<P> The origin of the domestic dog is not clear . The domestic dog is a member of the genus Canis , which forms part of the wolf - like canids , and is the most widely abundant terrestrial carnivore . The closest living relative of the dog is the extant gray wolf , and there is no evidence of any other canine contributing to its genetic lineage . The dog and the extant gray wolf are sister taxa , as modern wolves are not closely related to the wolves that were first domesticated . The archaeological record and genetic analysis show the remains of the Bonn -- Oberkassel dog buried beside humans 14,200 years ago to be the first undisputed dog , with disputed remains occurring 36,000 years ago . These dates imply that the earliest dogs arose in the time of human hunter - gatherers and not agriculturists . The dog was the first species to be domesticated . </P>
<P> The origin of the domestic dog is not clear . The domestic dog is a member of the genus Canis , which forms part of the wolf - like canids , and is the most widely abundant terrestrial carnivore . The closest living relative of the dog is the extant gray wolf , and there is no evidence of any other canine contributing to its genetic lineage . The dog and the extant gray wolf are sister taxa , as modern wolves are not closely related to the wolves that were first domesticated . The archaeological record and genetic analysis show the remains of the Bonn -- Oberkassel dog buried beside humans 14,200 years ago to be the first undisputed dog , with disputed remains occurring 36,000 years ago . These dates imply that the earliest dogs arose in the time of human hunter - gatherers and not agriculturists . The dog was the first species to be domesticated . </P>
who had the first dog as a pet
who had the first dog as a pet
human hunter - gatherers
human hunter - gatherers