00.30 — 05.10

Introduction. Dr David Paxton’s ideas that the dog domesticated itself rather than being domesticated by humans, and that the dog is ‘the invisible paw’ responsible for the whole of human civilisation. Dr Jonica Newby and her supporting views.

05.10 — 08.20

Archaeological evidence for the antiquity of the relationship between dogs and humans, and the new evidence provided by mitochondrial DNA screening of modern dogs. All modern dogs descended from a ‘mother of all dogs’ who lived 100,000 years ago.

08.20 — 14.40

How humans and dogs came to co-exist: both are social animals with complex systems of communication. The importance of body language for inter-species communication. The characteristics of the dog that made it suited to living with humans: sociability, ability to eat strange foods, infrequent feeding habits. The idea that dogs ‘infested’ human home bases.

14.40 — 20.30

The dingo as ‘the mother of all dogs’. What humans got in return: barking as an early-warning system that provided Homo sapiens with an evolutionary advantage. The idea that dogs and people can cooperate to mutual advantage.

20.30 — 27.10

The possible role of the dog in the evolutionary victory of Homo sapiens over Neanderthal man. The value of the dog’s bark. The hypothesis that the dog’s senses of hearing and smell may have allowed Homo sapiens to develop complex speech.

27.10 — 38.10

The evolution of the dog from scavenger to pet. The 40-year-long Russian experiment to produce domesticated silver foxes.

38.10 — end

The proliferation of breeds of dog, and our ability to breed dogs to do what we want them to do. Abandoned dogs and pampered pets.