1 00:00:10,803 --> 00:00:14,599 [animal panting] 2 00:00:21,439 --> 00:00:24,442 [Bryan Cranston] All the qualities found in the dogs we love 3 00:00:26,069 --> 00:00:28,654 are inherited from their wild ancestors. 4 00:00:33,826 --> 00:00:35,369 Sharp senses, 5 00:00:37,121 --> 00:00:38,414 athleticism… 6 00:00:40,583 --> 00:00:42,251 and fierce determination 7 00:00:44,003 --> 00:00:46,589 have helped canines take on the world. 8 00:00:47,965 --> 00:00:50,593 [uplifting music playing] 9 00:00:53,262 --> 00:00:57,600 But the real secret of their success is much more surprising. 10 00:00:58,684 --> 00:01:00,937 It's a story of their intimate side. 11 00:01:03,147 --> 00:01:05,024 It's what makes every dog, 12 00:01:05,108 --> 00:01:07,193 from pet pooch to wild wolf, 13 00:01:07,276 --> 00:01:08,486 one of the family. 14 00:01:14,367 --> 00:01:16,285 [low growling] 15 00:01:28,005 --> 00:01:31,551 Every dog's story begins hidden away in a den. 16 00:01:45,439 --> 00:01:49,777 It's a place of safety for 15 African wild dog puppies. 17 00:01:49,861 --> 00:01:52,363 [puppies whimper] 18 00:01:54,407 --> 00:01:55,658 Five weeks old. 19 00:01:56,576 --> 00:01:58,786 Desperate for a solid meal. 20 00:02:01,414 --> 00:02:03,541 Their babysitters are hungry too. 21 00:02:08,713 --> 00:02:10,047 Like domestic dogs, 22 00:02:10,131 --> 00:02:12,675 they depend on others for food. 23 00:02:14,093 --> 00:02:15,511 But unlike our pets, 24 00:02:15,595 --> 00:02:18,097 they're never sure if dinner will arrive. 25 00:02:18,181 --> 00:02:19,557 [whimpering] 26 00:02:30,776 --> 00:02:36,073 Mom, Dad, and the rest of the family have been out hunting since dawn. 27 00:02:38,326 --> 00:02:40,328 [dramatic drumbeat] 28 00:02:43,748 --> 00:02:44,624 In step. 29 00:02:46,292 --> 00:02:47,710 Thinking as one. 30 00:02:52,590 --> 00:02:55,218 Specialists in running down large prey, 31 00:02:55,885 --> 00:02:58,137 they can hit 40 miles an hour. 32 00:02:58,221 --> 00:03:00,598 [dramatic drumbeat continues] 33 00:03:07,355 --> 00:03:09,190 But not on flooded land. 34 00:03:19,742 --> 00:03:21,494 [water splashing] 35 00:03:21,577 --> 00:03:24,580 They need to push their prey onto more solid ground. 36 00:03:29,418 --> 00:03:30,378 [grunting] 37 00:03:34,048 --> 00:03:38,094 But the lechwe know deeper water could be a lifesaver. 38 00:03:39,762 --> 00:03:41,806 [dramatic music plays] 39 00:03:48,813 --> 00:03:50,648 [water splashing] 40 00:04:13,462 --> 00:04:14,672 Outmaneuvered. 41 00:04:15,298 --> 00:04:16,424 Out of their depth. 42 00:04:21,012 --> 00:04:23,431 Now, it's getting too hot to hunt. 43 00:04:27,935 --> 00:04:31,814 Returning home with nothing means the whole family will suffer. 44 00:04:37,361 --> 00:04:39,739 [gentle music plays] 45 00:04:41,907 --> 00:04:43,909 [whimpering] 46 00:04:52,084 --> 00:04:54,587 Weaning mouths beg Mom for meat. 47 00:04:58,424 --> 00:05:02,345 [whimpering continues] 48 00:05:03,262 --> 00:05:05,222 But a little milk is all she can offer. 49 00:05:05,306 --> 00:05:06,640 [whimpering continues] 50 00:05:13,647 --> 00:05:16,859 If they don't eat soon, the puppies will perish. 51 00:05:20,071 --> 00:05:22,406 The next days will be critical. 52 00:05:24,241 --> 00:05:27,912 To make it, the pack will need all the qualities they share 53 00:05:27,995 --> 00:05:30,414 with members of their wider family. 54 00:05:32,333 --> 00:05:34,794 [howling] 55 00:05:34,877 --> 00:05:36,545 The family of wolves… 56 00:05:38,964 --> 00:05:41,175 foxes, wild dogs, 57 00:05:41,759 --> 00:05:42,593 and jackals. 