Original subtitles

♪

[DOG HOWLING]

♪

Patrick: DOGS.

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’VE BEEN OUR TRUSTED COMPANIONS.

[MOOING]

INTELLIGENT,

PLAYFUL,

AND LOYAL.

[BARKING]

BUT EVERY DOG ON THE PLANET

IS PART OF A MUCH WILDER CLAN,

A GROUP KNOWN AS THE CANINES.

\hFROM THE MAJESTIC WOLF TO THE CUNNING LITTLE FOX

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND EVEN OUR LOYAL HOUSE PETS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE ALL PART OF THE SAME AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILY.

THE CANINE FAMILY IS MADE UP OF 36 EXTRAORDINARY SPECIES.

[BARKING]

THERE ARE DESERT SPECIALISTS

\hAND THOSE THAT SURVIVE IN THE COLDEST PLACES...

[LAUGHS]

...ON EARTH.

\hALL OF THEM SHARE TRAITS WITH THE DOGS IN OUR HOMES.

[BARKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’RE ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE CANINE FAMILY TREE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hREVEALING OUR PETS’ SURPRISING HISTORY

AND MEETING THEIR WEIRD AND WONDERFUL RELATIVES.

\h\h\h\h\h\hFROM YOUNG PUPS TAKING THEIR FIRST STEPS...

THESE ADORABLE LITTLE THINGS \h\h\h\h\h\hARE JACKAL PUPS.

\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE ONLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS OLD.

...TO THE MOST FEROCIOUS PACKS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST SURREAL \h\h\h\hEXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.

THIS TIME WE MEET

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MEMBER \h\h\h\h\h\hOF THE FAMILY,

THE DOMESTIC DOG,

AND REVEAL HOW THEY BECAME \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE FASTEST,

STRONGEST,

AND STRANGEST CANINES \h\h\hON THE PLANET.

\h\h\h\h\h\hPREPARE TO RETHINK EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT DOGS.

A TRULY AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILY.

[GROWLING]

[BARKING]

[HOWLING]

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\hOUR STORY STARTS IN THE WILD HEART OF ASIA...

[HOWLING]

...WHERE RECENT DNA EVIDENCE

\hSUGGESTS THE VERY FIRST DOMESTIC DOGS ORIGINATED.

I’VE COME TO MONGOLIA TO MEET

ONE OF THE OLDEST TYPES \h\h\h\hOF DOMESTIC DOG

IN EXISTENCE TODAY...

[WHISTLING]

[NEIGHING]

\h\h...A GUARD DOG THAT HAS PROTECTED MONGOLIAN NOMADS

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

[BARKING]

\hAND TODAY, THIS FAMILY HAVE SOME NEW ARRIVALS.

[BARKING]

♪

\h\hTHESE BOUNCING PUPS ARE JUST SIX WEEKS OLD,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THEY’RE ALREADY SHOWING OFF THEIR INDEPENDENCE.

WHERE YOU GOING?

COME ON, DOGGY.

HEY, LITTLE ONES!

♪

THESE SUPER CUTE FLUFF BALLS

\h\hARE A VERY SPECIAL AND ANCIENT TYPE OF DOG

CALLED A BANKHAR.

AND WITH THESE BIG FLOPPY EARS \h\hAND UNDENIABLY CUTE LOOKS,

IT’S EASY TO UNDERSTAND \h\h\hHOW DOMESTIC DOGS

\h\hHAVE FOUND THEIR WAY NOT ONLY INTO OUR HOMES,

BUT ALSO INTO OUR HEARTS.

LIKE ALL DOGS,

\h\h\h\hBANKHARS AND HUMANS SHARE A SPECIAL CONNECTION.

♪

RECENT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN

THAT DOGS BOND WITH US \h\hUSING EYE CONTACT.

[BARKING]

\h\h\h\h\hTHIS MAKES US WANT TO CARE FOR THEM,

BUT IT ALSO MAKES THEM \hWANT TO CARE FOR US.

[CHILD BABBLING]

\h\h\h\hEVIDENCE SUGGESTS JUST 90 MINUTES SPENT IN OUR COMPANY

AT AROUND SIX WEEKS OLD

\h\hIS ENOUGH TO CREATE A LIFELONG CONNECTION.

[BARKS]

\h\h\h\hTHIS LOYALTY TO HUMANS IS SEEN IN MOST DOMESTIC DOGS,

BUT IT HAS ITS ROOTS

IN THE DOG’S DISTANT AND FAR WILDER PAST.

[GROWLING]

\hWHAT IS SURPRISING IS THAT THESE PUPPIES

AND EVERY OTHER DOMESTIC DOG

ARE DIRECT DESCENDANTS OF THE WILD GREY WOLF.

[HOWLING]

THE GREY WOLF HAS ROAMED THE CENTRAL ASIAN PLAINS

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

THEY ARE SUPREME PACK HUNTERS.

\h\h\h\hBUT GREY WOLVES ARE ALSO OPPORTUNISTS.

[GROWLING]

AND EXPERTS BELIEVE THIS IS

\h\hWHAT FIRST BROUGHT MAN AND WOLF TOGETHER.

AROUND 30,000 YEARS AGO,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOUR ANCESTORS LIVED A NOMADIC LIFESTYLE.

\hTHEY WERE HUNTER-GATHERERS OUT ON OPEN PLAINS MUCH LIKE THESE,

\h\hAND AS THEY MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE,

THE SCRAPS OF FOOD LEFT BEHIND \h\h\h\h\h\hTEMPTED WILD WOLVES

CLOSER AND CLOSER \hTO THOSE HUMANS.

