Why did Native Americans reject their dogs, companions for 13,000 years?

Question

According to Nicholas Wade in "Before the Dawn," genetic proof has been found recently proving that Native Americans brought their dogs with them over the Bering land bridge and did not domesticate a New World wolf. The dogs they brought with them had only been domesticated in East Asia shortly before their epic migration. But when the Europeans came, the Indians switched to their breeds. Why?

Answer 1

Perhaps they didn't switch...perhaps it just happened that way. Assuming it's even true.

Answer 2

Maybe Europeans had better/smarter dogs?

Answer 3

As an amature collector you about had megoing on that one ,until Iread about your other paper  Ill stand down on this

Answer 4

I have to agree with icabodwa, paleo-anthropology is like trying to put a puzzle together with one piece out of a thousand.  Very few remains actually fossilize and preserve, and very few artifacts remain from a time so long ago.  

    An anthroplogist misleading thier readers is not unprecedented, Chariot of the Gods is a perfect example.  Where the author fabricated evidence to make it look like the Mayans worshipped aliens/flying saucers.

Answer 5

Wade is  a science reporter for the New York Times. I don't find credentials for him in genetics, anthropology or a similar field. In 300 pages he covers 50,000 years.

The only peer reviewed publication with an article on him is "Nature" they write:

"Wade's explanations commit various well-known errors, such as equating correlation with causation and extrapolating from individual traits to group characteristics. Often his arguments and trait choices are laden with Western-oriented value judgements."

http://www.gnxp.com/blog/2006/06/before-...

The "Nature" article includes:

"Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence."

"Skeptic" Notes: "One must not, of course, confuse evolution generally with the romantic concept of progress. Even so, a person might be excused for reflecting upon humanity’s recent development with nominal pride."

http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/07-02-16...

While Wade's claim is interesting, I'd like to see more data and supporting research.

Answer 6

The native dogs were camp dogs.  European dogs were speciallized from elk hounds, rabbit hunting hounds, blood hounds, to simple pets.  When Native Americans reverted to European type lifestyles, the native dogs were no longer needed to tidy up the camps and probably got interbred with Euro dogs minimally and lost out in the compitition over the long term.

Answer 7

It may well be that the native dogs suffered the same fate as the Native Americans.  The European breeds may have been better equipped (in disposition) to living in the European style settlement.  The Euro dogs may have also brought diseases which the native dogs had no in bred immunity to.

The Euro dogs may have out bred the locals too.