58 00:05:43,344 --> 00:05:45,346 [upbeat music plays] 59 00:05:46,055 --> 00:05:48,099 Thirty-five species. 60 00:05:49,683 --> 00:05:52,061 Every one a hunter. 61 00:05:54,563 --> 00:05:59,193 Whether a 60-kilogram wolf or a Chihuahua-sized fox, 62 00:06:00,194 --> 00:06:05,408 they range across the planet, from the Sahara to the Arctic. 63 00:06:06,409 --> 00:06:09,161 [wind rushing] 64 00:06:09,829 --> 00:06:13,582 All have exceptional smell, sight, and hearing. 65 00:06:16,794 --> 00:06:18,921 And they're athletic. 66 00:06:20,047 --> 00:06:22,883 -But they're not the fastest carnivores. -[grunting] 67 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:26,303 Certainly not the biggest. 68 00:06:30,307 --> 00:06:31,183 [squawking] 69 00:06:33,686 --> 00:06:35,855 All dogs punch above their weight. 70 00:06:36,689 --> 00:06:39,233 An ability rooted in their distant past. 71 00:06:40,943 --> 00:06:44,071 [distant howling] 72 00:06:44,155 --> 00:06:46,490 Over 40 million years ago, 73 00:06:47,116 --> 00:06:51,162 the first dogs appeared in what's now the American southwest. 74 00:06:53,372 --> 00:06:55,374 It's still home to a throwback. 75 00:06:58,377 --> 00:07:01,422 A gray fox may look like a fox, 76 00:07:02,673 --> 00:07:06,469 but it's more closely related to the canines' primitive ancestors. 77 00:07:10,639 --> 00:07:13,434 This is how all dogs started out. 78 00:07:15,060 --> 00:07:15,895 Small. 79 00:07:18,439 --> 00:07:19,273 Scared. 80 00:07:21,692 --> 00:07:26,197 A more modern dog, a coyote, will kill him if he can. 81 00:07:29,325 --> 00:07:31,076 [distant howling] 82 00:07:37,291 --> 00:07:39,752 But the gray fox has a trick. 83 00:07:44,048 --> 00:07:45,508 He climbs trees. 84 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,179 Something most dogs can't do. 85 00:07:54,141 --> 00:07:56,977 Long claws, short limbs. 86 00:07:58,145 --> 00:07:58,979 Agile. 87 00:08:01,482 --> 00:08:03,776 More cat than dog. 88 00:08:14,370 --> 00:08:18,249 The early ancestors got through by staying out of trouble. 89 00:08:20,209 --> 00:08:23,379 But eventually, they came down from the trees 90 00:08:23,462 --> 00:08:26,257 and became the feisty hunters we know today. 91 00:08:31,220 --> 00:08:34,848 Over time, short, sturdy legs lengthened 92 00:08:36,725 --> 00:08:39,520 and dogs went right up on their toes. 93 00:08:40,104 --> 00:08:42,106 [upbeat music plays] 94 00:08:50,364 --> 00:08:54,451 Strong muscles and special ligaments in their forelegs 95 00:08:54,535 --> 00:08:56,620 give them the spring in their step. 96 00:09:04,044 --> 00:09:06,213 [upbeat music continues] 97 00:09:09,967 --> 00:09:11,510 It's a gait so efficient, 98 00:09:12,928 --> 00:09:16,599 it's transformed them into world-class endurance runners. 99 00:09:19,685 --> 00:09:21,687 [upbeat music stops] 100 00:09:32,156 --> 00:09:34,366 [animal panting] 101 00:09:34,450 --> 00:09:38,621 In the freezing North, food is hard to find. 102 00:09:40,581 --> 00:09:42,249 [whimpers softly] 103 00:09:42,333 --> 00:09:43,876 A gray wolf couple, 104 00:09:43,959 --> 00:09:46,462 each twice the weight of a German shepherd, 105 00:09:46,545 --> 00:09:47,755 lead their family. 106 00:09:56,347 --> 00:09:59,183 They may travel up to 60 miles a day. 107 00:10:08,525 --> 00:10:09,360 [sniffs] 108 00:10:10,110 --> 00:10:12,363 Tracking down their prey is one thing. 109 00:10:14,907 --> 00:10:16,617 Killing it is another. 110 00:10:21,121 --> 00:10:23,457 Adult bison weigh around a ton. 111 00:10:23,540 --> 00:10:24,416 [bison snorts] 112 00:10:25,626 --> 00:10:27,878 And they have lethal horns and hooves. 