SOME WOLVES STOPPED HUNTING,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAS IT WAS EASIER TO SCAVENGE FOOD FROM HUMANS.

♪

AS THEY HAD MORE CONTACT \h\h\h\h\h\hWITH PEOPLE,

THEY BECAME LESS AFRAID \hAND INCREASINGLY TAME.

♪

OVER COUNTLESS GENERATIONS,

A GRADUAL TRANSFORMATION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hCONTINUED,

UNTIL THE WILD WOLF HAD CHANGED SO MUCH,

IT HAD EVOLVED INTO...

[GROWLS]

...THE DOMESTIC DOG.

[NEIGHING]

BY 15,000 YEARS AGO,

THE VERY FIRST DOGS WERE LIVING \h\h\hALONGSIDE NOMADIC PEOPLE.

\h\h\hTHIS NEW LIFE TOGETHER OFFERED DOGS CLEAR BENEFITS--

ABUNDANT FOOD AND SHELTER.

\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT FOR PEOPLE, THERE WERE ADVANTAGES, TOO.

\hAS DOGS BEGAN TO PROTECT THEIR PRECIOUS FOOD SOURCE

FROM OTHER WILD ANIMALS,

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY INADVERTENTLY BEGAN TO PROTECT US AS WELL.

\h\h\hTHE DOG HAD BECOME MAN’S TRUSTED GUARDIAN AND DEFENDER.

♪

IT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A TRULY \h\hEXTRAORDINARY RELATIONSHIP

\h\h\h\h\hAND THE FIRST TIME MAN HAD BEEN ABLE TO HARNESS

THE NATURAL POWER OF A WILD ANIMAL.

THE DOMESTIC DOG’S EPIC STORY \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBEGAN HERE,

BUT THESE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

\h\h\h\h\hWERE THE START OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER.

♪

\h\h\hPatrick: TODAY, THERE ARE OVER 500 MILLION DOMESTIC DOGS

ON EARTH...

\h\h\h\hAND MORE THAN 400 DISTINCT BREEDS.

BUT REMARKABLY, THE BANKHAR AND ALL OTHER DOMESTIC DOGS

ARE STILL 98.8 PERCENT GENETICALLY IDENTICAL

TO THE GREY WOLF.

♪

IN FACT, EVEN YOUR DOG AT HOME

\h\h\h\hISN’T REGARDED AS A DIFFERENT SPECIES,

SIMPLY A SUBSPECIES \h\h\hOF THE WOLF.

DESPITE ITS WILD PAST,

THE DOG HAD BECOME MAN’S BEST FRIEND.

[BARKING]

♪

BUT SOON AFTER THIS BOND FORMED,

DIFFERENT CULTURES \hAROUND THE WORLD

\h\h\hBEGAN TO THINK OF WAYS TO STEER THE DOG’S EVOLUTION.

\h\h\h\h\hIF WE COULD USE OUR SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTO HARNESS THEIR SUPERIOR PHYSIOLOGY,

IT WOULD ALLOW US TO REACH \h\hEVEN GREATER POTENTIAL,

POTENTIAL WE COULD NEVER ACHIEVE WITHOUT THEM.

FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

\h\h\h\h\hTHE ARABIAN PENINSULA HAS BEEN HOME TO DESERT NOMADS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO SURVIVE IN THIS HARSH HABITAT,

PEOPLE NEEDED TO CATCH \h\h\h\h\hFAST ANIMALS

LIKE GAZELLE AND WILD HARE,

BUT THEY COULDN’T DO IT ALONE.

♪

THIS IS THE SALUKI,

ONE OF THE OLDEST HUNTING BREEDS IN THE WORLD.

AND HAVING BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL,

\h\hTHEY’VE REMAINED RELATIVELY UNCHANGED

FOR OVER 6,000 YEARS.

BUT TO BE THAT GOOD AT HUNTING \h\h\h\h\h\hIN THIS ENVIRONMENT

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hREQUIRES A VERY PARTICULAR SKILL.

\hTHEY HAVE BECOME MASTERS OF SPEED.

♪

SALUKIS ARE ONE OF THE FASTEST \h\h\h\h\h\hDOGS ON THE PLANET.

ITS LONG CLAWS GRIP THE SAND \h\h\h\hLIKE RUNNING SPIKES.

THEIR LEAN BODIES HAVE SHED

\h\h\h\h\h\hEVERY OUNCE OF UNNECESSARY WEIGHT,

\h\h\hAND EVEN THEIR HEAD IS PERFECTLY AERODYNAMIC.

♪

TODAY, THE SALUKI IS NO LONGER \h\h\h\h\h\hNEEDED FOR HUNTING,

BUT THE BEDOUIN PEOPLE \h\h\hSTILL RACE THEM,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSO I’M IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

TO SEE JUST HOW FAST THEY ARE.

THIS SPARSE DESERT LANDSCAPE \hMIGHT NOT BE HOME TO MUCH,

\h\h\hBUT IT IS HOME TO THE TRAINING TRACK

OF SOME SUPERCHARGED SALUKIS.

\h\h\hA 1.5 KILOMETER STRETCH OF FLAT SAND

IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO SEE \hTHIS DOG’S FULL POTENTIAL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hA 4x4 WILL HELP SALUKI BREEDER HAMAD AL GHANEM

REACH TOP SPEEDS.

HAMAD, HOW ARE WE DOING?

\h\h\h\h\h\hHamad: OKAY. READY WHEN YOU ARE READY.

Patrick: OKAY, I’M GOOD. \h\h\h\hLET’S GO FOR IT.

♪

OKAY, HERE SHE GOES, \h\h\hHERE SHE GOES.

