This meant that early dogs gradually became more tame and relaxed in human company. The domestication of dogs from their wild ancestors was likely a process that involved them ‘choosing’ to be with us (probably as a result of food provision and other benefits) and us ‘encouraging’ them to stay with us for hunting, security, companionship, warmth, and in some cases, as a food source. While this is a tiny period in larger evolutionary history, during the time that we have shared our lives, food, and even homes with dogs, we have had a significant effect upon them. The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) has been clearly identified in fossil and archaeological records as being a common presence in human society for at least 40,000 years, and probably much longer. What do these changes mean for our dogs though, how we manage and care for them, and can they affect their health and well-being? In the same way that we humans are genetically very similar to bonobos (about 98.7 per cent similar in fact), it is often the subtle genetic differences that are really important.įor our dogs, the diversity of shapes, sizes, colours, coat types, ear length, and so on, are all clear visual indicators of how even tiny genetic changes can have significant effects on appearance and overall biology. These differences are a result of genetic changes that arose from domestication, selection, and evolution. Wolves are pretty consistent in their physical appearance, shape, and size - dogs are much more diverse! There are some social and behavioural differences between dogs and wolves, and even some digestive ones - some dog breeds have an increased capacity to digest starch for example.

This evolutionary relationship raises some interesting questions about our dogs: are they really ‘wolves in our sitting rooms’ - even our smallest, fluffiest, and least wolf-like dogs? Research indicates that the fundamental genetics of dogs and wolves are largely similar, with evidence suggesting about 99.9 per cent genetic similarity. Science is quite clear that all domestic dogs originated from a common wolf-like ancestor. Fit for function is about much more than whether our dogs are physically fit for activities - it is also about what they are physically built for! Dog origins

Understanding the origin of dogs and how breeds and types developed can be a great way to think about managing our dogs’ lifestyles and activities to best maintain their health and well-being. What do these differences mean for our dogs, and what impact can their shape and size have on what we expect them to do? Dogs are often described as one of the most physically diverse species on the planet - small to tall, slim to stocky, long-coated, short-coated, and a whole variety of other differences in between. The domestic dog is a truly fascinating creature.

Dog breed head shapes