Original release date: April 17, 2016.

Rating: TV-PG

Length: 44 minutes

Background:

A lot of times, I think we forget that Disney+ is more than Disney movies and “Hamilton.” There’s a whole National Geographic section, largely filled with television specials.

“How Dogs Got Their Shapes” is one such special. It aired in 2016 and educated… the people who watched it, I guess, as well as those of us who have vowed to watch every title in the movie section on Disney+ even though that’s impossible.

Review:

As with a lot of things like this, I’m going to kinda review and describe what’s happening compared to a longform movie review.

So, how did dogs get their shapes? It’s a fine question.

Dogs evolved from one species, the grey wolf. That’s where the ears, teeth and tail come from. However, human’s scraps caused less need for fighting form, which changed shapes… and brought us dogs.

We get various medical experts appearing throughout this special.

Let’s break it down, starting with ears. Hearing is vital for dogs, though not in the same hunting way wolves used them. This is where we learn why modern dogs have different shaped ears, whether it is for keeping dirt out or keeping water out.

Dogs have enhanced hearing, which is probably why my dog freaks out over any tiny noise. We get a special look at chihuahuas, who have some of the most advanced hearing of any animal. As far as dogs that can’t hear at all? Puppies. Puppies are born basically deaf, as their ear canals are swollen shut.

Next we look at tails, all of which have led to different shapes as dogs evolve and different species have appeared. We spotlight the beagle, whose tail signal victory. As they hunt, the white tip of their tail is often the only signal you’ll see of them. We learn about what wagging tails mean as well.

Hey, let’s talk about dog size! They all have 99.5% of DNA in common, so that .5% is what causes size changes. Our next spotlight hits great danes, which are one of the tallest breeds in the world. Then we learn about why they’re so dang tall.

Bulldogs get a spotlight, which will get this views in Georgia. They’re beloved for their stocky bodies. Once a big fighter, today’s bulldogs have evolved where they can’t fight.

Coats are next – dog coats, not one from a store. Three genes lead to the six main dog coat variations. Besides beauty, their coats help dogs serve fuctions. Shar-peis and their wrinkles also get a spotlight, growing all of the wrinkles due to increased elements in their genes.

Huskies also get a focus with their heroic coat. Thanks to their thick double coat, huskies are great with weather and share similarities with wolves.

Legs get the next spotlight. Dog have legs, you see. Short legs are good for digging, while long legs are good for running. Out spotlight now turns to dachshunds, the little hot dogs. They’re good for squeezing into low-lying places.

Speedy greyhounds also get a special look with their long legs. As you know, they’re fast (except for Santa’s Little Helper). They go airborne twice per run cycle.

Finally, we look at heads. Dogs have heads. Bull terriers have a weird one, and they get a spotlight as well. Rottweilers also get a focus as well due to their skulls, the main cause of their 300 pound bite force.

We wrap it up here with the ol’ “no matter the shape, dog will always be man’s best friend” line.

This is far from my best review, but this was a hard one to shape a review around.

Extras:

None.

Should you watch it?

Eh. Skip it. While a bit interesting, I’m not sure it’s worth your 45 minutes. I was bored.