WITH THE REAL DOG,

BEHIND THAT KIND OF,

THESE SUPERFICIALITIES
OF APPEARANCE,

AND START THINKING SERIOUSLY

ABOUT WHETHER THEY
SHOULD REALLY KEEP A DOG

IF THEY AREN’T GOING TO MAKE

FOR THAT ANIMAL AN ENVIRONMENT

THAT WILL SATISFY ITS NEEDS.

Abraham: THE RECENT
PHYSICAL CHANGES

WE'VE MADE TO THE
DOG CAN BE REVERSED,

BUT ITS BEHAVIOR AND INSTINCTS

ARE NOT SO EASILY CHANGED.

IF WE FORGET THIS,

THE RESULTS CAN BE DEVASTATING.

STOP IT!

Abraham: 4.7 MILLION
PEOPLE ARE BITTEN BY DOGS

EVERY YEAR IN THE U.S.,

AND MOST OF THEM ARE CHILDREN.

OUT OF THE 65 MILLION
DOGS THAT AMERICANS OWN,

AS MANY AS ONE IN FIVE
WILL BE PUT TO SLEEP

BECAUSE ITS OWNER IS UNABLE
TO MANAGE ITS BEHAVIOR.

FIVE MILLION DOGS
END UP IN SHELTERS

EVERY YEAR.

FOR ROBERT ALLEYNE, THE
PROBLEM LIES IN POOR SOCIALIZATION

AND IN A DOG'S
INTRINSIC BEHAVIOR.

KEEPING DOGS PURELY
AS DOMESTIC PETS

IS A MODERN PHENOMENON.

BEFORE THE VICTORIANS

INVITED THEM INTO OUR HOMES,

WORKING DOGS WERE BRED
OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS

TO DO A VERY SPECIFIC JOB.

THAT BEHAVIOR HAS NOW
BECOME PART OF THE DOG'S GENES.

IT'S WHAT BIOLOGISTS
CALL HARD-WIRED.

Man: DIFFERENT TYPES
OF DOGS WILL EXHIBIT

DIFFERENT TYPES OF
HARD-WIRED BEHAVIOR.

SO WITH THE GERMAN
SHEPHERD, FOR EXAMPLE,

WE SEE GUARDING BEHAVIORS.

WITH COLLIE TYPES, WE'LL
FIND HERDING BEHAVIORS,

SO THE OWNER WILL
SAY THAT THE DOG

HERDS ALL THE CHILDREN
INTO A CORNER OF THE ROOM

AND WON'T LET THEM MOVE.

IF YOU PICK UP A BALL
AND GO TO THROW IT,

THE DOG RUNS IN
CIRCLES AROUND YOU.

Abraham: AND ONE OF THE MOST

POPULAR PETS OF ALL IS, IN FACT,

A NATURAL-BORN KILLER.

Alleyne: WITH TERRIERS,
YOU'LL SEE A DIFFERENT TYPE

OF HARD-WIRED BEHAVIOR.

TERRIERS WERE BRED TO KILL

OTHER ANIMALS,
WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

ALL OF THE TERRIERS
WERE BRED FOR THAT.

SO YOU'LL SEE OFTEN VERY, VERY
AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN TERRIERS.

THEY WANT TO GET HOLD
OF THINGS AND KILL THEM.

SO I'LL GET OWNERS
SAYING, "I DON'T UNDERSTAND

WHY MY JACK RUSSELL WANTS
TO KILL TIMMY'S RABBIT," YOU KNOW.

Abraham: A TERRIER DOESN'T
TH IT'S BEHAVING BADLY.

IT'S JUST DOING

WHAT ITS INSTINCTS
TELL IT TO DO...

INSTINCTS THAT WE
NURTURED AND VALUED

IN VERY DIFFERENT TIMES.

THIS PINT-SIZED KILLER EMERGED
IN 17th-CENTURY ENGLAND

AS A WORKING-CLASS DOG
PROTECTING FARMERS FROM A PEST

THAT THREATENED TO
DESTROY THEIR LIVELIHOODS.

