How Wolves Became Dogs: The Ancient Evolution of Our Cute Canine Companions

• Dogs evolved from ancient wolves in Europe 20,000-40,000 years ago.
• Two main theories explain human-dog friendship: humans raising wolf pups for hunting, or wolves approaching human settlements for food.
• The "wolves came to humans" theory suggests wolves sought leftover food, providing humans with guarding and leading to the natural selection of less fearful wolves.
• Dogs developed special facial muscles for "innocent expressions" to appeal to humans, contributing to their perceived cuteness.
• Dogs' brains show positive activity when smelling humans, indicating a deep physical and chemical bond.

Why It Matters: It reveals the ancient origins of our unique bond with dogs.