If you are a dog owner, then you know that the old ‘man’s best friend’ idea really is true. But it hasn’t always been this way. Dogs have evolved over time to take their place in our hearts and homes, changing in step with human beings. Here, we will dive into the history of dogs so you can understand a little more about your four-legged friend.

The first dogs

The first dogs were not dogs at all, but wolves. Wolves are thought to have come about during the great Ice Age and were originally native to Eurasia. As time progressed, this original prehistoric wolf developed into two different animals similar to the wolves and dogs that we see today. This is believed to have taken place between thirty and forty thousand years ago.

How dogs evolved

The first known dog as we think of them is believed to have emerged as a large Palaeolithic creature, similar in size to a larger version of modern Siberian huskies. However, these dogs were hunters, living similarly to wolves and eating horses, oxen and other large beasts. While it is debated where exactly the first dogs came about, the oldest known concrete evidence of dogs has been found in Russia (fourteen thousand years old) and Belgium (over thirty-one thousand years old).

Man’s best friend

The timing and reasoning behind the domestication of dogs are not fully confirmed, but it most likely leads back to humans having excess meat and wild dogs becoming used to easily sharing meals with humans rather than battling for their own food. Humans quickly understood that dogs could provide protection from predators – and so a symbiotic relationship began to grow.

Dogs in history

As times moved on, dogs were utilised by humans mainly for their functional abilities, such as protection, hunting and shepherding. While the royals and elites often kept pet dogs (the Pekingese dog was considered a palace dog in China), this grew more common after the second world war, as families moved into suburban areas. Dogs were originally kept outside, but made their way into people’s homes over the next few decades, as they became as beloved for their emotional support as their practical presence.

Dogs now

Once dogs were domesticated, they never truly went back to being the wild animals they once were. Scientists believe that the close bonds formed between humans and dogs began as puppies and children began to co-exist, cementing the cross-species relationship. Today, dogs belong in all areas of society – from working on farms and in law enforcement to supporting those with disabilities, to simply providing a calming and joyful presence in a family home.

The history of dogs is a fascinating one – your pup has come a long way to become your closest companion! If you want to ensure that you keep your own dog happy and stress-free at home, then it’s easy with Pet Remedy. Our natural, calming products are suitable for helping to lower pet stress, allowing your dog to settle and respond to you more easily so you can enjoy every moment with them.