113 00:10:39,390 --> 00:10:41,809 If they stand their ground, 114 00:10:42,434 --> 00:10:44,478 the herd is like a fortress. 115 00:10:48,857 --> 00:10:50,067 [bison grunting] 116 00:10:52,069 --> 00:10:52,986 [growling] 117 00:10:54,863 --> 00:10:57,282 The wolf family lay siege. 118 00:11:04,623 --> 00:11:07,292 Searching for a hint of fear or a weakness. 119 00:11:08,335 --> 00:11:10,587 [bison grunting] 120 00:11:12,423 --> 00:11:13,674 They hang in 121 00:11:15,092 --> 00:11:16,009 for days. 122 00:11:18,470 --> 00:11:19,930 No need to do much. 123 00:11:21,265 --> 00:11:23,016 Keep them surrounded. 124 00:11:25,269 --> 00:11:27,438 Prey on the bison's minds. 125 00:11:27,521 --> 00:11:29,189 [bison grunting] 126 00:11:30,232 --> 00:11:31,734 [suspenseful music plays] 127 00:11:33,652 --> 00:11:38,866 [howling] 128 00:11:38,949 --> 00:11:41,869 Eventually, the wolves get under their skin. 129 00:11:42,661 --> 00:11:44,663 [suspenseful music continues] 130 00:11:56,467 --> 00:11:59,261 Now, they must keep them on the run. 131 00:11:59,344 --> 00:12:01,346 [suspenseful music continues] 132 00:12:25,704 --> 00:12:27,372 Father leads the chase. 133 00:12:28,290 --> 00:12:30,292 [suspenseful music continues] 134 00:12:35,088 --> 00:12:36,381 He hounds the bison… 135 00:12:38,675 --> 00:12:40,844 at huge risk to himself. 136 00:12:42,846 --> 00:12:44,097 [grunting] 137 00:12:45,432 --> 00:12:47,601 [grunting] 138 00:12:47,684 --> 00:12:50,729 Once he's selected a victim, he doesn't give up. 139 00:12:55,609 --> 00:12:57,611 [suspenseful music continues] 140 00:13:15,128 --> 00:13:16,296 Bite by bite, 141 00:13:17,256 --> 00:13:19,383 he wears the young bison down. 142 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:33,313 -[wolf barks] -[bison grunts] 143 00:13:35,190 --> 00:13:37,651 Dogs aren't equipped to make a clean kill. 144 00:13:37,734 --> 00:13:39,069 [bison grunts] 145 00:13:39,152 --> 00:13:40,028 [wolf yelps] 146 00:13:43,532 --> 00:13:44,741 But he's relentless. 147 00:13:47,327 --> 00:13:48,912 [grunting] 148 00:13:53,333 --> 00:13:56,795 [grunting] 149 00:14:02,092 --> 00:14:04,136 [howling] 150 00:14:14,313 --> 00:14:19,234 Endurance helps him take down prey at least five times heavier than himself. 151 00:14:25,324 --> 00:14:27,993 It changes the entire family's fortunes. 152 00:14:38,420 --> 00:14:40,714 Not all dogs hunt in packs. 153 00:14:43,216 --> 00:14:45,385 One operates as a lone wolf. 154 00:14:48,889 --> 00:14:51,475 At first glance, she looks like a fox. 155 00:14:52,601 --> 00:14:53,602 Only she 156 00:14:54,603 --> 00:14:55,771 walks on stilts. 157 00:14:58,023 --> 00:15:01,193 The maned wolf is the tallest dog on the planet. 158 00:15:15,040 --> 00:15:18,210 To find her food, she needs height, not speed. 159 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:25,133 She's nearly a meter at the shoulder. All the better to see over the tall grass. 160 00:15:29,471 --> 00:15:32,474 Few large animals inhabit these arid plains. 161 00:15:33,850 --> 00:15:35,268 With little to chase, 162 00:15:36,061 --> 00:15:37,270 she works alone. 163 00:15:41,525 --> 00:15:44,569 She relies on her incredible nose and ears. 164 00:15:45,654 --> 00:15:49,783 Her sense of smell is around 50 times more sensitive than our own. 165 00:15:50,909 --> 00:15:54,454 And her hearing tunes in to ultra-high frequencies. 