Is is correct that domestic dogs have been bred for higher libidos?

Factual Questions
1

From the Wikipedia on canine reproduction:
General

[QUOTE=who the hell knows at this point? It’s fricking Wikipedia]

In breeding, the female sex of the domestic canine is often referred to as a bitch, and the male of the same species is referred to as a dog. The dog chosen for breeding is the stud. In domestic canines, sexual maturity (puberty) occurs between the ages of 6 to 12 months for both males and females, although this can be delayed until up to two years of age for some large breeds. Pregnancy is possible as soon as the first estrus cycle, but breeding is not recommended prior to the second cycle.[citation needed] As with other domesticated species, domestication has selectively bred for higher libido, and earlier and more frequent breeding cycles in dogs than in their wild ancestors. It is known that both wolves and domestic dogs have the same number of chromosomes; 39 pairs
[/QUOTE]

Is the bolded clause correct? If so, is this something that has been deliberately bred for, or is it a consquence of selective breeding?

Thanks,
S

2

I would think that nearly any domestication would lead to shorter estrus cycles.

If humans are taking care of feeding the dogs, giving them shelter, protecting them from predators, etc, then there is an advantage to faster estrus cycles (more offspring) and not much downside (the humans will take care of feeding all those extra puppies.)

Beyond this, faster breeding cycles allow the humans to select other desirable traits in less time, so will be preferred if they are noted, but probably selected regardless, because the fast breeders will be generations ahead of the slow breeders over time.

3

I think it’s true although I wouldn’t have used the phrase ‘higher libido’. ‘Sluttiness’ would be more appropriate.

We need to force domesticated animals to mate with whoever we choose for them, so many have more frequent cycles, and pretty much all are less sexually selective than the wild stock. Wolves won’t fuck just anyone.

I think it was probably a side-effect of domestication, not a selected trait. Dogs who were easier to breed had more descendents, and their pups were likely predisposed to be ‘easy’ sexually like their parents.