Dogs have a very interesting history because of the fact that they basically were domesticated by humans and created from wolves through selective breeding. Humans used to live in fear of other hungry creatures but were good hunters so they were able to take care of themselves. Humans used to eat all of the meat off the animals they hunted but left the bones. Wolves tried to scavenge the bones to feed, but most of them were too frightened to come close enough without causing alert. Their fear is due to high levels of stress hormones in their blood. For them, it’s a matter of survival because they know coming too close to humans can be fatal. However, a few wolves, due to natural variations, had lower levels of those hormones that made them less afraid of humans. Around 15,000 years ago, wolves discovered an excellent survival strategy; the domestication of humans. They let the humans do the hunting, didn’t threaten them, and humans let them scavenge their garbage. The wolves ate more regularly, had more offspring, and those offsprings inherited their disposition. This selection for tameness would be reinforced with each generation until that line of wild wolves evolves into the loyal dogs we have today. Man’s best friend.
A look into an animal lover’s guide to love and training your new best friend. Dogs have been man’s partners since the beginning and their origins can teach us about their current role in our society.