AN INFESTATION OF RATS

IN YOUR GRAIN STORE COULD SPOIL

AN ENTIRE CROP, AND THE TERRIER

WAS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
AT PEST CONTROL.

YAH, YAH!

YAH, YAH, YAH, YAH!

Abraham: EVERYTHING
ABOUT THE TERRIER

IS DESIGNED TO KILL RATS...

IN HIGH NUMBERS, AT HIGH SPEED.

THE TERRIER WAS BRED TO HAVE
A STURDY NECK FOR ITS TINY SIZE

AND TO KILL ITS PREY

WITH A SINGLE POWERFUL SHAKE.

Hancock: IF YOU HAD A
COTTAGE AND NOT MUCH MONEY,

BUT YOU NEEDED YOUR
GRAIN STORE TO BE PROTECTED,

YOUR LARDER TO BE PROTECTED,

YOUR TERRIER DID THAT FOR YOU

AND WASN’T A BIG DOG,

DIDN'T EAT A LOT, MADE
FEW DEMANDS ON YOU

AND SO WAS A VERY VALUABLE

MEMBER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD.

Abraham: THE TERRIER'S SMALL
AND APPEALING FEATURES

CONCEAL A MUCH LARGER
DOG'S PERSONALITY.

CAREFUL BREEDING AND
SELECTION CREATED A TINY DOG

THAT IS FEARLESS, WILLING
TO TAKE ON ANYTHING.

ITS FEISTY TEMPERAMENT

AND DESIRE TO KILL SMALL
RODENTS CAN BE DISASTROUS,

ESPECIALLY IF IT'S FEELING
THREATENED IN THE CONFINES

OF THE MODERN HOME.

NOW, NOW, CALM.

Abraham: WHEN A WORKING DOG

IS NOT WELL MANAGED AS A PET

AND POORLY SOCIALIZED,

ITS INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR
CAN BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY UP TO FIVE MILLION DOGS

ARE GIVEN UP BY THEIR
OWNERS EACH YEAR.

Alleyne: FOR THOUSANDS

AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

MAN AND DOG HAVE HAD
A VERY STRONG, EFFICIENT

WORKING SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP,

AND THAT RELATIONSHIP
NOW IS IN CRISIS.

I THINK THE KEY REASONS
FOR THIS CRISIS ARE

ALMOST TOTAL BREAKDOWN
IN COMMUNICATION,

A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT OUR DOG IS TODAY

AND HOW WE CAN ENSURE THAT
WE MAINTAIN THE DOG OF TOMORROW.

WE HAVE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN

THE NATURE OF THIS ANIMAL

AND WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR.

Abraham: ROBERT, LIKE
MOST PEOPLE TODAY,

DOESN'T RELY ON A DOG
THAT WORKS FOR A LIVING

BY HUNTING, HAULING, OR HERDING.

BUT IN THE MODERN WORLD,

DOGS STILL HAVE HUGE POTENTIAL

TO HELP US SURVIVE.

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,
MAN HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE

OF THE DOG'S ABILITY
TO TRACK A SCENT.

TODAY THESE BLOODHOUNDS ARE
FOLLOWING A MAN'S SCENT TRAIL

FOR FUN, BUT THEY WERE
ONCE USED TO HUNT DOWN

CRIMINALS AND GANGSTERS.

THEIR SENSE OF
SMELL IS SO ACUTE,

THEY CAN FIND A SCENT
TRAIL UP TO TWO WEEKS OLD.

TO UNDERSTAND HOW
THE DOG'S SENSE OF SMELL

CAN BE A THOUSAND TIMES
BETTER THAN HUMANS',

WE HAVE TO TAKE A
CLOSE-UP LOOK AT HOW

THE DOG'S NOSE WORKS.

LONG, PENDULOUS EARS

AND A WRINKLY FACE

WAFT SCENT PARTICLES
UP FROM THE GROUND.

HIDDEN INSIDE THE NOSTRILS

IS AN INCREDIBLE STRUCTURE...

THE SECRET OF THE DOG'S POWERS.

