As it is known, dog was the first domesticated animal. Comparisons of morphology, physiology, behavior and recent studies on mitochondrial DNA confirm that all breeds of dogs originated from one wild ancestor and it is wolf.

Domestication of wolf took place about 15,000 years ago in Asia. During later time, dogs spread among human tribes of the world with migrations, wars and trade. Presence and assistance of dogs gave people important experience, which facilitated and accelerated domestication of other animals. Further changes and domestication of dogs continued everywhere and the outcome was determined on local geographic conditions and how they were used by people.

Together with people dogs considerably expanded their distribution range and populated all continents and landscapes, from polar deserts to tropical rain forests and in many islands of southern seas, except Antarctic. As a result of this process, aboriginal dogs have been formed.

Word “aboriginal” means first of its kind present in the region and often primitive in comparison with more advanced types (Webster’s Dictionary). In our case, this is applied to dogs of certain geographic regions of the world, where they have been discovered and described by travelers, ethnographers and naturalists. Naturally, history of dogs in every region is linked to history of people, with whom they live. Therefore, a considerable part of information about them came from ethnographic sources. Aboriginal dogs have been formed under conditions of primitive form of selection and almost unrestricted freedom. The breeding was free and minimal care of their owners. In some countries these dogs still live like they lived for thousands of years back. When asked where from they got their dogs, local people often answered: “God gave them to us” or “They came from the skies”.

Physical isolation separated tribes of people and this was enough for accumulation differences between local dogs, which became increasingly persistent with time making them looking like different breeds. However, strictly speaking, they have never been breeds in modern sense of this word, because they evolved without systematic selection for a certain purpose and dogs mated free. Differences between adjacent geographic groups sometimes are subtle, pure statistical and there are dogs of intermediate type, especially in regions of old trade contacts between their owners. Differences are greater between dogs of remote regions with most different climates. Usually all dogs had a chance to compete in the mating and puppy mortality was the major factor restricting their population growth. Natural selection was a major factor of selection, but selection for qualities valued by people was also done, for example, when someone fed most valuable bitch or took her puppies inside during bad weather.

Besides primitive methods of traditional methods of keeping and selection of dogs, we can speak of primitive traits of their appearance, character, hunting style and other traits. Among aboriginal dogs, some individuals may carry more primitive traits then others. Most primitive dogs surviving until present are oldest breeds in the world. In general, their appearance is typical in all countries and easily recognizable by their “wild” characteristics, such as nearly square or slightly rangy body format, wedge-shaped head with pointed muzzle, oblique set eyes and prick ears. These are such dogs as Russian Laikas, Dingoes and Basenji-like dogs of Africa. There are other differences in details, such as coat quality and color, proportions of the head, size and position of ears and variations in body size proportions. There are differences in reproductive cycles; most primitive dogs have one cycle per year and at a certain season of year. However, differences among aboriginal dogs are much stronger in their innate reactions to domesticated and wild animals, familiar and unfamiliar people, and ability to hunt, guard, pull sleds and general obedience. There are some ancient aboriginal dog breeds specialized for a certain job, for example the Saluki and Tazy or Caucasian Mountain Dogs, but they also carry certain primitive traits in the character, style of their work and physiology.

Evolution of aboriginal dogs has continued until most recent time. Increase of human population and global spread of cosmopolitan culture became serious threat to the very existence of aboriginal dogs worldwide. Many unique aboriginal dogs became extinct, became rare or lost their identity because of mixing with imported cultured breeds and their mixes. Those of aboriginal dog breeds, which became recognized by cynological kennel clubs, also loose their original qualities being transformed into ornamental breeds for dog show sport.

In the past, similarity of a dog with wolf, coyote or jackal was not considered as a merit, at least among Europeans. Wolf has been always a negative character in the folklore, literature and superstitions and was not considered as a beautiful animal. Perhaps it was the same in the ancient world. Primitive dogs with their plain wolf-like appearance were most common and numerically predominant everywhere. Nevertheless, they have been faithful and undemanding assistants of plain folks, protectors of family and property of nomadic people. In regions with most fertile soil, mild climate, people settled, civilizations with developed agriculture and cities rose and classes of rich people emerged. Then, selection of dogs for qualities most different from wolf produced many new peculiar looking breeds.

In ancient Egypt, there were several types of sight hounds, scent hounds, mastiffs, sheep dogs, dachshund-like dogs and small toy breeds. At a later time, in medieval Europe, cultured breeds evolved even further in all directions making them least similar to wolf. By early XIX Century, cultured breeds reached their peak numerically and by the number of breeds. Finally, in late XIX Century, dog shows changed entire dog Dom. Now, documents confirming dog’s origin become nearly as important as the dog himself. Puppies out of show winning parents are sold at a high price. A purebred dog with a peculiar appearance becomes a status symbol, a part of his style like his cloths, furniture or style of his house. Purebred origin of the dog confirmed by papers automatically means noble origin of the dog and assumes other merits of its character. In the past, dog breeders were also hunters and other dog users, who raised puppies for other dog users. Now, so-called professional breeder is raising puppies of hunting and other breeds for making a profit.

Disrespectful attitude to aboriginal not registered dogs is common at present, but there are some educated dog users who know that primitive dogs raised at home and employed to do adequate job are often even better then dogs of old cultured breeds. When comparing aboriginal dogs with their cultured counterparts by their usefulness for practical work, it is important to take into account their diversity, degree of domestication and specialization to serve people.

