A study of dog DNA has shown that our “best friend” in the animal world may also be our oldest one.
The analysis reveals that dog domestication can be traced back 11,000 years, to the end of the last Ice Age.
Our canine companions were widespread across the northern hemisphere at this time, and had already split into five different types.
Despite the expansion of European dogs during the colonial era, traces of these ancient indigenous breeds survive today in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
The research fills in some of the gaps in the natural history of our close animal companions.
Dr Pontus Skoglund, co-author of the study and group leader of the Ancient Genomics laboratory at Londons Crick Institute, told BBC News: “Dogs are really unique in being this quite strange thing if you think about it, when all people were still hunter gatherers, they domesticate what is really a wild carnivore – wolves are pretty frightening in many parts of the world.
“The question of why did people do that? How did that come about? Thats what were ultimately interested in.”
To some extent, dog genetic patterns mirror human ones, because people took their animal companions with them when they moved. But there were also important differences.
For example, early European dogs were initially diverse, appearing to originate from two very distinct populations, one related to Near Eastern dogs and another to Siberian dogs.
But at some point, perhaps after the onset of the Bronze Age, a single dog lineage spread widely and replaced all other dog populations on the continent. This pattern has no counterpart in the genetic patterns of people from Europe.
Anders Bergström, lead author and post-doctoral researcher at the Crick, said: “If we look back more than four or five thousand years ago, we can see that Europe was a very diverse place when it came to dogs. Although the European dogs we see today come in such an extraordinary array of shapes and forms, genetically they derive from only a very narrow subset of the diversity that used to exist.”
An international team analysed the whole genomes (the full complement of DNA in the nuclei of biological cells) of 27 ancient dog remains associated with a variety of archaeological cultures. They compared these to each other and to modern dogs.
The results reveal that breeds like the Rhodesian Ridgeback in southern Africa and the Chihuahua and Xoloitzcuintli in Mexico retain genetic traces of ancient indigenous dogs from the region.
The ancestry of dogs in East Asia is complex. Chinese breeds seem to derive some of their ancestry from animals like the Australian dingo and New Guinea singing dog, with the rest coming from Europe and dogs from the Russian steppe.
The New Guinea singing dog is so named because of its melodious howl, characterised by a sharp increase in pitch at the start.
Greger Larson, a co-author from the University of Oxford, said: “Dogs are our oldest and closest animal partner. Using DNA from ancient dogs is showing us just how far back our shared history goes and will ultimately help us understand when and where this deep relationship began.”
Dogs are thought to have evolved from wolves that ventured into human camps, perhaps sniffing around for food. As they were tamed, they could then have served humans as hunting companions or guards.
The results suggest all dogs derive from a single extinct wolf population – or perhaps a few very closely related ones. If there were multiple domestication events around the world, these other lineages did not contribute much DNA to later dogs.
Dr Skoglund said it was unclear when or where the initial domestication occurred. “Dog history has been so dynamic that you cant really count on it still being there to readily read in their DNA. We really dont know – thats the fascinating thing about it.”
Many animals, such as cats, probably became our pets when humans settled down to farm a little over 6,000 years ago. Cats were probably useful for controlling pests such as mice, that were attracted by the waste generated by dense settlements. This places their domestication in cradles of agriculture such as the Near East.
“For dogs, it could almost have been anywhere: cold Siberia, the warm Near East, South-East Asia. All of these are possibilities in my mind,” Pontus Skoglund explained.
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Ever looked at your furry friend and wondered if there’s more connecting you than just that leash? You’re not alone! The bond between humans and dogs goes waaay deeper than most people realize. I’ve been fascinated by this topic for years, and what I’ve discovered about our shared DNA, history, and even behaviors might blow your mind.
The DNA Connection: More Similar Than You Thought
Let’s get straight to the juicy stuff! According to research from Embark Veterinary humans and dogs share about 84% of their DNA. That’s right – we have over 17,000 similar genes with our four-legged companions! When I first learned this I was like “no way!” but the science doesn’t lie.
