The dog is man’s best friend. With so many different breeds of dogs “at least 150” (PBS). It’s a wonder how did our dogs’ ancestors evolve into the dogs we have today. At first we thought dogs were dogs were domesticated “about 12,000 years ago. But DNA analysis published in 1997 suggests a date of about 130,000 years ago”(PBS). “Nowadays, based on a growing body of anatomical, genetic, and behavioral evidence, most experts believe that the dog originated exclusively from a single species: the gray wolf, Canis lupus," Serpell told Life's Little Mysteries”(Remy). Gray wolves and our dogs are so closely related, in fact that they can be bred together and “produce fully viable offspring.”(History and Evolution of Dogs). Now that we know who …show more content…
With humans taming wolves“Selective breeding would have been automatic. Keeping a wolf that became overly aggressive towards the humans, or of little practical use, would have been both pointless and dangerous - such a wolf would have been killed. Only the remaining Wolves, with desirable traits, would have been selected to breed.”(History and Evolution of Dogs). Over time this would lead to many distinct traits being developed as different tribes in different areas would need their canine companion to have certain traits based on where they lived. Many different breeds of dogs exist. “Hound Dogs have been bred to chase (or hound) a quarry by sight or smell, or a combination of both senses. Sighthounds have exceptional eyesight, combined with the speed and stamina necessary to catch the intended prey once seen, typical examples being the Greyhound and the Whippet. Hounds which rely strongly on the sense of smell to follow the trail of a prey, such as the Bloodhound, quite literally follow their noses, speed and eyesight is of less importance.”(History and Evolution of Dogs) These dogs were most likely breed to track prey originally. As humans began to settle down and start to farm we began to breed dogs to do many things such as “herding, pulling,