[hunter-gatherer]

Indeed. A year ago I purchased a working/field line golden retriever from a reputable breeder (pm me if interested) and embarked on training my first gun dog. We've done a few hunting trips this season and I found myself telling my father the other day something along the lines that I don't really care for the _hunting_ so much as I find something primal and natural about the symbiotic relationship that I've formed with this dog, especially when we hunt together. It's like he knows his chances of survival are better if we work this out together. I fail to articulate the feeling well.

And as a parent comment suggested a slavery relationship... I don't know.. If so, I've got a pretty well pampered and happy slave dog.

[UniverseHacker]

Just speculation but I imagine there was already symbiosis between humans and wolves long before people treated dogs as pets, livestock, or property. Semi wild dogs eating our food waste will also keep down rat and other pest populations and bark if potentially dangerous strangers suddenly show up. Win win, so no reason for us to drive them off, or for them to leave. I’ve seen this relationship in modern times in small rural muslim communities where people do not interact with the dogs for religious reasons, but are willing to let them live around their homes.

[hunter-gatherer]

I don't contend with your view at all, and agree completely. I've spent lots of time in the Middle East and know exactly what you're speaking of. I actually happened upon this article the other day, whicj I found interesting regarding early symbiosis[1]. I'm not a biologist, so I can't speak to the subject a whole lot.

1. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/raccoons-are-show...