logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
1h 13m

Ethnocynology (HUMANS & DOGS THROUGH TIM...

ALIE WARD
About this episode

Ancient dogs! Domestic wolves! Anthropology! Archaeology! It’s all Ethnocynology: when humans and dogs started living and working together. The wonderful and iconic David Ian Howe is an educator and professional archaeologist whose focus is canines and people. So let’s curl up and be cute – like dogs – as we listen about breed histories, what evidence we have for doggies being friends, how wolves tamed themselves, why our relationships with canines make us what we are, talking dogs, if it’s fair it ask your dog to love you back, corn paws, and why your dog is trying to make fetch happen. 

Visit David’s website and his podcasts, The David Ian Howe Show & Ethnocynology with David Ian Howe

Follow David on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Patreon and Bluesky

A donation went to the Native American Humane Society

More episode sources and links

Smologies (short, classroom-safe) episodes

Other episodes you may enjoy: Lupinology (WOLVES), Canine Speech Pathology (DOGS WITH BUTTONS), Felinology (CATS), Experimental Archaeology (ATLATLS), Momiology (MUMMIFICATION), Egyptology (ANCIENT EGYPT), Classical Archaeology (ANCIENT ROME), Mythology (STORYTELLING), Indigenous Cuisinology (NATIVE COOKING), Radiology (X-RAY VISION), Delphinology (DOLPHINS), Functional Morphology (ANATOMY), Zymology (BEER & YEAST), Columbidology (PIGEONS)

Sponsors of Ologies

Transcripts and bleeped episodes

Become a patron of Ologies for as little as a buck a month

OlogiesMerch.com has hats, shirts, hoodies, totes!

Follow Ologies on Instagram and Bluesky

Follow Alie Ward on Instagram and TikTok

Editing by Mercedes Maitland of Maitland Audio Productions and Jacob Chaffee

Managing Director: Susan Hale

Scheduling Producer: Noel Dilworth

Transcripts by Aveline Malek 

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

Up next
Aug 20
Trolleyology (MORAL DILEMMAS + THE TROLLEY PROBLEM) with Joshua Greene
Train tracks. Split decisions. And a philosophy humdinger worth debating. Dr. Joshua Greene is a Harvard Psychology professor, neuroscientist, and *actual* Trolleyologist. The moral humdinger that has been used in everything from Supreme Court decisions to board games looks at: W ... Show More
1h 21m
Aug 13
Tempestology (HURRICANES) Part 2 with Dr. Kim Wood & Matt Lanza
The info storm continues! Part 1 covered the anatomy of a cyclonic storm, the bizarre histories behind the category system, and where hurricanes come from, but this week’s conclusion with Matt Lanza and Dr. Kim Wood gets you covered on emergency preparation for any disaster occas ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 6
Tempestology (HURRICANES) Part 1 with Matt Lanza & Dr. Kim Wood
Hurricanes. Typhoons. Cyclones. Tropical storms. Tropical depressions. What does it all MEAAAN? Let’s dive in. Career meteorologists Dr. Kim Wood of the University of Arizona and Space City Weather’s Matt Lanza join for a two-guest two-parter to address the “deadlier” female-name ... Show More
1h 10m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2022
#261: Dogs vs. Aliens
In “Dogs vs. Monsters” we chronicled some of the most bizarre and terrifying encounters ever witnessed between humankind’s beloved canine companions and all manner of vexatious varmints. Now, in this episode, we pull back the covers’ of paranormal lore even further bring you some ... Show More
1h 3m
Jul 16
Mailbag: Drug Names, Cow Abductions, and the “Ass-Intensifier”
In this episode we’re opening our mailbag to answer three fascinating questions from our listeners. How did “ass,” a word for donkeys and butts, become what linguists call an “intensifier” for just about everything? How do pharmaceuticals get their wacky names? And why do we all ... Show More
48m 1s
Feb 2024
The First Dogs
For millennia dogs have been undoubtedly man’s best friend. But when did humans first start keeping dogs as pets? The fascinating story of how ancient hunter gatherers first domesticated our now beloved canines is the subject of today’s episode and takes us right back into the de ... Show More
40m 48s
Jul 15
Dogs
DOGS – Laurie Taylor explores the making of the modern companion animal, from working animals to pampered pets. Chris Pearson, Professor of Environmental History at the University of Liverpool, charts the changing fortunes of hunting dogs, street dogs and show dogs, as they moved ... Show More
28m 5s
Nov 2024
Why can't my dog live as long as me?
As we enter our teenage years, many of us feel like life is just getting started. But for dogs, celebrating a ‘teen’ birthday is a sign of old age, entering a phase when things start slowing down. Listener Susan was besotted with her beloved corgi Copper John and wants to know wh ... Show More
28m 44s
Nov 2023
James K. Beggan, "How Our Love of Dogs Creates Social Conflict" (Lexington Books, 2022)
For the last twenty-thousand years, dogs and people have shared a unique bond in the animal kingdom. In How Our Love of Dogs Creates Social Conflict (Lexington Books, 2022), Dr. James K. Beggan uses symbolic interaction to examine the meaning that dogs have for people as friends ... Show More
51m 21s
Feb 2025
The unique love between humans and dogs | Elias Weiss Friedman
What makes the bond between people and dogs so special? Elias Weiss Friedman, creator of The Dogist, has captured millions of hearts by documenting this unique connection through his journalistic style of dog portraits, which reveal each precious pup's unique personality. In this ... Show More
12m 17s
Feb 2025
14x08: The Best of Canine Hero Stories
Stories in this episode: My Rescue Dog Protected Me and My Son | The Devil's Duplicate (1:07) Home Alone With My Old Dog | MaRs1317 (8:29) My Dog Sensed Something About My Daughter's Friend | tharealmouse (15:49) Grocery Store Creep Meets My Guard Dog | lindasburgerz (20:06) Dog ... Show More
55m 18s
Oct 2020
Hound Dog Love w/ @jonathans.journal
Welcome back to SEASON 2 WITH A DOG!  This week is all about being an obsessed dog mom, so obsessed that you start  documenting and illustrating your dogs day to day life! We speak with Ashley the dog mom behind the @jonathans.journal instagram account, a daily journal illustrati ... Show More
57m 55s