The Amazing History of Humans and Dogs

The dog has been man’s best companion for thousands of years. How did they become lap dogs from wolves? Let’s take a look at the history of dogs.

The 45,000 Year Old Age

Ancient humans competed with Neanderthals for food and shelter when they migrated to Europe. Archaeologists think that although wolves and humans are natural rivals, wolves who have been kicked out of packs may find allies among bands of humans. In return for alerting them to danger, they ate bones and other food scraps.

31700 Years Ago

The bones were found by Mietje Germonpre, a Belgian scientist, and her team. Their research shows that the bones are not those of a wolf but of an ancient canid. It is more similar to other prehistoric canines, and it’s the oldest example of wolves evolving from wild ancestors into something wholly new and different.

15000 Years Ago

In Western Europe, the first fossilized bones of domesticated dogs were found. They looked more like modern dogs, and their behavior was also more dog-like. The canines transitioned from tame (wild animals that are used to human behavior) to domestic (multi-generational breeding of animals engineered to possess the traits we want).

It Was 12,500 Years ago

In Eastern Asia, domesticated dogs are found in the fossil record. The University of Oxford’s Greger L. Larson, a specialist in bioarchaeology and palaeogenomics, believes this is an entirely separate case of dog domestication. He says there needs to be more evidence of dog fossils between Western Europe and Eastern Asia in the next 4,500 years. This makes it unlikely that dogs migrated. Dogs are so great that we have domesticated them twice.

Genetic studies have shown that only 10% of modern dogs are descended from Western European breeds.

The Year 10,000 Ago

In the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East, the First Agricultural Revolution started almost 12,000 ago when human populations settled down and began farming instead of hunting. When bred for this new farming lifestyle, dogs were first given jobs 2,000 years ago. Dogs were bred to perform specialized tasks, such as herding and guarding livestock. They had been relying on their instincts in the past for hunting, protecting their pack, and defending them.

Nine Thousand Years Ago

At least 9,000 years ago, a thriving dog population lived in the Americas. Genetic evidence indicates that the dogs did not originate from American wolves but from an ancestral population of early dogs who migrated from Siberia with humans to North America. Over time, they were domesticated in the Americas, and various Native American breeds emerged. (We domesticated dogs at least three times.

European dogs almost entirely replaced the Native American dogs during the 15th century. American Arctic dogs such as the Alaskan Malamute, Alaskan Husky, and Greenland Dog are the closest living relatives to these early American dogs.

Eight Thousand Years Ago

The oldest dog breed that is still in existence today, the Basenji, has been mentioned for the first time in historical records. The African Basenji still shares many characteristics with its ancient ancestors, such as how they howl or yodel rather than barking and lacking a classic dog scent. They may be the great-great-granddaddies of the dog world, but the American Kennel Club still recognizes them!

6,000 Years Ago

Dogs were soon urban companions when the Sumerians created their first cities in Mesopotamia. The Sumerians developed the most popular dog accessories, the leash, and collar, by 3,300 BCE.

Four Thousand Years Ago

Sumerians gave dogs prominent cultural roles long before Toto or Lassie became popular. Ancient tablets entitled “The Show Dog” or “Why the Dog Is Subservient To Man” were popular literature. We’re still awaiting their conversion into coffee-table books. Sumerians were the first to include dogs in their pantheon!

Two Thousand Years Ago

The Romans were stunned by the strength and ferocity of the British dogs that fought alongside their soldiers on the battlefield when they invaded Britain in 43 CE. Europe soon developed a market for war dogs that could fight in the coliseums and on the battlefield.

Romans bred toy dogs, which became the most popular accessory in the city. The dogs were probably bred as cute companions, but they were also around when Europe’s black rat population rose.

1400 Years Ago

Hubert, a French monk, spent his entire life breeding large hunting dog breeds trained to track down the scents of various animals. Hubert became Saint Hubert, the patron saint of hunters. His dogs were the ancestors of today’s bloodhounds.

270 Years Ago

In the 1750s, the staff of a Paris blind hospital began to train dogs for their patients. Johann Wilhelm Klein published the first guide dog manual in 1819. He founded the Institute for the Training of the Blind in Vienna, Austria.

Other notable historical events between humans and dogs are numerous, but it’s clear that dogs have been our constant companions over the past, say, 45,000 or so years. Today, we celebrate our love for our canine companions with joyous festivals in Nepal and the Iditarod Race across some of America’s most difficult terrain.

We’re sure that dogs will continue to have an amazing history. So, grab the treats for your dog, and let’s celebrate the hardworking, loving ancestors who came before.