Origins Of The Dog

Hi everyone, thanks for joining me on this edition of Val Talk’s Pets.  How many times have you heard someone say, “Well you know, dogs come from wolves”.  Do they?  Where did the domestic dog we have today come from?  Well, let’s find out the Origins of the dog!

Ancestry

The domestication like many things, was a process.  According to Wikipedia the answer we all have been looking for is, “Genetic studies suggest that all ancient and modern dogs share a common ancestry and descended from an ancient, now-extinct wolf population – or closely related wolf populations – which was distinct from the modern wolf lineage.”  

Well, that’s exactly what we were wondering!  So, who was this now–extinct wolf?  It was a “Late Pleistocene (ply sta scene)  wolf (that) may have been the ancestor of the dog.”  

What I understand is the dog, was descended from this Late Pleistocene wolf that existed “27,000 – 40,000 years ago immediately before the Last Glacial Maximum.” (Wikipedia)  This was a genetic divergence that was distinct from the modern wolf lineage.  At around 40,000 to 30,000 years ago, “there was a divergence between the dog’s ancestor and modern wolves.”  

(Wikipedia) “Before genetic divergence (or splitting) the population of wolves ancestral to the dog outnumbered all other wolf populations, and after divergence, the dog population underwent a population reduction to be much lower.” (Wikipedia) 

Co-Habitation Theory #1

Now, according to scientificamerican.com, “one type of wolf perhaps a descendant of a megafaunal wolf, apparently began living close to people.  For many years scientists concurred based on small portions of the genome that this species was the modern gray wolf (Canis Lupus) and this canid alone gave rise to dogs.”  

Well, it turns out, this whole thought process was found to be incorrect.  Scientificamerican.com reports that a study recently “revealed that today’s Fidos are not the descendants of modern gray wolves.  Instead, the two species are sister taxa, descended from an unknown ancestor that has gone extinct.”  Well, is that not the now-extinct wolf that was identified?  

Conflict

I have to say, there is a fair bit of conflicting research about the origin of the dog.  One source will say that dogs are absolutely from the wolf present in the Late Pleistocene era and that they are closest genetically to the gray wolf.  Other research will say that there is no direct relation between dogs to gray wolves.

Grey Wolves

According to nature.com, “While it is clear that grey wolves gave rise to dogs, there is no consensus regarding when, where, and how this happened.  Skeletal remains attributable to the present–day dog lineage appear archaeologically by 14 Ka, which means kilo annum or a thousand calendar years, and genetic estimates of when the ancestors of dogs and modern wolves diverge range from 40 – 14 ka.  

However, the genetic data from modern and ancient dogs coupled with modern wolves, to which previous studies were largely restricted, may not be able to resolve the origin of dogs.  Genetic diversity within dogs is affected by their dynamic history and is unable to confidently pinpoint an origin.”  (nature.com) 

As usual, there never seems to be a definitive answer and research is ongoing.  I think, however, the bottom line is that there is a definite connection between dog from wolf, whatever that wolf were to be.  Everything always changes when domesticity begins, so let’s look at the domestication of dogs.  

According to Wikipedia, domestication of the dog predates agriculture.  “In 2021, a literature review of the current evidence infers that domestication of the dog began in Siberia 26,000 – 19,700 years ago by Ancient North Eurasians, then later dispersed eastwards into the Americas and westwards across Eurasia.”  

“The oldest known dog skeletons were found in the Altai ( Al-tie) Mountains of Siberia and a cave in Belgium, dated – 33,000 years ago.” (Wikipedia) this is quite interesting as it shows the beginning of the relationship of canines to humans.  

Co-Habitation Theory #2

A review in 2021, “theorizes that the harsh climate of the Last Glacial Maximum may have brought humans and wolves closer together while they were isolated inside refuge areas.  Both species hunt the same prey, and their increased interactions may have resulted in the shared scavenging of kills, wolves drawn to human campsites, a shift in their relationship, and eventually domestication.” 

(Wikipedia)  “The archaeological record and genetic analysis show the remains of the Bonn-Oberkassel (bon ober castle ) dog buried beside humans 14,200 years ago to be the first undisputed dog, with disputed remains occurring 36,000 years ago.) (Wikipedia) 

So, let’s skip ahead a bit.  

Oldest Dog Breed

What is the oldest known dog breed?  Well according to AKC.org, “The Saluki, royal dog of Egypt, is perhaps the oldest known breed of the domesticated dog identified by some historians as a “distinct breed and type as long ago as 329 BC when Alexander the Great invaded India.”  Saluki’s are considered a sighthound and demonstrates a regal nature, fast and lean.  Close behind the Saluki is the Greyhound, “depicted in the temple drawings from 6,000 BC discovered in present-day Turkey.” (AKC.org) 

I think that one of the common beliefs in the origin of dogs is that Huskies and Malamutes are direct descendants of the wolf.  Are they?  Well, the answer lies in the first domesticated dogs in Siberia.  

Siberian Huskies

It appears that Siberian Huskies, although bred specifically for running and pulling, according to sitmeanssit.com, the breed does trace their lineage to the ancient Siberian wolves.”  As well, according to wolf-stuff.com, “Huskies have a wolf ancestry which is the reason they have a similar appearance.  Their similarities are believed to come from a dominant gene giving them very wolf-life characteristics such as fur, fangs, and tail shape.”  

Malamutes

Another wolf-like dog is the Malamute.  They are bigger dogs and are often mistaken for wolves.  According to themalamutemom.com, “Alaskan Malamutes have been domesticated animals for a long time.  It is thought that they are direct descendants of domesticated wolf-dogs from over 4000 years ago.”  And it has been shown that wolves seem to have been all over the world.  The Malamute however originates only in Alaska.  

Co-Habitation Unknown

It’s interesting that the “precise timing and location” (nature.com/articles/nature11837) of dogs entering into human civilization, is not known.  We know that humans engineered breeds of dogs to perform certain tasks.  Collies herd, Labradors swim and fetch ducks, German Shepherds guard etc.  The idea that a type of wolf found a kindred species with humans is very interesting.  

Dogs we know, not only can perform specific tasks, they make great companions as well.  As thoughtco.com/how-and-why-were-domesticated, suggests, “wolves and dogs split into different species around 100,000 years ago.”  But, that little bit of original DNA still exists.  

Tundra rarely barks.  I don’t think I’ve heard him bark for a couple of years.  But, he does howl.  Up goes the nose and a big “ahh woo” will come out, or a little one.  Where does that come from?  

Summary

The domestication of the dog was one of the best things that happened to humans.  Dogs provide everything from companionship, security, exercise, fun, help with work, keeping those with special needs safe, you name it.  The history of the domestication of the dog is quite extensive and very interesting.  If you ask A.I. about the origin of the dog, you will get an extensive report that will keep you reading for some time.  And, as we know, any learning is a bonus because as I say, knowing is caring.

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Tagged as: domesticating the dog,  wolves,  wolves and dogs,  history of dogs,  evolution of dogs.