Ever wonder about dog domestication, where they came from, and how they evolved to our best friend?
So stop whatever you are doing right now, take a seat, make yourself comfortable, and read all about the domestication of canines.
The Evolution of the Dog
According to experts, ever since dogs were domesticated, they have been influencing the development of human civilization.
However, the exact geographic location, ecological conditions, and when were dogs domesticated still puzzle scientists to this day.
We have found illustrations of canines on tombs, scrolls, and walls throughout the Middle East, North America, and Europe, dating back to the Bronze Age.
There are statues of dogs guarding the entrances to burial crypts. These relics shed some light on the origin of dogs and are evidence of their vast importance to our civilization.
Without a doubt, there’s definite evidence that the oldest known ancestor of canines is an extinct species of wolves that existed around 5,000 to 40,000 years ago.
Furthermore, the evidence suggests that no other canine species was involved in the evolutionary process.
According to numerous genetic studies, the process of dog domestication began over 25,000 years ago, with one or more populations of wolves living in either the high Arctic, eastern Asia, or Europe.
Experts believe that, over time, humans developed a close bond with the wolves, the origins of dogs.
The evolution of dog training started when humans took the so-called “proto-dogs” hunting and used them to fend off predators and other enemies.
People are fascinated with dog domestication and its history. Archeologist Henri Breuil made a watercolor tracing of an illustration found in a French cave depicting a canid resembling a wolf.
It’s believed to be around 19,000 years old!
This is just a clue as to the burning question of when did dogs become domesticated. And as humans started leading a sedentary lifestyle with the invention of agriculture around 10,000 years ago, dogs became less wolf-like.
Researchers found the earliest example of a domesticated dog at a burial site in Germany, adding to the dog evolution chart.
More specifically, they found the 14,000-year-old dog remains in Bonn-Oberkassel. The earliest domesticated canine in China was uncovered in Jiahu, and it originates from the early Neolithic period.
Many of the origin of domestic dogs’ facts rely on the evidence found in Goyet Cave in Belgium, Predmosti in the Czech Republic, Chauvet cave in France, and Skateholm in Sweden.
The Mesolithic site in Sweden features canine burials, which further reinforces the idea of how were dogs domesticated. In one of the many graves in Skateholm, researchers recovered three flint blades, an antler headdress, and a dog.
While trying to uncover the history of dog domestication in the Americas, researchers found a dog burial site in Danger Cave, Utah, believed to be 11,000 years old.
In the Americas, the constant interbreeding with wolves resulted in a wolf-dog hybrid known for its black coat, according to dog breed evolution findings.
Experts claim that the black color of its fur is not a natural characteristic found in wolves but a common feature of dogs.
The origin of the word dog comes from ‘docga,’ a word used to describe a breed of canine in Old English. There is no further information about the ‘dog’ word origin until the 14th-century in England.
Theories of the Domestication of Dogs
According to several well-known dog evolution tree sources, canines were awarded “person-hood” status, which means they were treated equally to human beings.
For instance, at the Shamanaka site, experts located another clue in the evolution of dogs timeline in a grave of a dog interred in a rather formal cemetery.
Interesting data on the grave shows that it’s around 6,200 years old, while the buried dog is believed to have been a cherished family member.
There are two significant hypotheses of the domestication of the dog. The first one states that humans brought wolves into their camps to tame them. In contrast, the other one suggests that the wolves chose to be domesticated among humans.
When did dogs become domesticated, and how did wolves choose to stick around to be treated as pets?
The theory claims that the trash near human villages attracted the wild animals and led them to hang around for scraps and leftovers.
According to this dog evolution theory, the wolves that visited the villages befriended the humans and eventually became domesticated.
Wolf Evolution to Dog: Differences and Similarities
In 1758, dogs were classified as “Canis familiaris.” However, they were reclassified as “Canis lupus familiaris” in 1993.
Based on this change, dogs became known as a subspecies of Canis lupus — the gray wolf. In fact, according to the history of domesticated dogs, canines and grey wolves share many of the same features.
For example, they both have the same number of chromosomes, and they can successfully mate and give birth to offspring.
Nowadays, the wolf-dog hybrid, a turn back to dog breed origins, is one of the most talked-about breeds.
It’s a fascinating hybrid produced by the mating of a domestic canine with either a red wolf (Canis rufus), Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), Eastern timber wolf (Canis lycaon), or the gray wolf.
Evolution of Dogs from Wolves: The Differences
Considering the dog evolution timeline and the diversity of canines, one might think that dogs and wolves don’t share any physical features.
For instance, just conjure up an image of a Pomeranian and a gray wolf. Even though certain breeds such as the Husky and Malamute have still conserved many wolf-like features, most dogs don’t look anything like their predecessors due to dog domestication.
For example, the dog breed origin has more prominent teeth, making them able to crush bones easier and quicker. Modern dogs usually don’t have to bother with food that is hard to chew.