A MAZE OF BONY PASSAGES,

LINED WITH OVER 200 MILLION
NASAL RECEPTOR CELLS,

TRAP THE INCOMING
SCENT PARTICLES.

THERE'S A FURTHER

UNIQUE ADAPTATION

THAT PREVENTS AN OUTWARD BREATH

FROM BLOWING AWAY
ANY SCENT PARTICLES

DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THEM.

A FLAP OF SKIN MOVES IN

AND SEALS THE FRONT
OF THE NOSTRILS,

FORCING THE AIR OUT
SIDEWAYS AND BACKWARDS...

LEAVING PARTICLES ON THE
GROUND IN FRONT UNDISTURBED,

READY FOR THE DOG'S NEXT SNIFF.

TODAY BLOODHOUNDS
AND MANY OTHER BREEDS

ARE ALREADY DOING

VERY MODERN JOBS...
DETECTING BOMBS,

COUNTERFEIT MONEY, AND DRUGS.

Man: GOOD GIRLS AND BOYS!

Abraham: IF WE CAN
PROPERLY UNDERSTAND

THEIR INCREDIBLE
ABILITY TO DETECT

EVEN THE TINIEST
TRACES OF A SCENT,

THEY COULD HELP US CATCH

ONE OF TODAY'S BIGGEST KILLERS.

AT AMERSHAM HOSPITAL IN ENGLAND,

CAROLYN WILLIS AND CLAIRE GUEST

ARE PART OF A GROUNDBREAKING
MEDICAL RESEARCH UNIT.

HELLO, POPPETS, HELLO!

Abraham: DAISY AND TANGLE

ARE KEY MEMBERS OF THEIR TEAM.

THEY ARE LEARNING HOW TO SMELL

CANCER.

Woman: DISEASES

ALWAYS GIVE RISE

TO ABNORMAL EVENTS WITHIN CELLS.

AND SOME OF THAT
IS THE PRODUCTION

OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF
STRESS-RELATED MOLECULES.

AND SOME OF THESE WILL THEN
GIVE RISE TO VOLATILE CHEMICALS,

WHICH WILL SMELL.

THERE WILL BE VERY
LIGHT MOLECULES,

COME UP INTO THE
ATMOSPHERE, INTO THE AIR.

AND, SAY, DOGS THAT ARE
PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE

CAN PICK THEM UP MORE EASILY.

NOW, THESE ARE CONTROLLED
SAMPLES GOING DOWN HERE NOW,

AND THEY ARE A
MIXTURE OF SAMPLES

FROM NORMAL, HEALTHY PEOPLE,

BUT ALSO SAMPLES FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE OLDER

AND WHO HAVE UROLOGICAL DISEASE,

SO THEY ARE A
MIXTURE OF CONTROLS.

Abraham: SOMEWHERE IN THE
COMPLEX COCKTAIL OF ODORS

FROM THESE URINE SAMPLES
IS THE SIGNATURE SMELL

OF BLADDER CANCER.

FAR BEYOND THE POWERS
OF THE HUMAN NOSE,

THIS TELLTALE SCENT
IS WHAT THE DOGS

ARE BEING TRAINED TO DETECT.

Woman: THE THING THAT
IMPRESSES ME PARTICULARLY

ABOUT WORKING WITH DOGS
IS THEIR FANTASTIC ABILITY

TO CONCENTRATE ON THEIR JOB

WHEN THEY WORK WITH YOU.

I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT THE DAYS

THAT I TRAIN WITH THESE DOGS,

THAT THEY ALWAYS ARE
WAGGING THEIR TAILS,

"WHAT CAN WE DO?"

AND DESPERATELY
TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT.

YOU NEVER FEEL THAT YOU ARE

MAKING THEM DO IT OR
FORCING THEM TO DO IT.

AND YOU ALWAYS FEEL
THAT, WHEN THEY GET IT RIGHT,

THEY GET THAT SENSE
OF, "YES, DONE IT!"

AND THAT JUST MAKES THEM

FANTASTIC CREATURES
TO WORK WITH.