♪

[HONKING HORN]

EVEN AT 60 KILOMETERS AN HOUR,

THE SALUKI CAN STILL KEEP UP.

\h\h\hOVER A DISTANCE OF THREE KILOMETERS,

\h\hTHIS IS THE FASTEST LAND PREDATOR ON EARTH.

[LAUGHS]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT IT’S ONLY BY SLOWING THINGS RIGHT DOWN

THAT THE SALUKI’S SPECIALIST \h\h\hTECHNIQUE IS REVEALED.

THIS IS THE DOUBLE SUSPENSION \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hGALLOP.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hUNLIKE MOST DOGS, ALL FOUR PAWS LEAVE THE GROUND,

NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE--

FIRST WHEN THEIR BODY \hIS FULLY EXTENDED,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEN AGAIN WHEN THEIR LEGS COME TOGETHER.

\h\h\h\hTHIS TECHNIQUE MAKES THE SALUKI FASTER

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAN EVEN ITS DISTANT WOLF RELATIVE.

THE TRUE SPEED SPECIALIST.

HERE SHE COMES. HERE SHE COMES.

WOW!

♪

[LAUGHS]

HAMAD, THAT WAS AMAZING!

Hamad: HI.

Patrick: WHO IS THIS SUPERSTAR?

\hHamad: SHE IS FULLA, AND SHE DID HER BEST.

Patrick: SHE’S SO FAST.

Hamad: OF COURSE, I MEAN, THIS \hIS THE SPIRIT OF THE SALUKI.

\hTHEY HAVE A WONDERFUL AND POWERFUL ENDURANCE.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: I UNDERSTAND THAT THE SALUKIS

ARE REVERED AMONGST THE BEDOUIN PEOPLE.

WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL?

Hamad: IN OLD DAYS, THE SALUKI \h\h\h\hLIVED WITH THE PEOPLE.

THE BEDOUINS, OR THE TRIBES, THEY USED THEM FOR HUNTING,

AND THEY SURVIVE BECAUSE OF THEM ON WHATEVER THEIR SALUKI CATCH.

THAT’S WHY THEY TREAT THEM \hAS A PART OF THE FAMILY.

SOMETIMES MY GRANDFATHER, HE CAN STAY WITHOUT FOOD ALL DAY.

\hSALUKI THE SAME. THEY’RE STARVING.

\h\hTHE NEXT MORNING, THEY GO AND CHASE A RABBIT SOMEWHERE.

FOR THEM, IT’S A BIG DAY.

THEN THEY WILL SHARE. \h\h\h\h\h\hIMAGINE.

THEY SHARE THAT SMALL PIECE \h\h\hOF MEAT BETWEEN THEM,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THIS IS WHAT LIFE WAS THAT DAY--

HEAVY AND TOUGH.

Patrick: THE BOND BETWEEN THESE \hDESERT PEOPLE AND THE SALUKI

RUNS PARTICULARLY DEEP,

BECAUSE IT WASN’T NATURAL SELECTION

\h\hTHAT MADE THE SALUKI SUCH AN EFFICIENT HUNTER.

♪

OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS,

\hTHE BEDOUIN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PURPOSELY ALTERING THEIR DOGS

\h\h\h\h\hTHROUGH A PROCESS CALLED SELECTIVE BREEDING.

DOGS WITH THE LONGEST LEGS

AND MOST STREAMLINED FIGURES

WERE ENCOURAGED TO BREED.

OVER MANY GENERATIONS,

THE SALUKI GOT SLEEKER \h\h\h\hAND SPEEDIER...

UNTIL EVENTUALLY THEY BECAME \hAS FAST AS THEY ARE TODAY.

♪

[PANTING]

TO BE A SUPREME DESERT HUNTER, \hTHE SALUKI IS NOT ONLY FAST,

\h\h\h\h\h\hIT HAS ALSO EVOLVED ANOTHER REMARKABLE ADAPTATION.

MOST HUNTING DOGS RELY ON THEIR \hSENSE OF SMELL TO DETECT PREY.

\h\h\h\h\hBUT IN TEMPERATURES EXCEEDING 40 DEGREES CELSIUS,

PANTING IS ESSENTIAL \h\hFOR COOLING OFF.

\h\h\hAND DOGS CAN’T SNIFF AND PANT AT THE SAME TIME.

\h\h\h\h\hTO FIND PREY IN THE SCORCHING DUNES,

SALUKIS NEED A DIFFERENT TACTIC.

THEY’RE PART OF A GROUP CALLED THE SIGHTHOUNDS,

\h\h\h\h\hWHICH HAVE SPECIALIST EYESIGHT.

AN EXTRA SENSITIVE PART \h\h\h\hOF THEIR RETINA

ALLOWS THEM TO DETECT MOTION \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE HORIZON

OVER 800 METERS AWAY.

♪

\hFINE-TUNED EYESIGHT MEANS THEY CAN SPOT THE TINIEST MOVEMENT...

♪

[LAUGHS]

♪

...AND FROM ALMOST ANY ANGLE.

WHEREAS OUR EYES FACE FORWARD,

THEIRS ARE POSITIONED MORE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE SIDE OF THEIR VERY SLIM HEAD.

\h\hTHIS MEANS WHILE WE HAVE 180-DEGREES FIELD OF VISION,

THEY HAVE 270,

90 DEGREES GREATER THAN OURS.

♪

ENHANCED SPEED AND SIGHT

\h\h\h\hHAS MADE THE SALUKI A REMARKABLE DESERT HUNTER.

