Article: Many wonder when dogs became domesticated, from fierce wolf-like dogs to our pets. Some think humans initially raised dogs for slaughter. A new theory suggested that dogs were used as helpers by hunters, before even agricultural livestock became the norm. In recently published research, evolutionary biologists analyzed the DNA of 18 ancient dogs and wolves, comparing them to modern dogs and even coyotes. They found that dogs were likely first domesticated during the Ice Age in Europe (18,000-32,000 years ago) in Northern Europe. Domesticated dogs likely descend initially from a now-extinct European wolf and helped hunters-gatherers search for meat. Scientists used to think dogs descended from Asia or the Middle East, because there is a 12,000 year old remain found in Israel of an elderly man hugging a puppy.
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