Since the earliest days of human civilization, dogs have been by our side, providing companionship, protection, and assistance. We know why this happened – humans and dogs came to realize that we could build mutually beneficial relationships – but how it happened is a slightly contentious issue.
Discover the leading theories of how the wolf evolved to become man’s best friend and why it was in our interest to encourage that relationship.
Different Theories Explain the Human-Dog Bond
When it comes to the question of how dogs were domesticated, there are two prominent schools of thought. Some researchers suggest that early humans domesticated wolves who came to their dwellings looking for food scraps. Others claim that these early humans worked to tame wolf puppies, which then evolved into dogs over time.
However, in his book “How the Dog Became the Dog — From Wolves to Our Best Friends”, naturalist Mark Derr suggests that none of these theories provide an ample explanation for the evolution of wolf to dog. Instead, he suggests that the seeds of this bond were planted when the two species recognized similarities in each other.
Our ancestors would likely have learned to follow the trail of wolves who possess an amazing sense of smell that is 100 times better than our own – to lead them to the big game. In contrast, the wolf would have enjoyed feeding from the scraps of humans who were more likely to make a successful kill with their precision weapons.
Dogs Evolved from Wolves Following Human Intervention
Dogs descended from wolves through a process of evolution triggered by their associations with humans. As wolves began to live and hunt alongside humans, their physical appearance had several noticeable changes; for example, their frames became smaller and their jaws shortened.
Over time, these genetic modifications were passed on to the next generation until a sub-species of wolfdog was born. These “wolfdogs” were not quite big or aggressive enough to exist alongside purebred wolves. So, an isolated community came into existence that would house inbreeding and genetic mutations leading to the creation of man’s best friend – the domestic dog.
Early DNA evidence suggested that our canine companions of today descend from a gray wolf species, but recent studies theorize that today’s canines more likely descended from a long-extinct species. While we’re not sure of the exact point when wolves and humans learned to coexist, we do know that they were the first animals domesticated by humans.
Dog Ownership Goes Back Thousands of Years
It’s hard to find concrete evidence of events that happened thousands of years ago. Still, recent studies show that this relationship likely formed between 14,000 and 29,000 years ago.
At this time, Earth was amidst a freezing Ice Age; when temperatures dropped too low, cave dwellers would feed approaching wolves leftover meat scraps to avoid attack and keep them sheltered.
There’s reason to believe that the dog has been a highly valued companion since the days of early civilization. Evidence discovered in the early hunting camps of China suggests that humans may have been growing millet (a form of grass) to feed their dog companions when meat supplies were scarce.
Why Did Humans Befriend Wolves?
At the time of the hunter-gatherers, wolves posed a direct threat to humans, competing for the same food sources. The people of the time certainly had the weapons to take out these four-legged creatures, so why did they decide to befriend them instead?
Humans realized they could benefit from the superior hunting skills of the wolf. In addition, they didn’t need the meat of an entire animal, so they could afford to spare a few scraps to feed their newfound friends.
The relationship would have taken a long time to form. Initially, it’s most likely that wolves would have lingered on the outskirts of settlements, feeding off the scraps of the humans. Over time, some of the tamer ones may have directly approached these humans for food scraps, and gradually a trusting bond formed.
How Are Dogs and Wolves Similar Today?
There are apparent differences between dogs and wolves; yet, we don’t imagine you’d let the latter snuggle up alongside you in bed! Still, these wild animals are the ancestors of our lovable companions, and the two species still possess some shared traits.
Both dogs and wolves rely on their incredible senses of smell and hearing to understand the world around them. If left to their own devices, both species will scavenge for food and are inclined to bury bones. And whether they’re wild or domestic, these four-legged creatures will defend their home and their master to the death.
Many of the differences between the two species are related to their physical characteristics. The dog has a more domed head than the wolf, and its skull, brain, paws, and teeth are all smaller when compared to a wolf of the same size.
One of the most significant characteristic differences is that the dog loves having a job to do and relishes the chance to serve its human companions. From herding sheep to aiding the blind, there are many ways in which this incredible canine continues to help the human population in day-to-day life.
