Have you watched the historical adventure documentary ‘Alpha’? If yes, you would know that the adorable pooches we know today have actually originated from wolves, huskies being the closest relatives. The domestication of wolves and diversification of dogs into various breeds and types started between 20,000 – 40,000 years ago.
In order to trace the history of the evolution of man’s best friend, Smithsonian’s ‘Amazing Dogs’ is an epic tale, narrated across millions of years. It reveals unique facts about this canine group, which comprises 36 species, ranging from mystic wolves to fuzzy foxes and our lovable furballs. Executive produced by Alex Williamson and Isla Robertson for Offspring Films, ‘Amazing Dogs’ credits Joy Galane and David Royle as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.
Amazing Dogs Cast: Who is in it?
‘Amazing Dogs’ is hosted by biologist Patrick Aryee. He studied Cancer Biology at the University of Bristol and then decided to take up a profession in wildlife film-making. He has been a part of BBC shows such as ‘Frozen Planet’ and ‘Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild’ and has also hosted ‘Zoo La La’.
Amazing Dogs Plot: What is it about?
‘Amazing Dogs’ takes viewers on a journey across the globe — from the US to Africa and Asia — with an aim to track the origin and metamorphosis of dogs. Each episode explores how the different species of dogs have evolved in order to adapt to the terrains of their native landscapes and how they transformed the course of human history. Aryee journeys to Brazilian forests, African deserts, and North American plains to understand this remarkable canine, from the Arctic fox to South America’s maned wolves. In this educational show, we learn about the different steps on the canine family tree, which include the fearsome wild dogs and their transition into our beloved Labradors, bulldogs, mutts, and others. The series reveals the traits of all 36 species and their domestication into man’s most loyal pets.
On one episode, Aryee meet the fastest, most powerful, and unique domestic dogs, which have originally descended from the wild gray wolf. He lands in the wilderness of Mongolia, where he comes across the Bankhar, a native dog that is used to protect livestock from wild hunters. He goes to the deserts of the Middle East, which is home to the Saluki – one of the canines with the highest speed that can reach up to 40 mph. Of course, we also witness Aryee travelling to the north and embarking on a dog-sledding adventure, accompanied by the furry, strong Sled Dogs. He then reaches the south, which houses the loyal Newfoundland, who helps fishermen and Cattle Dog, riding alongside cowboys.
Aryee’s other travels include his journey to the Americas, which is home to the 30-million-years evolution of dogs. He first meets a bunch of the cutest, playful wolf puppies, and explains how their traits are similar to a wider group of the canine family. He also tells us how dogs are, in fact, more intelligent than cats. Next, he comes face to face with furry foxes, fully grown wolves, and South America’s tallest wild dog, known as the “fox on stilts.”
