The process of domesticating wild wolves and transforming them into what we now recognize as domestic dogs likely began between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago. This lengthy process involved selective breeding by early humans who favored specific traits in wolves, such as tameness, sociability, and cooperation. Over generations, these traits were accentuated, leading to the emergence of dogs as a distinct and domesticated species.
This domestication process is thought to have occurred gradually as humans and wolves developed mutually beneficial relationships. Wolves may have initially scavenged near human campsites, leading to a closer association with humans. Eventually, these relationships evolved into partnerships where humans and dogs worked together for hunting, protection, and companionship.
The exact timeline of this process is still a subject of ongoing research and debate among scientists, but evidence from archaeological and genetic studies suggests that the domestication of dogs is one of the earliest instances of animal domestication by humans.