The history of primitive dogs dates back thousands of years.
These breeds, close to the wolf, have retained many behavioral and physiological characteristics of their wild ancestors.
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What is a primitive dog?
Primitive dogs are considered to be genetically close to their wild ancestors.
They have the particularity of having been very little modified by nature and man.
They have not in fact been selected on this or that physical or behavioral criterion like other domestic dogs.
They come from breeds produced by natural selection.
The French Book of Origins (LOF) emphasizes that they have retained their
“primary instincts”.
This non-alteration of genes makes them less prone to health problems, explains Margaux Rieu, dog trainer, specialist in primitive dogs.
What are the primitive dog breeds?
According to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), so-called primitive dog breeds belong to
group 5,
entitled
“Spitz-type and primitive-type dogs”.
Margaux Rieu specifies that Spitz dogs are also primitive dogs.
“Simply, there are different denominations depending on where they come from
.
Spitz-type dogs are found in the Northern Hemisphere (mainly arctic regions) while primitive-type dogs are in the Southern Hemisphere
.”
Very different, they are therefore classified into 7 sections:
Section 1
: Nordic sled dogs including:
Siberian Husky
Malamute
Greenland Dog
Samoyed
Did you know ?
The Samoyed has historically had a nanny role in yurts.
This dog has the particularity of loving children but also of barking a lot.
Section 2
: Nordic hunting dogs including:
Karelian Bear Dog
Finnish Spitz
Norwegian Elkhound
Section 3
: Nordic guard and shepherd dogs including:
Lapland Finnish
Icelandic Shepherd
Visigoth Spitz
Section 4
: European Spitz including:
German Spitz
Wolf Spitz
Italian Volpino
Good to know
The word “Spitz” comes from German and means pointed and erect.
This refers to the Spitz's triangular ears.
Section 5
: Asian Spitz including:
Eurasier
Chow chow
Akita inu
Shiba inu
Japanese Spitz
Korean Jindo
Good to know
Asian Spitz like Shiba are among the oldest established breeds known.
Section 6:
Primitive type:
Basenji
Canaan dog
Pharaoh Hound
Peruvian hairless dog
Did you know ?
The Canaan Dog, which lives in the desert, is certainly the most primitive dog of all.
Its mention in the Bible also indicates a very ancient presence on earth.
Section 7
: Primitive type-hunting dogs including:
Podenco (Spain)
Podengo (Portugal)
Thai Ridgback
What are the physical characteristics of primitive dogs?
Primitive dogs were almost never crossed with other breeds.
Thus, their DNA is very close to that of the wolf, particularly for the Shiba inu.
Margaux Rieu assures “
that they have kept a fairly wild genetic code
”.
These breeds are believed to be descended from Asian pariah dogs who migrated with human groups either towards the south (Africa) or towards the north (Arctic).
“
What is interesting,”
she continues
, “is that these rustic dogs have adapted to their local living conditions
.”
It is precisely this adaptation to their environment and to often extreme climates (polar cold, desert heat, etc.), which explains why there are differences between them.
But they have similar physical characteristics:
Lupoid type morphology (except Pharaoh's greyhounds, Cirneco de l'Etna, Podenco).
A horizontal pyramid-shaped head (with generally straight and pointed ears, an elongated and narrow muzzle, tight lips)
Clear eyes
Double layer fur, with top hair and undercoat (the fur is less dense and shorter for the primitive type because it is adapted to hot climates and the desert)
A curved or curled tail
Robust legs
The dog trainer emphasizes that “
their physical characteristics are designed to make themselves understood by other dogs in the natural environment, for survival.”
They thus have straight ears, open eyes, tightly pressed lips, a clearly visible tail and legs adapted to their natural environment: they allow them to easily jump on a tree trunk for example.
By showing their teeth or wagging their tails, primitive dogs therefore communicate easily, unlike certain breeds produced by man whose communication abilities are diminished by their physical characteristics.
What is the character of a primitive dog?
The so-called primitive breeds have retained their behavioral and physiological characteristics, which obviously shapes their current character.
Although we must keep in mind that each dog is different, there are nevertheless similar traits in these dogs.
These dogs are very independent and also have a strong character, due to their difficult ancestral living conditions.
“
They are not dependent on humans, for example
,” explains Abdel Najib, dog trainer and specialist in primitive dogs.
Indeed, in their natural environment they had to live on their own for a very long time.
To illustrate his point, he relates the anecdote of a primitive dog who ran away for three months in the forest and who returned to his master bigger and hairier!
“They are sensitive,
intelligent
.
They are also thoughtful and think for themselves.
They have a personality in their own right and know what they want
,” explains Abdel Najib, who also recalls that they can be suspicious, distant, alert, stubborn.
And uncooperative: a primitive does not obey his master blindly and unconditionally.
“
With a primitive, there is reciprocity: I give, I receive, but not in the bad sense of the word
,” he concludes.
Once the bond is created with the master, it can be very strong.
Good to know
The behavioral tendencies of a primitive dog are: distrust of strangers and unusual things;
a tendency towards aggression towards other dogs;
great independence.