Some of the most interesting shared genes include
- EPAS1 – This gene allows both people and dogs to breathe at high elevations without getting altitude sickness. Scientists found this variant in Tibetan Mastiffs and people living on the Tibetan Plateau near the Himalayas.
- POMC – Related to food motivation and metabolism in both species (explains why my dog and I both struggle to resist snacks!)
- ADGRE1 – Linked to malaria protection in both dogs and people in West Africa
- EPS8L2 – Involved in childhood deafness in humans and hearing loss in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs
- AMY2B – Both humans and dogs have multiple copies of this gene, which helps us digest starch
But here’s where it gets even more interesting – we’re not equally related to all animals Many people wonder if we’re more closely related to dogs or cats While we share similar DNA percentages with both (about 90% with cats and 84% with dogs), the functional similarities with dogs are often more noticeable because of our shared evolutionary history.
A Shared History That Spans Thousands of Years
Dogs are literally the first species ever domesticated by humans. Before we grew crops, before we raised cattle, and yes, even before cats came into our homes – there were dogs by our side.
This partnership goes back at least 15,000 years, possibly much longer according to some researchers. During this co-evolution, dogs became more responsive to humans and more socially aware of our moods. They even developed physical changes – becoming smaller with shorter muzzles and more puppy-like features that still make us go “awww” today.
As Dr. Greger Larson, Professor of Evolutionary Genomics at Oxford University, puts it: “It is not overstating things to say that dogs are people, and we are our dogs.” That’s a pretty profound statement when you think about it!
Beyond DNA: The Lifestyle Similarities
What really fascinates me is how much our lives mirror each other today. It’s like we’ve become “roommates” in the truest sense!
Diet Trends
When scientists compared ancient human and dog bones, they found evidence that people and dogs lived together and ate the same food. As our diet changed over the millennia, so did theirs.
According to Embark data:
- 58.7% of dogs eat commercially available dog food from large brands
- 20.0% eat boutique or specialty dog food
- 5.7% follow a veterinary prescription diet
- 4.2% eat human-grade ready-made dog food
- 3.0% follow a home-cooked diet
- 2.7% eat a raw diet
Almost half of all dogs (46.3%) take dietary supplements, many of which are the same ones humans take:
| Supplement | Dogs | Humans |
|---|---|---|
| Probiotics | 20.5% | 41% |
| Fish oil | 20.1% | 7.8% |
| Glucosamine | 15.3% | Common in humans too |
| CBD | 9.1% | 60% |
| Melatonin | 2.3% | 27.4% |
Sleeping Habits
If you let your dog sleep in your bed, you’re definitely not alone!
- 45% of dogs sleep in the same bed with their humans
- 23% sleep in their own bed in the same room as their humans
- 27% sleep in a different room
Exercise Patterns
One area where dogs might be helping us live healthier lives is exercise. Studies have found that dog owners are about four times more likely than non-dog owners to meet physical activity guidelines.
According to Embark’s data:
- 20.9% of dogs get 2-4 hours of exercise per week
- 20.2% get 4-6 hours per week
- 19.9% get 6-8 hours per week
- 14.0% get 8-10 hours per week
- 19.2% get 10+ hours per week
That means 73% of dogs get 4+ hours of weekly exercise! I wish I could say the same for myself!
TV Watching
Even our leisure habits are similar – nearly 80% of Americans watch TV on any given day, spending an average of 2 hours and 46 minutes daily. And guess what? Embark reports that 21% of dogs watch TV too! My dog certainly perks up whenever there’s an animal on screen.
Health Similarities That Might Surprise You
Allergies
Turns out dogs and their owners often share the same allergies – partly because we share our homes and environments.
