Dogs in Native American culture
Dogs have played a significant role in Native American culture, with their history tracing back to their domestication from wolves in Asia, arriving in the Americas between 40,000 and 15,000 years ago. Two primary breeds were present: a long-legged type resembling a German shepherd and a short-legged type similar to a beagle, both characterized by a wide variety of colors and hair lengths. These dogs were primarily utilized as hunting aids, assisting hunters in flushing game and sometimes digging out burrowed animals. In addition to their hunting roles, dogs were instrumental in transportation, pulling sleds in the Arctic and hauling travois in the Great Plains, while also serving as companions across different tribes.
Interestingly, in times of scarcity, some Native American groups consumed dogs as a food source. Certain tribes, like the Iroquois, held annual feasts where dog meat was a highlight, and in Western Mexico, dogs were regularly bred specifically for consumption. The significance of dogs in these cultures is further illustrated by their representation in prehistoric artifacts, which depict both well-fed and starving dogs, reflecting the varying conditions of life. Overall, the relationship between dogs and Native American communities underscores a deep mutual reliance, encompassing roles in hunting, companionship, and sustenance.
Subject Terms
Dogs in Native American culture
Tribes affected: Pantribal
Significance: Dogs provided hunting assistance, food, and companionship among all Indian groups
The first dogs in America were domesticated from wolves in Asia and were brought to the Americas some time between forty thousand and fifteen thousand years ago. There were two major breeds of dog in native North America, one long-legged and the other short-legged. The former resembled a German shepherd in build, and the latter was similar to a beagle, though both were extremely variable in coloring and hair length. There is no evidence of selective breeding to keep breeds separate, and dogs with intermediate characteristics were common.
Both breeds of dog were used primarily as hunting aids, flushing game into the open or treeing it. Some dogs apparently were adept at forcing animals into the open by digging into their burrows, but it is unclear whether any tribes regularly trained dogs for hunting skills. Dogs also were used for hauling travois in the Great Plains, for pulling Inuit dogsleds, and as pets everywhere.
Dogs occasionally were eaten throughout North America, especially in times of food shortage. Some groups, such as the Iroquois, had annual feasts at which the eating of a dog was a central part of the activities. In Western Mexico, dogs were eaten more regularly, and the modern chihuahua is descended from a dog bred particularly for eating. These dogs are depicted in ceramic sculptures in prehistoric shaft tombs, especially in Colima, appearing either as plump animals (indicating bounty) or as gaunt, starving animals with jutting jaws and protruding ribs (representing famine).