166 00:15:54,538 --> 00:15:55,664 [shrill squeaking] 167 00:15:58,792 --> 00:16:02,421 [squeaking] 168 00:16:03,463 --> 00:16:06,174 [squeaking] 169 00:16:06,675 --> 00:16:11,054 [squeaking and pattering] 170 00:16:11,888 --> 00:16:13,265 [shrill squeaking] 171 00:16:14,349 --> 00:16:17,769 [squeaking and pattering] 172 00:16:20,939 --> 00:16:26,028 [squeaking] 173 00:16:30,365 --> 00:16:32,576 [squeaking] 174 00:16:39,374 --> 00:16:43,253 Hunting prey this small leaves her very little downtime. 175 00:17:00,270 --> 00:17:01,354 [squeaking] 176 00:17:03,732 --> 00:17:06,276 But rodents aren't enough to fill her up. 177 00:17:08,195 --> 00:17:10,072 Under a fruiting Lubera tree, 178 00:17:11,114 --> 00:17:14,576 she reveals something unexpected about the dog family. 179 00:17:18,872 --> 00:17:21,792 Sometimes even carnivores go vegetarian. 180 00:17:24,795 --> 00:17:28,673 Dogs have smaller but more versatile teeth than cats, 181 00:17:29,257 --> 00:17:31,635 so most of them can eat almost anything. 182 00:17:36,014 --> 00:17:41,186 A flexitarian diet means dogs can make do when normal prey is hard to find. 183 00:17:45,690 --> 00:17:47,943 And can thrive almost everywhere. 184 00:17:52,030 --> 00:17:54,366 [barking] 185 00:17:54,449 --> 00:17:57,577 Even the concrete jungle offers them a home. 186 00:17:58,870 --> 00:18:00,872 [dance music plays] 187 00:18:02,249 --> 00:18:03,500 In many cities, 188 00:18:03,583 --> 00:18:06,753 red foxes patrol the streets after dark. 189 00:18:10,674 --> 00:18:14,052 Their presence depends on a fundamental canine quality. 190 00:18:16,721 --> 00:18:18,932 It's all to do with what's going on 191 00:18:19,808 --> 00:18:20,809 below ground. 192 00:18:25,939 --> 00:18:27,983 A vixen has just given birth. 193 00:18:29,401 --> 00:18:30,527 [whimpering] 194 00:18:33,530 --> 00:18:36,491 Every wild dog begins life in a den, 195 00:18:36,575 --> 00:18:38,618 usually scraped out by Mom. 196 00:18:40,328 --> 00:18:41,329 [whimpering] 197 00:18:46,626 --> 00:18:47,711 It's safe here, 198 00:18:47,794 --> 00:18:51,381 so cubs can be born small and helpless. 199 00:18:52,632 --> 00:18:54,134 And litters can be large. 200 00:19:00,056 --> 00:19:03,018 Making milk for her seven cubs is draining her. 201 00:19:03,685 --> 00:19:05,937 But they need to be fed around the clock. 202 00:19:06,479 --> 00:19:09,316 She can't afford to leave them to go feed herself. 203 00:19:11,610 --> 00:19:16,323 Behind every great vixen is a Fantastic Mr. Fox. 204 00:19:17,616 --> 00:19:18,950 [rock music plays] 205 00:19:19,034 --> 00:19:19,910 [sniffs] 206 00:19:22,829 --> 00:19:27,209 He roams the city and picks up all the food she needs. 207 00:19:33,256 --> 00:19:34,549 This is rare. 208 00:19:36,801 --> 00:19:41,306 Not many mammal moms can rely on Dad to stick around. 209 00:19:42,432 --> 00:19:47,103 But every family of wild dogs has a devoted father that provides. 210 00:19:47,812 --> 00:19:52,275 This loyalty is the origin of the bond between dogs and humans. 211 00:19:55,111 --> 00:19:58,114 And means more cubs tend to survive. 212 00:19:59,658 --> 00:20:01,660 [tranquil music plays] 213 00:20:12,629 --> 00:20:16,466 The success of the dog family is not about physical power. 214 00:20:18,343 --> 00:20:22,764 It's thanks to lifelong partnerships between Mom and Dad. 215 00:20:39,531 --> 00:20:43,493 The African wild dog's devotion is being tested to the limit. 216 00:20:48,039 --> 00:20:51,960 With 15 pups and over 20 older brothers and sisters, 217 00:20:53,503 --> 00:20:56,089 it's vital they hunt successfully soon. 218 00:21:06,558 --> 00:21:08,476 Dad has sensed something. 