Why can dogs run for a really, long time
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Why can dogs run for a really, long time

[From: ] [author: ] [Date: 11-05-31] [Hit: ]
In contrast, the prey species tend to sprint when they see danger.Sprinting works against lions cheetahs, and tigers, because these predators will give up if they cannot catch prey after a short chase.Wolves and African wild dogs,......
Wolves and other breeds of canids, such as the African Wild Dog, have evolved a hunting strategy that allows them to wear down prey. They jog at a fairly constant but relatively low speed, using aerobic respiration, and never incur any oxygen debt in the form of lactic acid. Sprinters, such as lions and tigers, run at maximum speed for short durations, and incur lactic acid, while at the same time raising their body temperature considerably. Both the high body temperature and the lactic acid make it impossible for sprinters to run for long periods of time because lactic acid disables muscles, and high body temperature can bring on a heat stroke.

By jogging, canids avoid disabling lactic acid buildup and keep their body temperature at safe levels. In contrast, the prey species tend to sprint when they see danger. Sprinting works against lions cheetahs, and tigers, because these predators will give up if they cannot catch prey after a short chase. Wolves and African wild dogs, do not give up. The track their prey using their terrific sense of smell. They will follow their prey, and when they catch up, the prey sprints once more. That gives the prey no time to recover by burning off the lactic acid and by lowering their body temperature. Repeated sprinting eventually catches up with the prey when they are diabled by high body temperature and lactic acid buildup and they eventually just drop to the ground, helpless while the wolves or African wild dogs rip them apart and eat them alive. Humans have evolved a similar strategy as wolves. The san bushmen (the closest relatives of all non-Africans) hunt the same way, by following prey and tracking them by sight (not smell). These hunters can read animal tracks and determine how recently they were made. That is why even people who are out of shape can quickly train to run a marathon. Jogging just comes naturally to human beings since we evolved to hunt by jogging.

Since domestic dogs are the descendants of gray wolves, dogs still retain the adaptations and the behaviors of their ancestors. They like to jog, and their owners need to go walk them frequently. This is a behavior not seen in house cats, because the ancestor of house cats do not hunt by joggnig, but by sprintnig short distances. That is why house cats do not have a need to go jogging, and house cat owners do not have to walk their cats.

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Dogs evolved from wolves and some breeds still have the physiology to be able to run for long times. Other breeds, not so much.

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Because they don't sit on the couch all day watching tv, playing video games, drinking beer, and eating cheese puffs.
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