IN RETURN FOR CATCHING PREY,

\hTHE NOMADS GAVE THEM SECURITY AND COMFORT--

A PERFECT PARTNERSHIP \hTHAT HAS NOW EXISTED

FOR OVER 6,000 YEARS.

[HOWLING]

\h\hUSING DOGS TO HUNT WAS A HUGE STEP FORWARD

FOR HUMAN CIVILIZATION.

\h\h\h\hFOR THE FIRST TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH PREY

THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY \h\hOUT OF OUR GRASP.

IT ALLOWED US TO PUSH ON,

TO COLONIZE NEW PARTS \h\h\h\hOF THE WORLD.

OUR DOG FAMILY WERE BEGINNING \h\h\h\h\h\hTO PAY THEIR WAY.

\h\h\hPatrick: HUNTING WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WAYS MAN USED THE DOG,

AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT SPEED.

♪

8,000 YEARS AGO,

OUR ANCESTORS WERE PUSHING \h\h\h\hINTO NEW FRONTIERS.

[HOWLING]

DOGS WERE ALREADY BEING USED \h\hFOR GUARDING AND HUNTING.

IN THE EXTREME NORTH, HOWEVER,

\hTHE ICY WILDERNESS SLOWED OUR PROGRESS,

\h\h\hBUT MAYBE THERE WAS ANOTHER TRAIT OF THE WOLF

THAT WE COULD HARNESS.

♪

WOLVES HAD EVOLVED TO MOVE

THROUGH THIS SNOWY LANDSCAPE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITH EASE,

SO PERHAPS IF WE COULD HARNESS

THIS POLAR PROWESS IN DOMESTIC DOGS,

\hMAYBE THEY COULD HELP US TRAVEL FURTHER AND FASTER.

\h\hDOGS WERE ABOUT TO TAKE US TO PLACES WE HAD NEVER BEEN BEFORE.

[BARKING]

Man: HUP HUP HUP!

HUP HUP HUP!

Patrick: CANADIAN INUIT DOGS,

ONE OF 12 DISTINCT BREEDS \h\h\hKNOWN AS SLED DOGS.

♪

THE STRONGEST TEAMS CAN PULL \hWELL OVER A TON IN WEIGHT.

THE FASTEST CAN SUSTAIN A PACE \h\hOF 30 KILOMETERS PER HOUR,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND THOSE WITH THE BEST ENDURANCE

CAN TRAVEL 1600 KILOMETERS \h\h\h\h\h\hIN JUST 8 DAYS.

\h\h\h\h\hTHEIR SUCCESS IS ALL ABOUT THE PACK,

AND FOR GENERATIONS,

\hPEOPLE HAVE FOUND WAYS OF HARNESSING THIS POWER.

[BARKING]

I’VE COME TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN MONTANA

TO EXPERIENCE THIS CANINE FORCE \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR MYSELF.

[WHISTLING]

HELLO.

Mark: I ALWAYS SAY,

\h\h\hIF YOU HAVEN’T HAD A GOOD HUG THIS MORNING,

THE DOGS HELP YOU OUT.

Patrick: AND ATTEMPTING TO KEEP \hTHIS EXCITABLE PACK IN ORDER

IS MARK SCHURKE.

THEY’VE GOT SO MUCH ENERGY. \h\h\hTHEY’RE FULL OF LIFE.

[LAUGHS]

Mark: YEAH, HER NAME’S KA-POW,

\h\h\h\hSO I SAY YOU JUST GOT KA-POWED RIGHT THERE.

[LAUGHS]

[BARKING]

\h\h\hWITH THE INUIT DOG, THERE’S A LOT OF VARIETY.

\hTHEY CAN COME IN ALL SORTS OF SHAPES, COLORS, AND SIZES,

AND WHAT’S NICE ABOUT THAT \h\h\h\h\h\hFOR THIS BREED

\hIS THAT PEOPLE HAVEN’T BRED BASED ON ONE PARTICULAR LOOK.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S MORE CAN THE DOG DO THE JOB,

AND WHEN YOUR WHOLE SURVIVAL’S \h\h\h\hDEPENDENT ON AN ANIMAL,

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T, YOU KNOW,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWORRY ABOUT WHAT THAT ANIMAL LOOKS LIKE.

\h\h\h\hYOU’VE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT HOW WELL IT PERFORMS.

♪

\h\hPatrick: THIS ANCIENT BREED BEARS A REMARKABLE RESEMBLANCE

TO ITS WOLF COUSINS.

♪

LOOKING FROM WOLF TO DOG...

\hIT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

♪

[PANTING]

\hTHE REALLY IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THESE INUIT SLED DOGS

IS THAT THEY EVOLVED \h\hALONGSIDE HUMANS.

\h\hMark: WELL, THEY HAVE A CONNECTION WITH HUMANS

\h\hTHAT GOES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BREED

\h\h\h\hTHAT HELPED TO CREATE AN ENTIRE CULTURE OF PEOPLE,

THAT HELPED THEM SURVIVE IN A PART OF THE PLANET

THAT NOBODY WOULD EVER BE ABLE TO SURVIVE IN.

[BARKING]

Patrick: TO LIVE AND WORK

\h\hIN TEMPERATURES AS LOW AS MINUS 40 DEGREES CELSIUS

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hREQUIRES SOME TRULY AMAZING ADAPTATIONS.

THESE INUIT SLED DOGS \hARE SUPERBLY ADAPTED

FOR LIFE IN THE ARCTIC COLD, \h\hAND YOU CAN JUST SEE THAT

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBY LOOKING AT THEIR BIG, STOCKY BUILD.

FIRST THING THAT’S...

[LAUGHS] OH, GOD.