219 00:21:13,481 --> 00:21:15,025 But it's not prey. 220 00:21:15,108 --> 00:21:16,151 [dog growls] 221 00:21:19,487 --> 00:21:21,573 [lion growls] 222 00:21:22,282 --> 00:21:23,616 It's another predator. 223 00:21:28,997 --> 00:21:31,166 Lions will kill wild dogs. 224 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:32,834 [growls] 225 00:21:36,004 --> 00:21:38,465 [growls] 226 00:21:38,965 --> 00:21:41,968 [whimpering] 227 00:21:42,844 --> 00:21:45,263 The puppies are at serious risk. 228 00:21:45,347 --> 00:21:46,806 [whimpering] 229 00:21:46,890 --> 00:21:47,724 [barking] 230 00:21:55,023 --> 00:21:57,400 [tense music playing] 231 00:22:00,236 --> 00:22:01,112 [growls] 232 00:22:04,324 --> 00:22:06,034 To fight would be futile. 233 00:22:06,117 --> 00:22:06,951 [growls] 234 00:22:08,453 --> 00:22:09,913 [growls] 235 00:22:12,749 --> 00:22:13,666 [growls] 236 00:22:13,750 --> 00:22:16,669 Better to lure the lioness away from the den. 237 00:22:16,753 --> 00:22:18,755 [suspenseful music plays] 238 00:22:36,689 --> 00:22:37,524 It works. 239 00:22:40,276 --> 00:22:43,780 But now she knows their hiding place, she could come back. 240 00:22:47,492 --> 00:22:50,120 [growls] 241 00:22:50,954 --> 00:22:52,956 [foreboding music plays] 242 00:22:59,587 --> 00:23:01,047 The dogs have to gamble… 243 00:23:04,717 --> 00:23:08,054 move the pups, even now, in broad daylight. 244 00:23:10,390 --> 00:23:13,268 [foreboding music continues] 245 00:23:14,644 --> 00:23:16,604 They have other dens, 246 00:23:16,688 --> 00:23:19,649 but the nearest is over a half a mile away. 247 00:23:25,238 --> 00:23:27,240 Too far for weakening legs. 248 00:23:28,199 --> 00:23:31,119 [whimpering] 249 00:23:33,830 --> 00:23:37,417 Time for older brothers and sisters to step up. 250 00:23:40,503 --> 00:23:42,505 [foreboding music continues] 251 00:24:05,195 --> 00:24:07,530 Safer, but still hungry. 252 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:12,619 The odds against survival are lengthening by the day. 253 00:24:24,172 --> 00:24:26,925 Dogs are surprisingly vulnerable. 254 00:24:34,390 --> 00:24:36,935 And if you weigh less than a miniature dachshund, 255 00:24:37,727 --> 00:24:39,437 you're always the underdog. 256 00:24:39,521 --> 00:24:42,815 [grunting] 257 00:24:44,442 --> 00:24:50,240 This bat-eared fox dad has been left in sole charge of five cubs 258 00:24:50,323 --> 00:24:52,659 while the love of his life, their mom, 259 00:24:52,742 --> 00:24:53,826 is off hunting. 260 00:24:56,412 --> 00:24:58,206 What could possibly go wrong? 261 00:25:01,834 --> 00:25:03,753 Day care starts as normal. 262 00:25:06,047 --> 00:25:07,048 He scrubs them up… 263 00:25:11,511 --> 00:25:13,263 and oversees homeschooling. 264 00:25:13,346 --> 00:25:15,348 [upbeat music plays] 265 00:25:28,111 --> 00:25:30,029 The cubs are keen to explore, 266 00:25:30,655 --> 00:25:32,824 learning to use their bat-like ears. 267 00:25:33,491 --> 00:25:35,410 [fluttering] 268 00:25:36,578 --> 00:25:39,998 They can hear sounds 20 decibels softer than we can. 269 00:25:40,582 --> 00:25:45,044 [fluttering] 270 00:25:45,128 --> 00:25:48,047 Even the footsteps of termites and beetles. 271 00:25:55,471 --> 00:25:56,764 [fluttering] 272 00:26:01,436 --> 00:26:06,274 Incredibly, bat-eared foxes survive almost entirely on insects. 273 00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:12,822 Mom needs thousands a day to produce enough milk for the cubs. 274 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:19,537 It's why she's away for hours at a time. 275 00:26:24,125 --> 00:26:26,169 And why Dad stays by their bunker, 276 00:26:27,253 --> 00:26:28,880 tending to the cubs' needs. 