Domestication - how pets came in from the cold

When dogs came in from the cold.
We can find evidence of the inclusion of dogs in human society dating back to prehistoric cave paintings and Egyptian hieroglyphics. What was it about wolves, above other animals, that meant this close relationship with humans happened? Was it all down to human control and domination or did wolves willingly collaborate in this endearing partnership?

It was when humans began to evolve from a nomadic lifestyle and create permanent settlements that the domestication of dogs began. It’s believed this started about 12,000 years ago. Traditionally nomads and hunters themselves, wolves began to realise that to stick close to human campsites proved a promising habitat for them also – a safe bet when scavenging for food. They chose to follow humans around, even when they moved settlement. As well as scavenging on waste food, they hunted small prey that followed humans for their food also. Their close proximity to us protected them from bigger predators that we kept away. They were beginning to like us.

Naturally, humans would have realised the benefit to wolves clearing their environment of annoying pests and tolerated their presence. Their keen sense of smell and hearing would also have been very useful to humans in alerting them to danger from larger predators.

Beyond that, though, humans would have been charmed by the young and more sociable members of wolf packs and slowly invited them to come closer until they became tame enough to join us as friends. The usual characteristics that we find appealing today like soft fur, engaging eyes, playfulness and friendliness would have ensured the survival of those portraying these aspects. The more we chose to select the ones with the features and personalities we found appealing, the more they evolved into what we related personally to.