Willis: SO THIS ONE
IS THE URINE SAMPLE

FROM A CANCER PATIENT,

AND IT'S GOING INTO "C."

TANGLE, TANGLE.

GOOD BOY.

GOOD BOY. SICK SEEK, SICK SEEK.

Abraham: TANGLE IS

A WELL-SOCIALIZED
COCKER SPANIEL,

AND CLAIRE AND CAROLYN
ARE HONING HIS SKILLS

BY GIVING HIM THE MOST
DIFFICULT SAMPLES THEY HAVE.

IS IT "C"?

GOOD BOY, GOOD BOY!

Abraham: CAROLYN IS CONFIDENT
THAT THE DOG'S ABILITY

TO GIVE US AN EARLY
WARNING OF CANCER

WILL HELP US TO CREATE NEW,

MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE
WAYS TO DIAGNOSE DISEASE.

Willis: I THINK DOGS HAVE THE
MOST ENORMOUS POTENTIAL

TO HELP US IN THE MEDICAL ARENA.

THEY HAVE HELPED
US FOR CENTURIES

IN TERMS OF HERDING
AND TRACKING,

BUT NOW I THINK WE CAN
EXPLOIT THEIR SENSE OF SMELL

TO REALLY HELP US
DIAGNOSE DISEASE

AND TO HELP THE
MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS

WHO ACTUALLY ARE SUFFERING
WITH CERTAIN DISEASES.

I THINK THEY HAVE
ENORMOUS POTENTIAL.

COME ON DAISY, DAISY.

GOOD GIRL.

DAISY, SICK SEEK. SICK SEEK.

GOOD GIRL! WHAT A CLEVER GIRL!

GOOD GIRL!

WHAT A CLEVER GIRL!

Abraham: 4,000 MILES AWAY,

THE DISEASE-DETECTING
TALENTS OF DOGS

HAVE ALREADY CHANGED
THIS FAMILY'S LIFE.

IF IT WASN'T FOR
GERMAN SHEPHERD, DELTA,

THIS BOY WOULDN'T BE ALIVE.

JOSEPH REINKEMEYER
IS 13 YEARS OLD

AND HAS CONGENITAL
TYPE ONE DIABETES.

HIS BODY IS UNABLE
TO PRODUCE INSULIN,

THE HORMONE THAT CONTROLS

THE BODY'S BLOOD SUGAR,
AND THIS CAUSES SEIZURES.

HE WOULD BITE AT US, HE
WOULD KICK, HE WOULD HIT.

HE WOULD JUST SCREAM IN TERROR.

HE WAS SEEING MONSTERS.

EVEN IF WE TRIED
TO GET JUICE IN HIM

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
HE WOULD FIGHT IT OFF,

THINKING IT WAS A
MONSTER COMING AFTER HIM.

Abraham: JOSEPH WAS FIRST
DIAGNOSED AT THE AGE OF SEVEN,

AND HIS REGULAR DIABETIC
SEIZURES WOULD TERRIFY

BOTH HIM AND HIS PARENTS.

Michele: IT WAS HALLUCINATIONS,

BASICALLY, AND HE WOULD
HAVE THOSE EVERY TIME.

WE USED TO SCREAM AT HIM

BECAUSE HE COULDN'T
HEAR WHAT WE WERE SAYING,

BUT IF WE YELLED LOUD ENOUGH,

HE COULD HEAR A NOISE,

AND HE'D KNOW THAT THAT WAS US.

Abraham: ONCE A
SEIZURE HAS STARTED,

JOSEPH'S PARENTS
HAVE ONLY 15 MINUTES

TO GIVE HIM AN INJECTION
TO BOOST HIS BLOOD SUGAR.

LONGER THAN THIS,

AND THE CONSEQUENCES
COULD BE FATAL.

Michele: MY HUSBAND
WAS WORKING FULL TIME.

I HAD QUIT MY JOB.

AND WE WERE
LITERALLY CHECKING HIM

EVERY HOUR ON THE HOUR,
AND STILL HAVING THE SEIZURES.