...CLEAR TO SEE IS

ALL OF THIS HAIR, \hALL OF THIS FUR.

ACTUALLY, ON THE OUTSIDE,

THEY GOT THIS THICK, \hCOARSE GUARD HAIR,

AND UNDERNEATH,

\h\h\h\hTHE SOFT DOWNY FUR TRAPS A LAYER OF WARM AIR,

\h\hWHICH PROTECTS THE DOG FROM THE EXTREME ELEMENTS.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND ALSO, IF WE LOOK AT--HEY, BOY--

LOOK AT HIS EARS.

\h\h\h\h\h\hTHEY’RE SMALL AND ALSO LINED WITH FUR,

AGAIN TO HELP MINIMIZE \h\h\h\h\h\hHEAT LOSS.

Mark: PAW.

Patrick: WHILE CLEVER BIOLOGY

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hALLOWS THEM TO WITHSTAND THE COLD...

Mark: OKAY, GOOD GIRL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: IT’S THEIR INHERITED BEHAVIOR

PASSED DOWN FROM THE GREY WOLF

THAT MAKES THEM A STRONG TEAM.

\h\h\h\hOKAY, SO THESE ARE THE TWO LEAD DOGS?

Mark: THE TWO LEAD DOGS, \h\h\h\h\hSMASH AND ENZO.

Patrick: HI, GUYS.

LIKE THEIR WILD WOLF COUSINS,

FOR THE PACK TO WORK AS ONE,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hEACH DOG HAS A PARTICULAR ROLE TO PLAY.

\h\h\h\hSO, MARK, AS YOU ATTACH EACH OF THE DOGS ONTO THE LINE,

ARE YOU PUTTING THEM IN SPECIFIC PLACES?

\h\h\h\h\hMark: YEAH, SO, SO FAR, WE START OUT WITH THE LEAD DOGS.

IT KEEPS THE LINE \hNICE AND TIGHT.

\h\h\h\hTHEN WE MOVE INTO THE SWING DOGS,

AND THEN THE DOGS IN THE BACK,

\h\hTYPICALLY CLOSE TO THE SLED THERE,

ARE THE WHEEL DOGS.

THEY’RE THE STRONGEST DOGS \h\h\h\h\h\h\hON THE TEAM.

[BARKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: AND JUST LIKE A WOLF PACK,

THERE’S A STRICT HIERARCHY.

HI, ENZO.

[BARKING]

WHILE THE YOUNGSTERS \h\h\h\hGIVE ENERGY,

THE OLDER, MORE DOMINANT DOGS, \h\h\h\h\h\hGIVE THE GUIDANCE.

[GROWLING]

Mark: IT’S OKAY.

IT’S OKAY, IT’S OKAY.

\h\hPatrick: ONCE HARNESSED UP, THE DOGS KNOW IT’S TIME TO RUN.

[BARKING]

\h\h\hJUST ENOUGH TIME FOR THIS NOVICE MUSHER

TO GET SOME TRAINING.

Mark: SO, IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS HOLD ON TO THE HANDLEBAR.

EVEN WHEN WE’RE STOPPED, \h\h\h\h\h\hNEVER LET GO.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHE BRAKE, YOU’LL USE WITH YOUR FOOT.

\h\h\hIF YOU REALLY NEED TO GET THE DOGS TO STOP,

\h\hYOU’RE GOING TO NEED TO GET BOTH FEET ON THERE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND REALLY LAY YOUR WEIGHT INTO IT.

Patrick: BOTH FEET? \hMark: BOTH FEET.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: SO, BOTH FEET ARE GOING

TO COME OFF THE RUNNERS \h\h\h\hAND THEN WHAT?

COME UP ONTO THERE \hLIKE THAT. OKAY.

\h\h\hMark: JUST POUND IT INTO THE GROUND. EXACTLY.

SO, GETTING THE DOGS TO GO,

WE WANT TO BE YELLING AT THEM, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHUP HUP HUP!

LET’S GO, DOGS. HUP HUP HUP!

\h\hGETTING THE DOGS TO STOP, THAT’S A LITTLE BIT TRICKIER.

SAY WHOA, DOGS.

\h\h\hSOMETIMES THAT CAN COME OUT A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, PANICKED

AND MAYBE SOUND LIKE \h\h\h\hWHOOAA, DOGS!

AND THAT MIGHT SOUND LIKE "GO, DOGS" IN THEIR MINDS.

Patrick: OKAY, SO WE GO, HUP, HUP, AND THAT’S GO.

WHOA, DOGS.

Mark: THE KEY THING IS \h\h\hTO NEVER LET GO.

HEY, DOGS! HEY, DOGS!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: AS I WAS ABOUT TO FIND OUT,

THAT WAS MUCH EASIER SAID \h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHAN DONE.

FINGERS CROSSED, I WON’T END UP \h\h\hWITH A FACE FULL OF SNOW.

HERE WE GO! HUP HUP!

GO, DOGS! HUP HUP HUP!

HA HA HA! WHOO!

\h\h\hGOOD DOGS! HUP HUP! HUP HUP!

TO SEE HOW THE PACK \h\h\hPULLS AS ONE,

\h\hI’M TAKING THEM FOR THEIR DAILY RUN

ON ONE OF THE TOUGHEST TRAILS.

GOOD DOGS!

HUP HUP!

WHOA!

WHOA!

WHOA!

[LAUGHTER]

WOW, I THOUGHT I HAD IT,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT, OH, MAN, THEY’VE GOT SO MUCH POWER,

AND THEY’RE SO FAST.

HUP HUP! HUP HUP!

HUP HUP! HUP HUP!

