We’ve been best friends with dogs for thousands of years. Here’s how it began

We can hound for an answer not just in ancient bones and DNA but also in the religious texts, myths and burial practices of ancient civilisations. The man-canine relationship, however, is far older than its appearance in written traditions. Over thousands of years, this companionship found its way into religious beliefs, mythology and cultural practices.

In some traditions, dogs became the mounts of deities. In others, they served as guides to the afterlife. Humans began their association with dogs long before they learned to farm or established permanent settlements.

A study published in Nature journal in March 2026 identified the oldest genetic evidence of domestic dogs yet discovered. Researchers analysed ancient DNA from remains dating back 15,800 years found at Pınarbaşı in Turkey and 14,300 years found at Gough’s Cave in Britain. Further analysis of remains from archaeological sites in Germany, Italy and Switzerland showed that dogs had spread across parts of Europe and Anatolia, the region around present-day Turkey, by about 14,300 years ago.