277 00:26:33,009 --> 00:26:34,886 Guarding them with his life. 278 00:26:37,930 --> 00:26:42,393 But an unseasonal storm could spell bad news. 279 00:26:42,477 --> 00:26:46,064 [thunder crashes] 280 00:26:49,108 --> 00:26:50,360 [thunder crashes] 281 00:26:51,319 --> 00:26:56,115 Torrential rain is a problem for anyone with a home below ground. 282 00:26:59,327 --> 00:27:01,329 [foreboding music plays] 283 00:27:06,250 --> 00:27:08,711 Dad and the cubs get off lightly. 284 00:27:13,091 --> 00:27:15,677 But their neighbors had to abandon their den. 285 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:17,762 [water rushing] 286 00:27:21,724 --> 00:27:23,267 In the scramble to escape, 287 00:27:23,351 --> 00:27:25,520 someone got left behind. 288 00:27:26,020 --> 00:27:26,854 [whimpers] 289 00:27:37,365 --> 00:27:40,159 A lost cub won't last long. 290 00:27:44,455 --> 00:27:46,749 She needs family backup. 291 00:27:48,501 --> 00:27:49,335 [yelps] 292 00:27:56,342 --> 00:27:58,386 Dad and his five cubs are nearest. 293 00:28:02,265 --> 00:28:04,809 Pleading for help is all she can do. 294 00:28:04,892 --> 00:28:07,520 [yipping] 295 00:28:09,188 --> 00:28:11,190 [yipping] 296 00:28:13,568 --> 00:28:14,569 It's a risk. 297 00:28:16,362 --> 00:28:18,573 Dogs often kill intruders. 298 00:28:24,203 --> 00:28:26,205 [melancholy music] 299 00:28:38,134 --> 00:28:40,303 Slowly, the cubs soften towards her. 300 00:28:40,386 --> 00:28:41,971 [whimpering] 301 00:28:57,862 --> 00:29:01,407 And when Dad nestles beside her, it's a good sign. 302 00:29:07,121 --> 00:29:09,123 [uplifting music plays] 303 00:29:16,088 --> 00:29:17,298 Mom returns… 304 00:29:19,383 --> 00:29:21,385 to find an extra mouth to feed. 305 00:29:24,138 --> 00:29:25,765 But she doesn't bat an eye. 306 00:29:32,939 --> 00:29:35,358 The stray cub is probably related. 307 00:29:37,276 --> 00:29:41,072 Even so, an adoption like this has rarely been witnessed. 308 00:29:44,867 --> 00:29:48,120 Doting dads and flexible families 309 00:29:49,622 --> 00:29:51,541 help get through the toughest times. 310 00:29:59,340 --> 00:30:01,717 Dogs are highly social animals. 311 00:30:02,218 --> 00:30:03,344 [growling] 312 00:30:05,429 --> 00:30:09,392 And the key to their family life is sophisticated communication. 313 00:30:09,475 --> 00:30:11,727 [squealing] 314 00:30:14,981 --> 00:30:20,653 [howling] 315 00:30:20,736 --> 00:30:23,823 Wolf howls are supposed to intimidate. 316 00:30:23,906 --> 00:30:29,996 [howling continues] 317 00:30:31,539 --> 00:30:37,712 They tell neighbors up to ten miles away all about the pack size and strength. 318 00:30:37,795 --> 00:30:41,841 [howling continues] 319 00:30:45,678 --> 00:30:48,472 [howling continues] 320 00:30:48,556 --> 00:30:50,850 It's an acoustic flag in the ground. 321 00:30:52,977 --> 00:30:55,396 A warning to keep off their patch. 322 00:30:58,524 --> 00:31:00,526 [foreboding music plays] 323 00:31:05,531 --> 00:31:08,200 Within the pack, they're even more expressive. 324 00:31:11,829 --> 00:31:12,663 A look. 325 00:31:14,999 --> 00:31:15,833 A cower. 326 00:31:17,793 --> 00:31:18,961 Rising hackles. 327 00:31:20,504 --> 00:31:21,881 The height of their tail. 328 00:31:24,842 --> 00:31:28,804 In fact, every move they make is part of an intricate language. 329 00:31:30,723 --> 00:31:33,351 One that our dogs also understand. 330 00:31:39,690 --> 00:31:43,235 But this is the strictest of canine families. 