\hTHE SLED WAS INVENTED AROUND 3,000 YEARS BEFORE THE WHEEL.

OH, YEAH!

GOOD DOGS! HUP HUP! HUP HUP!

AT FIRST, PEOPLE PULLED THEM,

\h\hBUT ONCE WE DISCOVERED THE POTENTIAL OF A DOG-PULLED SLED,

\h\hWE COULD START MOVING LARGE QUANTITIES OF GOODS

NOT ONLY FURTHER, \h\h\hBUT FASTER.

IT WAS A REVOLUTIONARY FORM \h\h\h\h\h\h\hOF TRANSPORT.

MORE RECENTLY,

\hTHEY’VE BEEN USED IN SOME OF THE GREATEST HUMAN EXPEDITIONS,

CROSSING BOTH THE ARCTIC

AND ANTARCTIC.

WHOA, DOGS!

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

I AM EXHAUSTED,

BUT NOWHERE NEAR AS MUCH

AS I WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THESE DOGS.

IT WOULD HAVE PROBABLY \h\hTAKEN THE WHOLE DAY

TO COVER THE DISTANCE \h\h\hTHAT WE COVERED

IN JUST UNDER AN HOUR,

SO I’VE GOT A TOTALLY NEWFOUND \h\hRESPECT FOR THESE ANIMALS.

\h\hSLED DOGS HAVE TAKEN MAN TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLE,

\hSO THEY REALLY HAVE ALLOWED US TO GO TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.

WELL DONE.

[LAUGHS]

♪

BY ATTACHING DOGS TO A SLED,

WE HARNESSED THE GREY WOLVES’ \h\h\h\h\hPACK POWER TO PULL.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBUT NEXT, PEOPLE BRED A DOG SO STRONG,

\hIT COULD PULL OVER A TON IN WEIGHT ALL ON ITS OWN,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND IT DOES THIS NOT ON LAND BUT IN THE WATER.

Patrick: MEET THE NEWFOUNDLAND,

SOMETIMES MISTAKEN FOR A BEAR!

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTHESE ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST DOGS ON EARTH

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND CAN WEIGH MORE THAN 100 KILOGRAMS.

THEY’RE NAMED AFTER THE ISLAND \h\h\hOF NEWFOUNDLAND, CANADA,

WHERE THEY LIVED AND WORKED \h\h\h\hALONGSIDE FISHERMEN

FOR GENERATIONS...

\hBECAUSE THIS DOG’S PHENOMENAL STRENGTH

MAKES IT A FANTASTIC SWIMMER.

♪

\hFOR CENTURIES, FISHERMEN HAVE USED THESE WATER DOGS

TO SET AND RETRIEVE THEIR FISHING NETS.

HUGE LUNGS, WATER REPELLENT FUR, AND WEBBED FEET

MAKE THEM A SWIMMING POWERHOUSE.

\hAND INCREDIBLY, THEY CAN PULL A HEAVY BOAT THROUGH THE WATER.

♪

THERE ARE EVEN TALES \h\h\h\hOF THESE DOGS

COMING TO THE RESCUE OF DROWNING SAILORS.

♪

FOR A LONG TIME, FISHERMEN \h\hPRIZED THE NEWFOUNDLAND

FOR THEIR SIZE AND STRENGTH.

♪

BUT NOWADAYS, ITS LOYAL NATURE \h\h\h\h\h\h\hAND CALM DEMEANOR

HAS MEANT IT’S BECOME, \h\h\h\hABOVE ALL ELSE,

A CUDDLY COMPANION.

[BARKING]

♪

\h\h\h\hFOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, MAN AND DOG HAD BEEN ONE TEAM.

[BLEATING]

THEY HAD BEEN OUR PROTECTORS,

OUR HUNTERS...

AND OUR TRANSPORT.

\h\h\hBUT PEOPLE WERE ABOUT TO FIND A WAY OF USING DOGS

THAT WOULD SPEED UP THE PROGRESS OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION

ON A SCALE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

♪

AROUND 10,000 YEARS AGO,

\hOUR ANCESTORS STARTED FARMING THE LAND AND KEEPING LIVESTOCK.

BUT AS THESE FARMS EXPANDED,

\h\h\h\hTHEY NEEDED A WAY OF MOVING THESE ANIMALS,

\h\h\h\h\hAND STRANGELY, TO LOOK AFTER THESE HERDS

AND KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL,

\h\h\h\hTHEY HAD TO HARNESS THE DOG’S KILLER INSTINCT.

THE HIGH PLAINS OF UTAH.

♪

COWBOY COUNTRY.

♪

CATTLE FROM A SINGLE RANCH

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hARE FREE TO ROAM ACROSS 4,000 SQUARE KILOMETERS.

\h\hRANCHERS MUST NOT ONLY KEEP TRACK OF THEIR CATTLE

BUT ALSO MOVE THEM TO FRESH PASTURE.

[MOOING]

THIS WOULD BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWITHOUT THE HELP OF ONE TENACIOUS LITTLE DOG...

[MOOING]

...THE BORDER COLLIE.

[MOOING]

\h\hNIPPING AT THE HEELS OF THESE HUGE ANIMALS...

[MOO]

\h\h\h\h\h...HELP THEM KEEP THE HERD TOGETHER.

[BELLOWS]

\hBUT THIS TAKES A LOT OF BRAVERY!

[BELLOWS]

\h\h\h\h\h\hI WANT TO SEE HOW THESE DOGS USE TRAITS

FROM THEIR WILD WOLF ANCESTORS \h\h\hTO GET THEIR JOB DONE...