Furthermore, the head of a dog is around 20% smaller than the head of a wolf, and their legs are much shorter as well.
In addition, the current dog breeds’ evolution of the reproductive system was discovered when reviewing their history.
However, the most significant difference is that the female wolves come into season only once a year in spring. In contrast, female dogs may go into heat twice a year.
The only exception is the Basenji breed, which shares similarities with the wolf, as it typically comes into heat once a year.
The wolf to dog evolution facts confirm that dogs resemble young wolves. They are friendly and much easier to tame than adult wolves.
Plus, the dog breeds origins, aka the wolf, typically does not bark, and barking is a vital form of communication among dogs and between dogs and humans.
Additionally, dogs do not have such a powerful prey drive like wolves do. Wolves live in packs, and their strong prey drive helps them survive in the wilderness.
Evolution of Dogs: The Similarities
Besides mentioning the apparent resemblance between huskies and wolves, most dogs look nothing like wolves, so we will skip the physical similarities.
More importantly, according to some dog origin facts, dogs can still be considered pack animals. They frequently demonstrate the need for a social bond with people and other canines.
Furthermore, they may greet their owners similar to how the wild origin of dog breeds greet the alpha of their pack. According to the experts, this type of greeting is referred to as “active submission.”
Another evident similarity between wolves and dogs is the presence of the prey drive. Based on the facts on the origin of dogs, canines have retained the prey drive, but it’s not as powerful as the one wolves have.
For example, it shows when dogs catch a glimpse of a squirrel, a bird, or another small animal, they may see as prey. The look in their eyes changes, their ears prick up, and they may try to sneak up on the unsuspecting animal.
It gives you a quick glimpse into what it would be like to have wild dogs as pets.
Dog Breeding Evolution
The evolution of dogs took a significant turn during the Victorian era when purebred dogs entered the scene.
According to Michael Wornboys, a professor at the University of Manchester, many of the purebred dogs we love today are products of the industrial revolution. Previously, dogs were bred to perform specific tasks.
For example, the domestication of dogs has led to sheepdogs rounded up sheep, guard dogs guarded things, and retrievers retrieved game.
People started to view dogs as pets only after dog fighting was banned in Britain in the 1830s. The dog breeders didn’t know what to do with the surplus of puppies, and the gamblers needed to come up with something to bet their money on.
During this period, John Henry Walsh, a sports journalist, came up with a brilliant idea and organized the first Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship in 1877, which featured a dog show.
Perhaps not why were dogs domesticated, but good entertainment.
According to facts on the domestication of dogs during the Victorian era, there were specific important rules which set out the standards for the canine participants.
For instance, an authentic English pug needed to have a sleek and shiny coat of a fawn color. As if that’s not enough, the best of the best became valuable possessions for which people paid ridiculous amounts of money.
According to the evolution of dog breeds, there are currently more than 400 different dog breeds around the world recognized by the kennel clubs. The kennel clubs are known for governing field trials, hunt tests, dog shows, and herding tests.
And even though most dogs live with their owners and solely serve as companions, there are many canines out there that still perform their traditional duties.
FAQ
When did dogs become domesticated?
Even though the location is still a mystery, most experts agree that the domestication may have occurred between 14,000 and 6,400 years ago.
Based on a proposed wolf to dog timeline, it’s believed that the original wolf population split into West and East Eurasian groups. The latter gradually replacing the West group around 6,400 years ago.
How did dogs get domesticated?
There are many theories on the method of domestication, and we already mentioned some of them.
One theory claims that wolves were adopted as puppies by early humans and raised as companions. In contrast, another theory claims that the wolves chose to stick around the villages searching for food.
Mark Derr, a naturalist, believes that wolves and man formed a close bond after recognizing themselves in each other during hunting seasons.
Are dogs domesticated wolves?
Since dogs evolved from the Canis lupus or the gray wolf, they may be considered as an example of the domesticated wolf.
Even though they still share many of the same characteristics, dogs and wolves are pretty different, and dog breeding evolution proves this.
Nevertheless, their domestication may have occurred twice, resulting in groups of canines descending from two different ancestors.
Did Neanderthals have dogs?
According to the words of professor Pat Shipman, humans formed a powerful alliance with the wolves in the battle against Neanderthals.
Shipman further claims that Neanderthals, wolves, and modern human beings were the top predators, hunting mammoths and other creatures in that period of history.
Even though there’s no direct evidence of Neanderthals starting the domestication of dogs, many believe that this is an actual fact and happened around 100,000 years ago.
Conclusion
Canines have served as loyal companions and assistants to human beings for ages, evolving from wild animals into the cutest members of our society. Dogs are a big part of people’s lives, and they are usually treated like kids or best friends.
Hopefully, our brief overview of the history of dog domestication helped answer some of your questions and opened your eyes to how intriguing canines actually are.
