If you\u2019re looking for more information about how to train your puppy using modern up to date methods, that\u2019s been created specifically for your puppy\u2019s breed<\/a> and their life stage, then look no further than the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a>. We\u2019ve also got a team of expert puppy coaches <\/a>on hand to help you out on every step of the way with any questions you might have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready for a doggy history lesson? Well, the numbers for how long dogs have been domesticated vary wildly from as much as 40,000 years ago to a more plausible 10-15,000 years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many dog domestication theories such as those put forward by Ray Coppinger in his seminal work \u2018Dogs, a new understanding<\/a>\u2019 and later in \u2018What is a dog<\/a>\u2019\u2019 put dog domestication to have occurred around 12,000 years ago and archaeological evidence puts the date of dog domestication to be around the same too. Whichever it is, it\u2019s an almost unfathomable number isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fact is, dogs are our oldest companions, and they were domesticated longer than any other species. DNA evidence puts them to at least the end of the last ice age, 11,000 years ago!<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a few theories on how dogs became domesticated, whether it was something humans actively did or something that the \u2018dog\u2019 did itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most plausible explanations for dog domestication is that today’s dog came from a now-extinct type of wolf, or wild canid, and was domesticated by adapting to its surroundings and becoming less afraid of humans over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The wolves who were less afraid of humans (often referred to as those with a shorter flight distance), managed to get closer to human settlements and scavenge more food. They came to live in an environmental niche. Here they had an abundance of human waste products to eat, and less chance of predation as the other predators at that time (such as bears) would be less likely to come near human settlements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These tamer wolves would also follow humans around and perhaps eventually end up living with humans in their camps. There was a mutually beneficial relationship to be had when the humans realized these animals could be trained and help them to hunt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ancient dogs would have been excellent watchdogs, a source of emergency food, or simply kept ancient man warm. Along with the changes that domestication brought to dogs, there would be some input and adaptation from humans as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The process of learning about one another and our behavior changing is not solely something that dogs would have done. Humans would have learned too, co-existence and understanding works both ways, and dog domestication brought out a wonderful symbiotic relationship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The ancient dog’s physical appearance would have changed through domestication and certain dogs having the \u2018friendly gene\u2019. The Belyaev silver fox experiment<\/a> illustrates this change in outward appearance when the only thing selected was trainability or tameness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you think about how long dogs have been domesticated, you realize it\u2019s a very long time. It\u2019s truly quite funny to think that domestic dogs share any similarities with their pre-domesticated ancestors isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s hard to know exactly what a dog pre-domestication was actually like, because they aren\u2019t around anymore, but we can look to modern day wolves to see the key differences and similarities, in their behavior and physical traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In studies dogs have been shown to be much more observant and to pick up on human cues far better than wolves. Given how long dogs have been domesticated, it’s understandable that they’ve learned that keeping an eye on humans is valuable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How did dogs become domesticated? Well probably by watching us, very, very closely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wolves don\u2019t have these muscles, so that \u2018cute face\u2019 your puppy does, is likely to be due to domestication. Well, it works and you fall for it every time, don\u2019t you? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs also have larger eyes and rounder faces, and often ears that droop and hang, they just look cuter don\u2019t they? <\/p>\n\n\n\n These physical changes likely had one purpose – to make humans want them around more, it was all part of how dogs became domesticated. Dogs evolved to look like cute babies<\/a> and it\u2019s still evidenced now by our love for breeds such as French Bulldogs<\/a>, Pugs <\/a>and Boxers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wolves have to hunt for their food, and require a huge amount of jaw strength to kill and dissect their prey. Generally speaking, modern-day dogs don\u2019t need to hunt for food, and scavenge instead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When dogs became domesticated, they ate our scraps\u2026which brings us onto our next difference between wolves and dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While wolves may indeed eat the contents of a herbivore’s stomach, they don\u2019t set out to eat plant matter. Modern-day dogs, however, are omnivorous and have adapted to eat what we eat. You can also see this by a change in their teeth, and the ability to digest starches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wolves also eat larger quantities of food in one sitting, and go much longer between meals. The nutritional needs of a wolf are different to that of a domestic dog. How did dogs become domesticated? They adapted to eat our rubbish!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course you\u2019ve heard the howl of a wolf, but barking isn\u2019t something they commonly do. During the domestication process barking<\/a> was likely something that dogs did for communication, and it\u2019s been worthwhile continuing with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A domestic dog typically plays for fun, but for a wolf puppy they are practising key survival and hunting skills which they will need when they grow up. Wolf pups need to learn how to stay safe when another pack appears, or how they should effectively deal with their own pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wolves also typically do not continue playing once past adolescence, whereas domestic dogs do, and they also initiate play and affiliative behavior with members of other species. Yes you can teach your puppy to get along with your cat! Read up on the best way to introduce your puppy to cat here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite all of these pretty big differences, that came about through the domestication process. Dogs and wolves are genetically very similar. Dogs and wolves are the same species and can mate and produce healthy offspring. These offspring are typically called Wolf hybrids but they\u2019re actually more accurately called Wolfdogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly, we don\u2019t know what the first dog breeds to be domesticated were, because they didn\u2019t write a breed book for us! Intentional dog breeds are a rather modern and human invention, but there are some ancient dog breeds, and we can tell how old they are due to archaeological evidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s our top 3 oldest dog breeds<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Akita Inu<\/strong> – thought to be the oldest dog breed in the world, this kind of dog is perhaps as much as 14,000 years old. In 1962 remains of an Akita like dog<\/a> were found in the Kamikuroiwa Rock Shelter in Japan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Greenland Sled Dog<\/strong> – Coming in just behind the Akita Inu as (maybe) the first breed of dog to be domesticated, the Greenland Sled Dog is thought to be around 9,500 years old and was an efficient hunting companion to the Inuit people of Greenland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Afghan Hound<\/strong> – thought to be around 8,000 years old, we have no idea how early man kept their locks so luscious. Not sure they did much grooming <\/a>at all, actually. An Afghan Hound\u2019s long hair would have helped the dogs cope with the harsh climate of Persia and Afghanistan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope that\u2019s given you some info on how long have dogs been domesticated and also how dogs became domesticated. As we\u2019ve mentioned a few times, there\u2019s quite a bit of conflicting evidence, but it all suggests a long, long time ago! They\u2019re not called Man\u2019s best friend for nothing, are they? <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019d like to learn more, why not check out our puppy behavior overview<\/a>? We also have the perfect training program for your puppy in our Zigzag puppy training app,<\/a> we\u2019ll walk and talk you through socialization, life skills, common puppy problem behaviors such as biting, toilet training and we even have a team of expert puppy coaches<\/a> to hold your hand and listen when it all gets a bit too much, or you\u2019ve got a pressing question! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/daniel-wiadro-ux3Tc-eDLcI-unsplash-1024x682.jpg\")
How long have dogs been domesticated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
But how did dogs become domesticated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Fawn](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/swapnil-kulkarni-6FOFHsn65SQ-unsplash-1024x576.jpg\")
Do dogs have the same traits as pre-domesticated dogs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Domesticated dogs pick up on human cues, whereas wolves do not<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Domesticated dogs have grown eyebrow muscles with which to use their body language<\/a> to influence human behavior towards them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Wolves have bigger teeth and larger jaws than dogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Dogs and wolves eat differently and have different nutritional needs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Wolves rarely bark, but dogs do<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Dogs play differently to wolves<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Domestic dogs and wolves share 99% of their DNA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"fawn](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/jamie-street-uNNCs5kL70Q-unsplash-1024x758.jpg\")
What were the first dog breed(s) to be domesticated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n