SO I’VE COME TO A RANCH \h\h\hTO MEET A COLLIE

THAT’S BOTH BRAVE AND BRIGHT.

THIS IS PAGE.

SHE’S ONE OF THE STARS \h\hHERE AT THE RANCH.

NOW, BORDER COLLIES \hARE THOUGHT TO BE

ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT \h\h\h\h\h\hBREEDS OF DOG.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIN FACT, ONE WAS TRAINED TO REMEMBER

OVER 1,000 DIFFERENT ITEMS,

AND IT’S THIS INTELLIGENCE \h\h\hAND MEMORY RETENTION

THAT MAKES BORDER COLLIES, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLIKE PAGE,

SUCH HIGHLY TRAINABLE DOGS.

INTELLIGENCE IS A TRAIT

THAT ALL DOMESTIC DOGS INHERITED FROM WOLVES.

♪

BY SELECTIVELY BREEDING \h\hONLY THE BRIGHTEST,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hOVER GENERATIONS, WE CREATED ONE SUPER SMART DOG.

♪

BUT IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT BRAINS.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBORDER COLLIES HAVE INHERITED ANOTHER TRAIT

FROM THEIR WILD WOLF ANCESTORS.

♪

AND TO SEE THAT IN ACTION,

\hI’M MEETING UP WITH PAGE’S COWBOY COMPANION, BUZZ BATES.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWELL, BUZZ, IT LOOKS LIKE YOU AND PAGE

HAVE A REALLY CLOSE BOND.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD HER FOR?

\hBuzz: WHEN I GOT PAGE, SHE WAS ABOUT THAT BIG.

Patrick: AH.

Buzz: YEAH, JUST A--

Patrick: A TINY PUP.

Buzz: A TINY PUPPY.

\h\hI THINK IN ORDER TO, TO MAKE A GOOD DOG AND A GOOD COMPANION,

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM WITH YOU \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hALL THE TIME.

\h\h\h\h\h\hPatrick: IF YOU WERE TO EQUATE

THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT SHE DOES TO MANPOWER,

HOW MANY PEOPLE DO YOU THINK \hYOU’D NEED TO REPLACE HER?

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hBuzz: YOU KNOW, IT WOULD BE AT LEAST FIVE GUYS,

AND I THINK THOSE FIVE GUYS \hWOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE

OFF OF THEIR HORSE,

\h\hRUNNING UP THROUGH STUFF YOUR HORSE CAN’T GET THROUGH.

Patrick: SO, IT’D BE A PRETTY TOUGH JOB.

Buzz: IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

\h\h\h\h\hTHEY DO THINGS THAT WE COULDN’T DO WITHOUT THEM.

Patrick: YEAH. \h\hBuzz: YEAH.

Patrick: SO, DO THEY GET KICKED?

Buzz: OH, YEAH, YEAH, \hTHEY’LL GET KICKED.

I’VE SEEN THEM GET KNOCKED OUT

TO WHERE YOU THINK MAYBE THEY’VE EVEN GOT KILLED,

\h\h\hBUT THEY COME TO, AND THEY QUIT BLEEDING

AND JUST KEEP WORKING.

Patrick: WOW. SO, IT JUST SHOWS \hJUST HOW RESILIENT THEY ARE.

Buzz: THEY ARE TOUGH, TOUGH, \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hTOUGH. YEP.

Patrick: TODAY BUZZ IS MOVING \h\h\h\h\h\h200 OF HIS CATTLE

TO FRESH PASTURE,

\hWITH JUST TWO DOGS AND ONE OTHER COWBOY.

♪

THE CATTLE ARE 40 TIMES THE SIZE OF THE COLLIES.

\h\h\hONE KICK WOULD KNOCK PAGE OUT COLD,

BUT SHE’S FAST AND FEARLESS.

WOW! OKAY, HERE THEY COME.

\h\h\h\h\h\hHOO HOO! THAT’S SO IMPRESSIVE.

♪

\hTHE COLLIE’S DESIRE TO ROUND UP LIVESTOCK

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hSTARTS FROM JUST A FEW WEEKS OLD.

\h\h\h\hSHE’S GOING IN, NIPPING AT THEIR HEELS.

[MOOING]

\h\h\hTHEY JUST SEEM TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY NEED TO DO.

IT’S INSTINCT.

BUT THIS INSTINCTIVE BEHAVIOR

\h\h\h\h\h\hHAS ITS ROOTS IN THEIR WILD ANCESTORS.

[HOWLING]

Patrick: WOLVES OFTEN HUNT \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hHUGE BISON.

\hATTACKING THE MAIN GROUP WOULD BE FAR TOO DANGEROUS,

\h\h\h\hSO INSTEAD, THEY WORK AS A TEAM

\h\h\h\h\h\hTO ISOLATE THEIR INTENDED VICTIM.

AND THE COLLIE’S TECHNIQUE \h\h\hIS ALMOST IDENTICAL.

FIRST, THEY GET THE HERD \h\h\h\h\h\hON THE MOVE,

\h\h\h\h\hPUSHING THEM INTO THE BEST POSITION.

[MOOING]

\h\hIF A COW GOES ASTRAY, IT’S TIME FOR THE AMBUSH.

[COWBOY WHISTLING]

FOR THE COWBOYS,

\h\h\hTHIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE HERD TOGETHER.

[MOOING]

\h\h\h\hIT’S A FINELY CHOREOGRAPHED ROUTINE

BETWEEN COWBOY AND COLLIE.

IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT OF ALL \h\hTHE USES WE HAVE FOR DOGS,

IT’S THEIR ABILITY TO ROUND UP \h\h\hLARGE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS,

JUST LIKE THIS,

\h\h\hTHAT’S HAD THE GREATEST IMPACT ON HUMAN CIVILIZATION.