331 00:31:47,365 --> 00:31:49,742 Especially when it comes to dinner time. 332 00:31:51,285 --> 00:31:54,163 [yelping] 333 00:31:56,624 --> 00:31:59,085 [snarling] 334 00:31:59,168 --> 00:32:01,712 Older wolves always feed first. 335 00:32:15,476 --> 00:32:17,311 A youngster steps out of line… 336 00:32:20,690 --> 00:32:21,941 [yelping] 337 00:32:22,024 --> 00:32:24,485 …the top dog puts it in its place. 338 00:32:24,568 --> 00:32:29,073 -[yelping] -[growling] 339 00:32:30,032 --> 00:32:31,534 [growls] 340 00:32:35,955 --> 00:32:38,833 [snarls] 341 00:32:40,459 --> 00:32:42,878 Groveling is the only way to appease. 342 00:32:47,508 --> 00:32:50,011 It's thought that this tough pecking order 343 00:32:50,094 --> 00:32:53,139 helped pave the way for cooperation with humans. 344 00:32:56,017 --> 00:32:58,686 Low-ranking wolves often go hungry. 345 00:32:59,812 --> 00:33:02,481 In lean times, they're banished from the pack. 346 00:33:02,565 --> 00:33:03,524 [yelping] 347 00:33:05,317 --> 00:33:07,611 Around 40,000 years ago, 348 00:33:07,695 --> 00:33:10,865 a starving young wolf approached a pack of humans 349 00:33:10,948 --> 00:33:14,618 and used puppy dog eyes to charm itself a meal. 350 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:22,251 Wolves worked their way into early human families. 351 00:33:23,711 --> 00:33:24,962 And into our hearts. 352 00:33:27,548 --> 00:33:32,928 Incredibly, every domestic dog, from toy poodle to Great Dane, 353 00:33:33,012 --> 00:33:35,056 descends from the gray wolf. 354 00:33:35,139 --> 00:33:37,808 [howling] 355 00:33:37,892 --> 00:33:42,563 But our relationship with the wild side of the family is complicated. 356 00:33:43,856 --> 00:33:47,193 Fairy tales teach us they're big and bad. 357 00:33:48,069 --> 00:33:49,403 Or sly and cunning. 358 00:33:51,072 --> 00:33:55,159 Even though they share the loyalty and intelligence of our best friends. 359 00:33:59,914 --> 00:34:03,542 [howling] 360 00:34:03,626 --> 00:34:08,547 Across the world, dogs, wolves especially, have been persecuted. 361 00:34:08,631 --> 00:34:11,342 Driven from their former vast ranges. 362 00:34:14,512 --> 00:34:16,597 [howling] 363 00:34:17,723 --> 00:34:19,058 But they're resilient. 364 00:34:21,352 --> 00:34:23,729 Given half a chance and some room, 365 00:34:24,313 --> 00:34:25,773 dogs bounce back. 366 00:34:29,944 --> 00:34:33,906 And some have found unrivaled success in our modern world. 367 00:34:37,701 --> 00:34:40,246 Thanks to Mom and Dad's hard work, 368 00:34:40,329 --> 00:34:43,290 a red fox cub is ready to take on the world. 369 00:34:47,169 --> 00:34:51,423 She's five months old, learning how to fend for herself. 370 00:34:51,507 --> 00:34:53,384 [yelping] 371 00:34:57,680 --> 00:34:59,890 A sibling can be a friend for life. 372 00:35:01,809 --> 00:35:02,893 A hunting partner. 373 00:35:04,979 --> 00:35:05,896 [yelping] 374 00:35:07,565 --> 00:35:08,691 [cat meows] 375 00:35:29,086 --> 00:35:30,254 [dog barking] 376 00:35:32,923 --> 00:35:37,803 As they scour the streets, they'll do well to watch and learn from Mom. 377 00:35:41,140 --> 00:35:43,851 She's discovered a regular source of food. 378 00:35:48,355 --> 00:35:51,317 Feeding wild animals can cause problems. 379 00:35:52,860 --> 00:35:55,613 But maybe this is the beginning of a new relationship 380 00:35:55,696 --> 00:35:57,948 between wild dogs and us. 381 00:36:00,117 --> 00:36:03,245 Just as with wolves thousands of years ago. 382 00:36:05,497 --> 00:36:11,629 [siren wails] 383 00:36:11,712 --> 00:36:13,422 For now, the cub is learning 384 00:36:13,505 --> 00:36:16,967 that through the food we hand out or throw away, 385 00:36:17,051 --> 00:36:19,428 humans are central to her survival. 