Traits of cultured breeds of dogs distinguishing them from primitive dogs on many occasions are nothing else but biological anomalies. Excessive changes in anatomy and visible characteristics became “trade marks” of some breeds, but they come at a price in form of inconvenience and sometimes even viability of the dog. Such traits must be compensated by special care on the part of the dog’s owner.

Besides, general viability and health of dogs of cultured breeds became weakened during many generations of life under conditions of regular veterinary help preserving genetically inferior animals. Primitive aboriginal dogs remain most perfect biologically and best adapted for survival without human care. Aboriginal dogs used by people for physically active job or living free are built functionally correct, without excesses, their movement is economical, precise, well coordinated and effortless like in wild animals. This have been always maintained by natural selection and unintentional selection directed by people for best performance at work. Other perfect traits of primitive dogs include a full set of large, strong during life and symmetrically positioned teeth, which is a rare case among cultured breed dogs. Primitive dogs can live a longer life remaining active, innate immunity to local diseases transmitted by ticks and bloodsucking insects and even immunity and tolerance to ticks, fleas and intestinal worms, greater endurance when pulling sleds, hunting or herding and guarding herds under harsh climate conditions. They require less food, because their digestion is more efficient.

In regions of the world, where aboriginal dogs are historically used for work, they work hard. They do the best those kinds of service, which they performed in countries of their origin, in their natural environment. During hunting, pulling sleds, herding or guarding property they do not need regular treats for encouragement. Moreover, they often remain hungry for a long time and still keep working. Enthusiasm of a primitive working dog is explained by the fact that the process of work with the master is their best reward.

During hunting, a primitive dog uses entire set of senses given to her by nature in order to find the game, just like it would be done by a wolf. Dealing with a big and dangerous animal, such a dog should by bold, but smart and never forget about the danger. Otherwise it would be killed or injured and his master would loose his assistant. A poor hunter cannot afford a pack of dogs.

Unfortunately, primitive dogs became replaced by cultured specialized dog breeds and began to disappear first in cities, then in whole countries and, finally, by middle of XX Century their extinction accelerated worldwide.

Raise in popularity of cultured breeds is also explained by the fact that they are easier to control and they are more convenient to keep in overcrowded places. Aboriginal dogs were displaced further and further away from economical centers, where human population is sparser and local people still retain old way of life. However, after sometime development brings new people with their cultured breed dogs even there. Everywhere, where people keep dogs according to old tradition allowing them to wander free and mate uncontrollably, aboriginal dogs become mixed with imported cultured breeds and loose their identity.

In some geographic regions extinction of aboriginal dogs takes place as a result of changes in way of life of native people. For example sled dogs of Eskimos are among the best in the world, but they almost died out, because Eskimos do not need them any more. Modern Eskimos do not live in huts made out of blocks of ice (igloo). They live in well heated standard houses with electricity. Now, the Eskimo Sled Dog is recognized as a purebred. It is used for sledding sport and hobby. Canadians value working qualities of this aboriginal dog and want tp [reserve it as a sled dog breed.

Unfortunately, saving still living aboriginal dogs is often difficult. Typically, zoologists do not study them, because they are domesticated animals and considered artifacts. National and international nature conservation organizations are not concerned about aboriginal dogs, because they do not belong to wild animal species and cannot be given “endangered species” status.

Nevertheless, aboriginal dogs are valuable for dog lovers, because they are unique animals created by nature and people. At present, when they are becoming rarities, interest to them of dog fanciers is on the raise. Aboriginal dogs are valued by different reasons. There is a large category of people moved by a romantic “call of the wild”, dream of simple independent way of life like in “old good times” in the environment of unspoiled nature. Undistorted beauty and of primitive dogs is a major attraction to their taste. There is another very important category of people, who like such animals exactly because of their working qualities. They need aboriginal dogs for guarding animal herds against coyotes, wolves or other predators, for pulling sleds or hunting. There are people, who value aboriginal dogs simply because they are dogs of their ancestors, as a part of national heritage. To many, a combination of all reasons listed above is important. Modern dog lovers are not repelled by the fact of similarity of primitive breeds to the wolf. Quite opposite, they often value them exactly because of this. Wolf-like traits of Russian hunting Laikas form an important part of their wild beauty called in Russian “zverovatost”.

In 1999, in order to unite efforts of lovers of aboriginal dogs, Janice Koler-Matznick organized PADS (Primitive Aboriginal Dogs Society) based in United States of America.

Russia is the richest country in the world by the number of aboriginal dogs, including best in the world hunting, sledding and herding breeds. By historical irony, Russia, being a home country of numerous sled dogs, missed development of worldwide growing dog sledding sport. Worse, in the Soviet era, systematic extermination of dogs of the north was conducted. Evidences of this grim fact are available in every part of the country, where these dogs have been existed. It is still not too late to find and safe what is left intact. Recently, it became well known that aboriginal type Laikas of Chukotka and Kamchatka still exist, but some questions still remained unanswered. Is it still possible to find and the unique Amur Laika? If there anywhere in Ural or West Siberia fast aboriginal hunting Laikas of Mansi? Where are “fox-like” hunting Laikas of Evenks? Aboriginal Caucasian Ocharkas, Cnetral Asian Ovcharkas, Tazys and Taigans are unique breeds and we cannot afford losing them.

PADS made a decision to open a Russian branch in Russia (R-PADS) in order to provide a real opportunity for all people of republics of the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world to unite their efforts in the discovery and preservation of aboriginal dogs. Now, everyone interested in preservation and restoration of these amazing dogs can share his thoughts and experiences by participation in discussions of R-PADS. Actual owners of primitive aboriginal dogs and any dog lovers concerned in the status of aboriginal dogs are cordially invited to join.