2006-07-07 07:56:08 · 21 answers · asked by Lola 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
In fact, dogs first appeared in the fossil record about 40 million
years ago, well before other carnivore families like cats or bears.
The history of domestic dogs began 20,000 years ago, when Mesolithic Man first began to use dogs while hunting. When livestock became domesticated 7000 to 9000 years ago, dogs were important as protectors and guards. The fossil record shows three main groups of dogs.
1.Hesperocyon
2.Epicyon
3.Wolf
Skeletal remains indicate that five diverse types of dog existed in the Bronze Age (about 4500 BC) - mastiffs, wolf-type dogs, greyhounds, pointing dogs, and shepherding dogs, and cave paintings show dogs working alongside human hunters.
Fossil and genetic evidence confirms that all dogs are the descendants of wolves. In fact, skeletons of the earliest dogs and their wild wolf cousins can be tough to tell apart.
2006-07-07 08:17:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Dogs evolved from wild wolves. Way back in pre-history, some wild wolves entered a symbiotic relationship with clans of humans, in which they provided each other with protection and help hunting. Over time, the wolves became domesticated and more (though never entirely) dependant on humans. Over the centuries, dogs were bred to encourage certain traits, and all the varieties of domestic dogs arose from that -- schnausers were bred to hunt badgers, sheep dogs were bred to help herd livestock, even poodles were originally hunting dogs (strange, but true) But at the very heart, they came from wolves. Think about that next time you see a chihuaua!
2006-07-07 15:03:17 · answer #2 · answered by theyuks 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They actually didnt evolve from wolves. Very recently (the last 100 years or so) people have bred mutations in litters to get all the breed you see today. Many pure breeds got that way by inbreeding because certain traits were so rare that they had trouble finding breeding pairs. That is why purebreds have so many medical problems. A very long time ago, man must have taken wolf pups and kept them as pets, breeding them to be tamer and tamer each generation. Then they found these mutations and created the breeds you see today.
2006-07-07 15:15:02 · answer #3 · answered by lita k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they evolved from wolves. The first dogs were wolves that came to our ancestors' camp fires thousands of years ago looking for handouts.
2006-07-07 15:00:12 · answer #4 · answered by Okkieneko 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Selective breeding of wolves as much as 10,000 years ago. All dogs are wolves, genetically speaking. It is why wolves will breed with dogs, but not coyotes or foxes.
2006-07-07 14:59:58 · answer #5 · answered by zharantan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dogs are or use to be horses or the size of horses through evolution they became small and what they are now these days
2006-07-07 14:59:48 · answer #6 · answered by jewman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evolved from wolves.
2006-07-07 14:59:00 · answer #7 · answered by paul 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From the sky, when it rained cats and dogs...
2006-07-07 15:01:28 · answer #8 · answered by ghyunu 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they came from wolves, but dogs today r demesticated
2006-07-07 15:09:39 · answer #9 · answered by Ashley S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it all starts when a female and a male dog fall deeply in love......
2006-07-07 21:31:33 · answer #10 · answered by bmgb91 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