Dogs have been bred in an astonishing array of shapes and sizes for thousands of years, a far cry from the modern breeds we know today. A recent study of dog and wolf skulls has revealed that even 50,000 years ago, dogs were already exhibiting a wide range of diversity - but it was only with the advent of settled farming life around 10,000 years ago that this diversity really took off.
Using statistical methods to analyze the size and shape of 643 skulls from dogs, wolves, and ancient archaeological sites, researchers found that modern dogs are more than twice as diverse in terms of their skull shapes and sizes compared to those of Pleistocene canines. This suggests that domestication had a profound impact on the evolution of dog breeds.
However, not all dog breeds have remained true to form over time. In fact, many of the distinctive features we see in modern breeds today - such as pugs' flat faces or Saint Bernards' massive size - were introduced much later, during the Victorian era. This raises an interesting question: what does it mean to be a "breed" when most ancient dogs looked very different from their modern counterparts?
To answer this, researchers are turning to genetics and archaeology. A 2021 study found that domestic dogs have been a separate species from wolves for over 23,000 years, suggesting that the process of domestication began during the late Pleistocene era. But it wasn't until around 10,800 years ago that we see the first recognizable dog skulls - those from the Mesolithic site at Veretye in northwestern Russia.
One theory behind the diversity of modern breeds is that early farmers may have selected for dogs with more docile and smaller features as a result of changes in diet and lifestyle. For example, dogs living near settlements or farms might have been fed table scraps, leading to selective pressure on smaller body sizes.
The results also suggest that life with humans had a profound impact on the evolution of dog breeds - from size to shape to even their ability to drive cars (a commonality shared by many modern breeds). This has led researchers to conclude that dogs come in so many varieties because they have been bred for different purposes and lifestyles over thousands of years.
Ultimately, studying ancient dog skulls offers a fascinating glimpse into the complex history of our canine companions. And as we continue to breed and select for certain traits, it's essential to remember that each individual has a unique story to tell - one that may not be visible in just their bones.
Using statistical methods to analyze the size and shape of 643 skulls from dogs, wolves, and ancient archaeological sites, researchers found that modern dogs are more than twice as diverse in terms of their skull shapes and sizes compared to those of Pleistocene canines. This suggests that domestication had a profound impact on the evolution of dog breeds.
However, not all dog breeds have remained true to form over time. In fact, many of the distinctive features we see in modern breeds today - such as pugs' flat faces or Saint Bernards' massive size - were introduced much later, during the Victorian era. This raises an interesting question: what does it mean to be a "breed" when most ancient dogs looked very different from their modern counterparts?
To answer this, researchers are turning to genetics and archaeology. A 2021 study found that domestic dogs have been a separate species from wolves for over 23,000 years, suggesting that the process of domestication began during the late Pleistocene era. But it wasn't until around 10,800 years ago that we see the first recognizable dog skulls - those from the Mesolithic site at Veretye in northwestern Russia.
One theory behind the diversity of modern breeds is that early farmers may have selected for dogs with more docile and smaller features as a result of changes in diet and lifestyle. For example, dogs living near settlements or farms might have been fed table scraps, leading to selective pressure on smaller body sizes.
The results also suggest that life with humans had a profound impact on the evolution of dog breeds - from size to shape to even their ability to drive cars (a commonality shared by many modern breeds). This has led researchers to conclude that dogs come in so many varieties because they have been bred for different purposes and lifestyles over thousands of years.
Ultimately, studying ancient dog skulls offers a fascinating glimpse into the complex history of our canine companions. And as we continue to breed and select for certain traits, it's essential to remember that each individual has a unique story to tell - one that may not be visible in just their bones.
... I mean, think about it, 50,000 years ago they're already diverse and then we come along and selectively breed them for thousands of years? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me 
. And don't even get me started on how much their diet changed with the advent of farming - table scraps? Who knows what kind of diseases or parasites they were exposed to? 
It's crazy to think that we're celebrating these dogs as if they just evolved into the perfect breeds overnight 
. And have you seen some of those "ancient" dog skulls? They look like they're from a different species altogether... 
I'm loving how this study is shedding light on the crazy history of dog breeds. Like, who knew ancient dogs were already super diverse? And it's wild how our modern breeds have evolved (pun intended) over time, especially with those Victorian-era changes. It makes you wonder what other surprises we might uncover about our furry friends' past. 
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. I mean, what's the point of even having a "breed" if they're not even close to being like their wild ancestors?
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dogs have been bred into like a million different shapes and sizes over thousands of years and we only started seeing the diversity now is wild how our ancestors used to live with humans but were still so different from their modern counterparts lol imagine having a saint bernard that could actually drive cars 
it's crazy to think that dogs have been bred for different purposes and lifestyles over time like who knew they were making cars in ancient times? and i love how this study shows us that every dog has a unique story to tell through their bones 
we need more of these kinds of studies so we can learn more about our furry friends and where they come from
... I mean, I've had dogs of my own, like the little terrier mix, Max 
And Saint Bernards were way bigger back then too! It's wild.
. But it's actually pretty fascinating to learn about the history behind these breeds and how they came to be. And isn't it interesting that dogs have been bred for so many different purposes? Like, some can drive cars! 
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