[MOOING]

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hDOGS WERE THE FIRST WILD ANIMALS

\h\h\h\h\hOUR ANCESTORS MANAGED TO DOMESTICATE,

\h\hBUT IT GAVE US GREAT INSPIRATION.

\h\hAFTER DOGS, WE WENT ON TO TAME OTHER WILD ANIMALS

LIKE HORSES, SHEEP, AND CATTLE.

\hWE NO LONGER HAD TO RELY ON HUNTING AND GATHERING.

[BARKING]

\h\h\h\hWE COULD LIVE IN LARGER SETTLEMENTS

AND FARM LIVESTOCK

\h\h\hON A SCALE THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY UNIMAGINABLE.

IT WAS A HUGE LEAP FORWARD \h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR MANKIND.

BUT FOR THE DOG,

THERE WOULD BE ONE FINAL CHAPTER IN THEIR STORY.

♪

FOR 15,000 YEARS,

\h\hOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH DOGS HAD ALL BEEN ABOUT ONE THING--

WORK.

\h\h\hBUT AROUND 2,000 YEARS AGO, WE STARTED TO SEE SOMETHING NEW.

\h\hFAR FROM SIMPLY BEING HARD WORKERS,

\h\h\hWE REALIZED THAT DOGS COULD ALSO BE AFFECTIONATE COMPANIONS,

\h\h\h\h\h\hAND SO WE STARTED TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE COLD

AND INTO THE WARMTH \h\h\hOF OUR HOMES.

BY SELECTIVELY BREEDING DOGS \h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hFOR WORK,

WE NATURALLY CHOSE \hTHE MOST DOCILE.

♪

\h\hOVER MANY GENERATIONS, THIS FUNDAMENTALLY ALTERED

\h\h\h\h\h\hCERTAIN CELLS IN A DOG’S NERVOUS SYSTEM

THAT PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN HOW THEY DEVELOPED.

♪

POINTED EARS BECAME FLOPPY.

♪

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hLONG SNOUTS BECAME SHORT AND STUBBY.

\h\h\h\h\hAND BIG ROUND EYES MADE THEM LOOK LIKE PUPPIES.

WE HAD ACCIDENTALLY PRODUCED ADULT DOGS

WITH JUVENILE FEATURES.

FOR US, THESE LOOKS \hWERE IRRESISTIBLE.

SO NOW, THE 21st-CENTURY DOG \h\h\h\h\hIS, ABOVE ALL ELSE,

OUR MOST BELOVED COMPANION.

TODAY, SELECTIVE BREEDING \h\h\h\h\h\hIS NO LONGER

\h\h\h\hJUST ABOUT PRODUCING A WORKER.

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIT’S MORE ABOUT CREATING THE WEIRD...

AND THE WONDERFUL!

IN JUST A FEW CENTURIES,

\h\h\h\h\h\h\hWE’VE CREATED OVER 400 DIFFERENT BREEDS.

TODAY, DOMESTIC DOGS

ARE THE MOST VARIED-LOOKING \h\h\h\h\hMAMMAL ON EARTH.

OUR MANIPULATION OF THE DOG \h\h\h\h\h\h\hHAS GIVEN IT

THE BIGGEST SIZE RANGE \h\h\h\hOF ALL MAMMALS.

♪

AND IT’S SOMETIMES \h\hHARD TO BELIEVE

THEY ARE ALL ONE SPECIES.

♪

BUT HOWEVER STRANGE \h\hTHEY MAY LOOK,

REMEMBER,

EVERY PET DOG ON THE PLANET \h\h\h\hIS 98.8 PERCENT...

[HOWLING]

...WOLF.

[HOWLING]

THE GREY WOLF FIRST EVOLVED \h\h\h\hA MILLION YEARS AGO

IN THE SNOWY WILDS OF ASIA,

BUT TODAY, THEIR DESCENDENT, \h\h\h\h\h\hTHE DOMESTIC DOG,

CAN BE FOUND IN HOMES \hON EVERY CONTINENT,

WITH OVER 500 MILLION INDIVIDUALS WORLDWIDE.

THEY ARE, WITHOUT A DOUBT,

\h\hTHE MOST SUCCESSFUL MEMBER OF THIS AMAZING ANIMAL FAMILY.

♪

\hIN THIS EPISODE, WE’VE GOT TO GRIPS

\h\hWITH OUR PETS’ SURPRISING HISTORY.

BUT THEY ARE JUST ONE MEMBER

OF A MUCH WIDER AND WILDER FAMILY CALLED THE CANINES.

[BARKING]

AND THIS IS THEIR FAMILY TREE.

[BARKING]

\h\h\hEVERY BRANCH IS FULL OF BIZARRE CANINE COUSINS.

♪

THERE ARE THE FANTASTIC FOXES,

\h\h\h\hSOLITARY HUNTERS WITH POINTED EARS AND BUSHY TAILS.

[SQUEAKING]

\h\h\h\hANOTHER BRANCH IS HOME TO A GROUP OF STRANGE AND RARE DOGS

FOUND ONLY IN SOUTH AMERICA.

\hAND THEN THERE’S THE BRANCH WHERE OUR PET DOGS ARE FOUND.

[BARKING]

IT’S ALSO HOME TO WOLVES

AND HUNTING DOGS.

[BARKING]

\h\h\h\h\h\hALTOGETHER, THE CANINE FAMILY TREE

\h\h\h\h\h\h\h\hIS MADE UP OF 36 SPECTACULAR SPECIES.

[HOWLING]