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Dog fighting is limited, but most dog breeds have been bred primarily for a specific practical purpose. > Dogs literally evolved a muscle to make them more app

Dog fighting is limited, but most dog breeds have been bred primarily for a specific practical purpose. > Dogs literally evolved a muscle to make them more appealing to (and help them communicate with) humans Not necessarily exactly cuteness. The other explanation suggested is better communication in general - by exposing the whites of their eyes we can see what they are looking at, which is an important cue for humans (we use it between ourselves too) to indicate the direction of attention.

JumpCrisscross 2y ago
> most dog breeds have been bred primarily for a specific practical purpose Sure. But most of those traits are shallow. Let the breed go stray and many characteristics go away. The neoteny does not. > Not necessarily exactly cuteness The neoteny—large eyes and heads, for example—is precisely cuteness. Not all breeds are equally neotenic. But they’re very much not wolves.
- graemep 2y ago
  > Sure. But most of those traits are shallow. Let the breed go stray and many characteristics go away. A lot of characteristics seem to be bred in and instinctive - breed specific behaviour occurs without training. Strays do not breed pure so of course breed specific characteristics are lost. > The neoteny—large eyes and heads, for example—is precisely cuteness To an extent yes. The specific trait mentioned in the comment I was replying to was not neotenous. Not all neotonous traits are physically cute.
  - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
    > breed specific behaviour occurs without training. Strays do not breed pure so of course breed specific characteristics are lost My point is neoteny almost isn’t breed specific. Let strays breed and it’s preserved—stray dogs are cuter than wolves. Wild dogs don’t become wolves. (They also stop being French bulldogs.) > Not all neotonous traits are physically cute Almost all physically-cute traits are neutenous.
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JumpCrisscross 2y ago

> most dog breeds have been bred primarily for a specific practical purpose Sure. But most of those traits are shallow. Let the breed go stray and many characteristics go away. The neoteny does not. > Not necessarily exactly cuteness The neoteny—large eyes and heads, for example—is precisely cuteness. Not all breeds are equally neotenic. But they’re very much not wolves.

graemep 2y ago
> Sure. But most of those traits are shallow. Let the breed go stray and many characteristics go away. A lot of characteristics seem to be bred in and instinctive - breed specific behaviour occurs without training. Strays do not breed pure so of course breed specific characteristics are lost. > The neoteny—large eyes and heads, for example—is precisely cuteness To an extent yes. The specific trait mentioned in the comment I was replying to was not neotenous. Not all neotonous traits are physically cute.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > breed specific behaviour occurs without training. Strays do not breed pure so of course breed specific characteristics are lost My point is neoteny almost isn’t breed specific. Let strays breed and it’s preserved—stray dogs are cuter than wolves. Wild dogs don’t become wolves. (They also stop being French bulldogs.) > Not all neotonous traits are physically cute Almost all physically-cute traits are neutenous.

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