History of dogs

The history of dogs is very long. According to data, as early as 15,000 years ago in primitive society, humans began to domesticate wolves. Wolves are the ancestors of dogs. In primitive society, wolves posed a great threat to humans; they are pack animals. Even to this day, dogs still retain some wolf-like behaviors—they prefer to stay with others or other animals and dislike being alone.

When humans first began domesticating wolves, it wasn't for the same reasons as today. People found that domesticated wolves were highly loyal and had advantages in hunting. They could replace humans in blocking, chasing, and surrounding prey, greatly improving hunting efficiency. After over ten thousand years of domestication, dogs gradually diverged from wolves, becoming an independent species. Although both belong to the Canidae family, their characteristics have undergone significant changes.

In the early days when humans first established nations, dogs were kept as tools by the slave-owning aristocracy. With their keen sense of smell, they were often used to chase runaway slaves. As history progressed, dogs gradually ceased to be used for such tasks and became more ornamental. Approximately 3,000 to 2,000 years ago, dogs turned into pets.