Product Description

How did the fierce wolf become a playful puppy? And why are there so many varieties?

We feed them, breed them, pet them and dress them, but how well do we really know them? John Lithgow narrates this insightful look at how dogs evolved from fierce wolves to playful pets—and why there are so many types of dogs today.

Whether you’re a dog person or not, there’s no denying dogs are an evolutionary marvel, and thanks to human intervention, they are one of the most diverse species on earth. With an amazing array of sizes, shapes, colors, temperaments and other quirks, canis familiaris features one of the most tinkered-with gene pools in the animal kingdom.

NOVA goes beyond the wagging tails and floppy ears to reveal surprising insights into the origin and evolutionary strategy of our canine companions. From a wolf research facility in rural Indiana to New York’s Westminster Dog Show, you’ll discover some amazing dog facts. Did you know the Saluki can beat any other mammal on earth in a three-mile race? That dogs developed spots for a specific reason? And that their evolution is helping us learn about our own?

Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34176 in DVD
• Brand: Nova
• Released on: 2004-04-20
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Letterboxed, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 60 minutes

Customer Reviews

very well done!!
Lots of precise info. and cute images. The dogs look great and the story of how they became "man's best friend" is well told. Worth every penny! Great for all dog lover's.

Best of its kind
This show deserves more than 1 review, so I must add my comments. This compelling story touches on many aspects of canine evolution and abilities, and gets major props for being one of the first to introduce the Coppingers' very compelling theory (Dogs: A New Understanding...) and for broaching the hot issue of inbreeding. Beautifully shot and packed with fascinating trivia, the DVD is worth watching more than once.

entertaining and informative
This hour-long program gives an overview on a few theories of how dogs evolved from wolves, and discusses breeding and how different breeds got to be so diverse in looks and, for lack of a better word, function (such as retrieving, herding, hunting, etc.). It is very entertaining to watch, and even though it touches upon topics as complicated as genetics, it is very easy to understand. It is a brief overview though, and for anyone looking for more in-depth info and more specific details on the evolution of dogs should check out Nature: Dogs that Changed the World. For anyone who loves dogs, though, watching this dvd would definitely not be a wasted hour. John Lithgow is a good enough narrator, and my only (minor) complaint is that the little cartoons they use to illustrate some of the points get to be a bit irritating.