How were wolves domesticated?

By Dr. John Koch

Question: I know that modern dogs are descended from prehistoric wolves. My question is when and how were dogs domesticated from wolves?

Answer: Some time ago, an archeological dig in Egypt uncovered a grave in which were found the fossilized remains of a man hugging a small puppy. The age of the remains have been placed at approximately 12,000 years. Most scientists feel that the domestication process actually began some 2,000 years before this date. There are two plausible theories concerning how the process began. One is that man initiated it. The other is that wolves did the initiating.

It is not hard to imagine that early man at some point stumbled upon very young wolf puppies. Wolves and humans share a common trait of socially structuring themselves in clans or groups. The puppies were raised and essentially became part of the clan of humans that took them in. When the clan of humans was threatened, the newly raised wolves would exercise their instinctive behavior of defending the clan into which they had been adopted. In addition, they would naturally follow the human clan on hunting expeditions, and again follow their instinct of helping the clan bring down prey that would feed the group. This useful relationship to early man was likely discovered entirely by accident, but quickly recognized and put to good use.

It is also plausible that some wolves, more submissive by nature, began following man. These wolves found that they could survive living off food remnants successful human hunters left behind. As time elapsed, some of these wolves gradually became less fearful of humans and humans became less fearful of these less aggressive wolves. The two different species began keeping closer company as in the previous scenario, the wolves became quite protective of their human benefactors. The relationship eventually evolved into the two species hunting together for food, and the canine-human bond was formed.

The bond between man and dogs likely began forming at approximately the same time all across the world. Jackals, Dingoes, and several smaller species of wolves eventually evolved into the more than 400 breeds recognized today. All the breeds share one common characteristic, and that is unconditional love and loyalty to their human masters.

Dr. Koch is a Cape Girardeau veterinarian.