From tiny pugs to large Great Danes, scientists have discovered that all dogs came from wild wolves.
How did this happen? Thousands of years ago, wolves and humans helped each other survive. Both needed food. Humans tracked where wolves hunted because wolves led them to other animals. Wolves followed where humans hunted because they got scraps of food that humans left behind.
Then wolves began to stay closer to humans. Over time, wolves became smaller and friendlier. The friendliest wolves survived because humans gave them food and shelter. These wolves became dogs. Dogs learned how to get along with humans.
Dogs became the first kind of animal that humans kept in their homes. Instead of being wild, dogs became domesticated, meaning they live in our homes. Now, dogs are humans’ best animal friends.