EVERY TIME HE WOULD

HAVE A SEIZURE,

I WOULDN'T SLEEP FOR NIGHTS,

BECAUSE I WAS SCARED TO DEATH

THAT HE WAS GOING
TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

HE SLEPT IN THE BED WITH US.

HE QUIT GOING ANYWHERE.

HE WOULDN'T SPEND THE
NIGHT WITH HIS BEST FRIEND.

HE WOULDN'T LET HIS FRIEND
SPEND THE NIGHT WITH HIM,

BECAUSE HE WAS AFRAID
THAT HE'D SEE THAT.

Abraham: AFTER MONTHS
OF KNIFE-EDGE WORRY,

MICHELE MADE A
LIFE-CHANGING DISCOVERY.

Michele: AFTER
JOSEPH'S 11th SEIZURE,

HE WAS REALLY SCARED
OF GOING BACK TO SLEEP.

HE HAD ASKED ME TO STAY AWAKE

SO THAT HE WOULD NOT
HAVE ANOTHER SEIZURE.

SO I AGREED TO STAY UP,
AND I WAS ON THE INTERNET.

YOU, AS A PARENT, AT
FIRST, YOU ARE IN DENIAL.

YOU KNOW, "THIS CAN'T BE REAL.

THERE HAS TO BE
A BETTER ANSWER."

AND I READ ABOUT A
WOMAN WHOSE DOG

HAD STARTED NATURALLY
ALERTING TO THIS,

AND ABOUT 50 PERCENT OF THE
TIME HE WOULD LET HER KNOW

WHEN HER BLOOD
SUGARS WERE GOING LOW.

SO SHE TRAINED HIM
TO GO TO THE FRIDGE

AND GET HER A COKE
WHEN SHE WAS GOING LOW.

Abraham: HAVING
PREVIOUSLY TRAINED

SEARCH AND RESCUE DOGS,

MICHELE IMMEDIATELY
WENT LOOKING FOR A PUPPY

THAT WAS EAGER TO LEARN.

SHE FOUND AN EIGHT-WEEK-OLD
GERMAN SHEPHERD— DELTA.

AND ALTHOUGH THEY WERE
WARNED THAT TRAINING A DOG

TO ALERT FOR TYPE ONE
DIABETES MIGHT BE VERY DIFFICULT,

THEY PINNED ALL THEIR HOPES

ON DELTA'S AMAZING
SENSE OF SMELL.

Man: JOSEPH LOW?

YES, YES, GOOD GIRL.

LET'S GO GET HIM.
WHERE'S JOSEPH?

JOSEPH.

Abraham: THE RESULTS
HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE

THAN THEY COULD
EVER HAVE HOPED FOR.

THEY TRAINED DELTA TO
DETECT NOT ONLY WHEN JOSEPH

IS ABOUT TO HAVE A SEIZURE.

SHE CAN ALSO SMELL THE
SUBTLE BODY CHEMISTRY CHANGES

THAT WARN HIS BLOOD
SUGAR LEVELS ARE FALLING,

WELL BEFORE THE SEIZURE HAPPENS.

Michele: NOW THAT DELTA'S
ALERTING, IT'S NOTA BIG PANIC.

IT'S NOT... IT'S, "OKAY,
WE'VE GOT ANOTHER LOW,

"YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING
TO BE FIVE OR TEN MINUTES

BEFORE I CAN GET BACK TO SLEEP."

AND YOU GO UP
THERE, YOU TEST HIM,

YOU TREAT HIM,
THEN GO BACK TO BED,

BECAUSE IF HE GOES LOW AGAIN

WE'RE GOING TO
GET WOKE UP AGAIN.

Abraham: WITH DELTA AS
HIS CONSTANT COMPANION,

JOSEPH CAN ENJOY HIS FREEDOM,

AND DIABETES NO
LONGER RULES HIS LIFE.

Boy: SHE HAS GIVEN ME
BACK MY LIFE, PRETTY MUCH.

USED TO, I DID
NOT GO TO FRIENDS'

OR HAVE FRIENDS OVER,

BECAUSE I WAS TOO SCARED

OF HAVING A SEIZURE IN
FRONT OF THEM OR SOMETHING.