- 10.7% of dogs have environmental or seasonal allergies (compared to 26% of US adults)
- 5.3% of dogs have food allergies (compared to 12% of Americans)
Of those dogs with food allergies:
- 60.6% are allergic to an animal protein
- 22.4% have a grain allergy
Obesity and Metabolism
Remember that POMC gene I mentioned earlier? It plays a role in metabolism for both species. Dogs with certain variants of this gene tend to overeat because their brain doesn’t recognize when they’re full. According to Embark, about 20% of Labrador Retrievers and 70% of Flat-Coated Retrievers have this variant.
New research has found that this genetic variant can make dogs feel hungrier and slow down their metabolism – similar to how some genetic variants affect human metabolism.
Mental and Behavioral Health
We even share similar mental health challenges:
- 16.8% of dogs experience behavioral health challenges
- 8.8% have received an anxiety diagnosis (compared to 19.1% of US adults)
- 36.4% have been prescribed Prozac and 48.6% have been prescribed Trazodone (compared to 13.2% of Americans who report taking an antidepressant)
The Emotional Bond: It Goes Both Ways
While we can’t exactly ask our dogs to tell us about their feelings, research suggests that the bond we feel with them is mutual. Studies have shown that:
- Dogs are drawn to people who are pretending to cry, even if they’re strangers
- Both humans and dogs release oxytocin (the “happiness hormone”) when looking at each other
- Dogs appear to experience grief when they lose a human or canine friend
The stories of Hachikō and Greyfriars Bobby – dogs who remained loyal to their humans even after death – show that the human-dog relationship runs incredibly deep.
Do We Really Look Like Our Dogs?
You’ve probably heard people joke about dog owners looking like their pets – but there might be some truth to it! Some studies have shown that dogs may actually resemble their owners physically. Newer research suggests we often share similar personality traits too.
I’ve definitely noticed this at the dog park – the energetic guy with the Border Collie, the laid-back woman with her Basset Hound… coincidence or something more?
What This All Means For Our Relationship
So are humans and dogs related? Well, we’re not direct relatives in the evolutionary tree – we didn’t evolve from a common ancestor the way humans and chimps did. But we ARE deeply connected through our shared history, our similar genes, and our parallel lifestyles.
This relationship has shaped both species in profound ways. Dogs have adapted to understand human gestures and emotions better than any other animal (even chimpanzees!), while humans have developed a unique capacity to communicate with and care for dogs.
When you think about it, we’ve been evolving together for thousands of years – sharing our food, our homes, and even influencing each other’s genetic makeup. So while we’re not “related” in the traditional sense, we have a bond that goes beyond many biological relationships.
Wrapping Up Our Tail of Two Species
The next time you look into your dog’s eyes, remember that there’s so much more connecting you than just that moment. You’re looking at a species that has been humanity’s companion for thousands of years, that shares a surprising amount of your DNA, and that may even have some of the same personality traits as you.
Our relationship with dogs is truly unique in the animal kingdom. It’s a partnership that has stood the test of time and continues to benefit both species in countless ways. So yeah, we’re not technically “related” to dogs in the family-tree sense, but in many ways, they’re the closest non-human relatives we have – not just in our DNA, but in our daily lives and hearts.
What do you think? Have you noticed similarities between you and your dog? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
How related are humans and dogs? | 3min Short film
FAQ
Is 1 human year equal to 7 dog years?
No, the idea that one human year equals seven dog years is a misconception and inaccurate. Dogs age more rapidly in their early years, with the first year being equivalent to about 15 human years, and the second year to about nine human years. Subsequent years’ aging varies significantly by breed and size, with the 7:1 ratio being too simplistic to account for these complex factors.
What is the closest relative to a dog?
The dog, Canis familiaris, is a direct descendent of the gray wolf, Canis lupus: In other words, dogs as we know them are domesticated wolves.
Are dogs 98% wolf?
After all, the two species descend from a common ancestor. In fact the two species share 98.8% of the same DNA.
Do we share any DNA with dogs?