386 00:36:24,141 --> 00:36:26,227 Adaptable and opportunistic, 387 00:36:26,310 --> 00:36:29,688 red foxes have spread into 83 countries. 388 00:36:30,481 --> 00:36:31,440 Five continents. 389 00:36:33,859 --> 00:36:38,781 They've taken over from wolves as the most widespread carnivore on Earth. 390 00:36:45,329 --> 00:36:47,414 But not all are faring so well. 391 00:36:48,457 --> 00:36:51,877 Habitat loss, hunting, and disease 392 00:36:51,961 --> 00:36:56,674 mean fewer than 7,000 adult African wild dogs survive. 393 00:36:58,050 --> 00:37:01,303 And this family's future is hanging by a thread. 394 00:37:03,555 --> 00:37:05,599 They need to find food. 395 00:37:07,393 --> 00:37:10,938 In bushy savanna, there are many places for prey to hide. 396 00:37:14,066 --> 00:37:16,193 The pack needs to switch strategy. 397 00:37:17,403 --> 00:37:18,862 Make the most of their team. 398 00:37:24,785 --> 00:37:28,998 [suspenseful music plays] 399 00:37:40,259 --> 00:37:42,261 [suspenseful music intensifies] 400 00:37:48,934 --> 00:37:51,270 They split up into twos and threes 401 00:37:52,604 --> 00:37:54,356 to try to flush out the impala. 402 00:37:58,027 --> 00:38:00,029 [suspenseful music stops] 403 00:38:07,536 --> 00:38:08,370 [sniffs] 404 00:38:11,999 --> 00:38:14,126 [suspenseful music resumes] 405 00:38:14,209 --> 00:38:16,462 [grunting] 406 00:38:40,152 --> 00:38:41,320 Dad locks on. 407 00:38:42,571 --> 00:38:44,573 [suspenseful music continues] 408 00:38:54,375 --> 00:38:57,002 But he needs the others to finish the job. 409 00:38:58,629 --> 00:39:01,590 -[yipping] -[grunting] 410 00:39:06,303 --> 00:39:08,347 At last, success. 411 00:39:08,889 --> 00:39:12,267 [yipping] 412 00:39:19,858 --> 00:39:23,570 They slice the impala into large chunks and bolt them down. 413 00:39:24,405 --> 00:39:27,491 [grunting] 414 00:39:29,034 --> 00:39:30,494 They need to be quick. 415 00:39:31,495 --> 00:39:33,831 When other predators get wind of the kill… 416 00:39:36,542 --> 00:39:38,502 they have to abandon their prize. 417 00:39:43,966 --> 00:39:46,051 Once again, they head for home. 418 00:39:48,554 --> 00:39:51,765 But this time, they're not returning empty-handed. 419 00:39:55,144 --> 00:39:58,856 Some carry an extra third of their body weight in butchered meat 420 00:39:58,939 --> 00:40:00,691 stowed in their stomachs. 421 00:40:15,831 --> 00:40:18,792 This level of excitement only means one thing. 422 00:40:20,752 --> 00:40:22,504 [upbeat music plays] 423 00:40:22,588 --> 00:40:24,423 [yipping] 424 00:40:43,692 --> 00:40:46,403 Unlike wolves, there's no pecking order here. 425 00:40:48,322 --> 00:40:51,283 Pups and babysitters all get their fair share. 426 00:41:02,002 --> 00:41:03,170 [yipping] 427 00:41:03,253 --> 00:41:05,130 Today is a joyful day. 428 00:41:07,633 --> 00:41:10,552 And the future of these pups is a little more certain. 429 00:41:13,972 --> 00:41:19,436 For African wild dogs, survival relies on a brave and tenacious team. 430 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:26,235 But whether pack hunter or lone wolf, 431 00:41:26,318 --> 00:41:30,614 all ultimately depend on the strength of Mom and Dad's undying loyalty. 432 00:41:36,411 --> 00:41:38,830 This is why dogs are so successful. 433 00:41:39,706 --> 00:41:43,460 And why they hold such a special place in our hearts. 434 00:41:45,879 --> 00:41:49,174 [uplifting music plays] 435 00:41:52,928 --> 00:41:55,097 [closing theme music playing]