AND NOW THAT I HAVE

A SERVICE DOG
THAT I CAN DEPEND ON

AND KNOW THAT
SHE'LL KEEP ME SAFE,

I CAN DO ALL THOSE THINGS NOW.

COME ON, DELTA.

Abraham: WHETHER
DETECTING DISEASES

LIKE EPILEPSY,
DIABETES, AND CANCER,

OR PROVIDING SUPPORT AND
COMPANIONSHIP TO PEOPLE

SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS,

DELTA REPRESENTS
ONE OF MANY BREEDS

THAT HAVE ADAPTED
TO WORKING WITH US

IN THE MODERN WORLD.

Hancock: IF YOU TAKE THE
GERMAN SHEPHERD DOG...

STARTED OFF AS A SHEEP
DOG, AS ITS NAME IMPLIES.

BECAUSE THEY WERE CAPABLE DOGS,

THEY MOVED ON, AND THEY
BECAME SERVICE DOGS,

FIRST FOR THE GERMAN
ARMY IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR,

AND THEN WIDELY THROUGH
MANY POLICE FORCES.

THEIR NOSES ARE
EXTRAORDINARILY ADAPTABLE

TO HUMAN REQUIREMENTS

AND HUMAN NEEDS.

GOOD GIRL.

Abraham: IT'S NOT JUST
DOGS WITH PEDIGREES

THAT CAN SAVE LIVES.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY,
THERE ARE EXTENSIVE RECORDS

OF ALL KINDS OF DOGS

WITH THE ABILITY TO ALERT US

TO NATURAL DISASTERS.

Hancock: LOCAL PEOPLE
IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

DETECTED CONSIDERABLE AGITATION

IN THEIR CANINE PETS
BEFORE THE TSUNAMI.

DOGS HAVE THIS SIXTH SENSE.

THIS SIXTH SENSE

ENABLES A DOG TO
KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING

LONG BEFORE MAN CAN DETECT IT...

WHETHER YOU CAN
GET OUT OF THE WAY

OF A TSUNAMI IN TIME,

WHETHER YOU CAN TAKE PRECAUTIONS

IF A HURRICANE IS APPROACHING

OR YOU CAN TAKE

SOME KIND OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES

IF AN EARTHQUAKE
IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN,

THIS IS IMMENSELY
VALUABLE TO MAN.

Abraham: THE DOG'S
EXTRAORDINARY SENSES

HAVE ALREADY BEEN USED
BY SCIENTISTS IN CHINA

TO HELP SUCCESSFULLY
PREDICT EARTHQUAKES.

WHEREVER WE ARE IN THE WORLD,

IT'S THE DOG'S INTELLIGENCE

AND ABILITY TO
COMMUNICATE WITH US

THAT SETS IT APART

FROM OTHER DOMESTIC SPECIES,

FROM PETS

TO FARM ANIMALS.

Serpell: WE ARE REALLY PARASITES

ON MOST OF OUR DOMESTIC ANIMALS.

WE FEED OFF THEM,
FOR THE MOST PART.

BUT THE DOG HAS BECOME THIS

KIND OF SYMBIOTIC
PARTNER WITH US.

IT HAS BECOME LIKE ANOTHER LIMB,

AN EXTENSION OF OURSELVES.

Abraham: THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN MAN AND DOG

HAS A LONG HISTORY.

BUT AFTER 15,000 YEARS,

WE ARE STARTING A NEW CHAPTER.

FROM DIAGNOSIS TO
DISASTER PREDICTION,

SCIENTISTS ARE JUST
BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND

THE NEW WAYS IN WHICH DOGS CAN
CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

WHATEVER WE FACE IN THE FUTURE,

ONE THING IS CERTAIN.

THERE WILL ALWAYS
BE A DOG AT OUR SIDE

TO PROTECT AND ENRICH OUR LIVES.

DOWN.

TO LEARN MORE

A BOUT WHAT YOU'VE SEEN

ON THIS "NATURE" PROGRAM,