Radiolab – "Dogs Gone Wild" (May 18, 2011)

Hosts: Jad Abumrad, Robert Krulwich
Guests: Brian Hare (evolutionary biologist, Duke University), Lulu Miller, Soren Wheeler

Episode Overview

"Dogs Gone Wild" explores the question: What is left of the wild within domesticated dogs? The show revisits legendary experiments with Russian foxes, examines a personal story of a lost pet, and probes the science behind what it means for an animal to remain, or revert to, its wild instincts. Through the blend of science, story, and reflective questioning Radiolab is known for, the episode asks if domestication is ever complete and what the latent wildness in our pets might look like.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Russian Fox Domestication Experiment (00:30 – 02:43)

• Background: Dmitry Belyaev, a geneticist in WWII-era Russia, conducted an experiment in Siberia by selectively breeding foxes for tameness.
• Process: He killed aggressive foxes, keeping only those tolerant of humans, and repeated this for about ten generations.
• Resulting Animal:
  • "He was able to create a kinder and gentler fox." (Brian Hare – 01:19)
  • Unexpected physical changes: floppy ears, curly tails, multicolored coats, smaller teeth, thinner bones, more delicate, puppy-like appearance.
• Surprise: These traits, termed 'domestication syndrome,' appeared without being directly selected for, demonstrating the link between behavior and physiology.

"As these animals' behavior changed, their bodies changed too."
— Robert Krulwich (01:23)

2. Lulu Miller’s Story: Loss, Wildness, and Coyotes (03:06 – 11:51)

• Personal Narrative: Lulu recounts her family dog Charlie—how he lived as a quiet, domesticated companion until his abrupt disappearance, likely taken by coyotes.
• Cape Cod Arrival: The arrival of coyotes on the Cape and their impact on the community and local pets.
• Ambivalence: Lulu reflects on whether Charlie’s last moments were tragedy or triumph—a reconnection with his wild heritage.

"For that one moment, he was wild. He went out like a wild dog."
— Lulu Miller (11:44)

• Contemplation: The family considers if Charlie’s end was truly one of loss or a final return to his origins.

3. Scientific Skepticism: Who Took Charlie? (11:51 – 14:04)

Brian Hare challenges the coyote explanation:

• Coyotes as Scapegoats: Coyote expert Mark Bekoff finds little evidence that coyotes are frequently responsible for pet deaths, especially since coyotes often live and hunt alone.
• Other Possibilities: Suggests feral dogs travel in packs, but "a feral dog wouldn't eat your terrier." (Brian Hare – 12:50)
• Environmental Factors: Charlie's disappearance left no physical remains — only the sounds heard that night.

"I'm just—I'm flummoxed. I'm not a coyote expert..."
— Brian Hare (12:59)

• Alternative Explanation: If there were multiple howls, maybe coyote pups responded to an adult's kill during the summer months.

4. Can Dogs Go Wild Again? (14:04 – 17:22)

• Reverse Domestication:
  • The team wonders if, like the foxes' domestication, dogs can "go back" to being wild.
• The New Guinea Singing Dog:
  • A case of a domestic dog population that has lived without humans for an estimated 5,000 years.
  • Shows a blend of dog and wolf features—afraid of people like wolves, but physically much like dogs (some traits like “splotchy coat colors,” “smaller brain, thinner skeleton”—15:24).
  • Lacks some domestication markers (e.g. no floppy ears).
  • Their howl is described as a high-pitched attempt at a wolf howl, earning the nickname "tryhard wolves."

"It's almost like they're in between."
— Soren Wheeler (15:52)

• Timescale: Reversion to wildness isn't immediate; substantial genetic, behavioral change takes thousands of years.

"The last estimate I saw was 5000 years."
— Brian Hare (16:51)

• Conclusion: For dogs like Charlie, there’s likely "no hope" of suddenly regaining true wildness, but the desire might remain.

5. Emotional Reflection: The Pull of Wildness (17:22 – 18:05)

• Desire for Wildness:
  • There's a lingering question of whether domesticated dogs feel a pull towards wildness despite their breeding.
  • Brian Hare humorously speculates Charlie—a terrier—might have met his fate with gusto: "Come on, bring it on, coyotes. Let's go." (17:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Fox Domestication Experiment:

"What happens to the skull and the face is it actually becomes more feminine. The whole animal becomes more delicate and more puppy-like."
— Brian Hare (02:17–02:23)

On Loss and Wildness:

"For that one moment, he was wild. He went out like a wild dog."
— Lulu Miller (11:44)

On Coyotes' Role in Pet Deaths:

"He can't find any good evidence that, you know, it's coyotes that are to blame."
— Brian Hare (12:24)

On Reverse Domestication & Wild Dogs:

"It's almost like they're in between."
— Soren Wheeler (15:52)

Humorous Reflection:

"They're tryhard wolves."
— Brian Hare (16:25)

Important Timestamps

• 00:30 – 02:43: Discussion of the Russian fox experiment and its surprising results.
• 03:06 – 11:51: Lulu Miller's story about Charlie, loss, and wildness.
• 11:51 – 14:04: Brian Hare's skeptical scientific analysis of the coyote attack.
• 14:26 – 17:22: Conversation about the possibility of dogs reverting to wildness (New Guinea singing dogs case study).
• 17:22 – 18:05: Emotional reflection on the meaning of wildness for dogs.

Episode Takeaways

• Domestication dramatically changes not just animal temperaments, but their physical bodies too—often in unexpected ways.
• The concept of wildness is emotionally potent and culturally resonant—we yearn to understand if our pets retain any of it.
• Scientific scrutiny can complicate simple narratives, revealing that animal behavior and fate often defy easy explanation.
• The process of "going wild" again is slow and complex, rooted in evolution, not a single act or moment, though the longing may persist in animal (and human) hearts.