History of Dogs

The history of the relationship between the dog and humans is still speculative.

The early history of the human population saw us venturing into, and settling on new lands throughout the world. It is easy to imagine that with such movement to new places and colonies humans would show an interest in, and integration with, the animals that lived in the area before our arrival.

In nearly all parts of the world traces of indigenous dogs are found.

These indigenous dog families would have benefitted from living in close proximity to the early human settlements.

As man settled, hunted animals for food, and discarded parts of the kills they did not want, the indigenous dogs used these scraps as a food source.

Ancient rock paintings have been seen to indicate that dogs and humans started hunting together.

At some point in the relationship the dog was accepted as a friend and useful member within the human family.

With this newfound alliance, friendship, hunting together was not the only benefit.

Man discovered that having a dog would protect him from wilder animals.

As the relationship evolved the dog provided not only companionship and protection but also was able to warn the family of danger from other animals or situations.

A bond grew between man and dog increasing trust, beneficial communication, companionship and friendship.

Another aspect of protection was that the dogs would help guard any farmed animals and/or planted crops from other animals seeking to eat and destroy them.

How would this mutual beneficial relationship have begun?

Probably the original wild dog was an unusually gentle jackal or wolf driven from their pack.

It may have been sick, weak, or driven away by a dominant male.

Forced to seek shelter in another area of land, and most likely on its own, it was able to find sustenance from the parts of the kills humans discarded.

Another possibility was that the animal was found as a young pup in an abandoned litter.

The mother may have been sick, injured or killed and the litter was left unprotected.

The early settlers, picking up the helpless pups, brought them back to be raised in the human family by the women and children.

Therefore, being introduced at a young age into a home as playthings for the children the dogs were domesticated to the point of becoming one of the members of the family.