Question
Be happy you did not live on Earth 35,000 years ago.
Back then, large sheets of ice covered much of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. There were no nations yet, no cities or towns. For many of our early ancestors, life was a daily struggle. Many lived in caves or in huts made of animal bones. They hunted reindeer using stones and sticks. Danger lurked everywhere—diseases with no cures, saber-toothed tigers with 11-inch fangs, elephant-like mastodons with tusks as long and sharp as swords.
But it was also during this harsh time—now known as the Ice Age—that something beautiful was born: the friendship between humans and dogs.
Teaming Up
Scientists are only now starting to understand the long history of dogs. There are many mysteries. One thing is certain though: All dogs share a common ancestor, the gray wolf.
Of course, a fierce wolf did not suddenly and magically morph into a yapping Yorkshire with a red bow. The change from wolf to dog occurred gradually—over millennia.
Hundreds of thousands of years ago, humans regarded wolves as threats. Though generally wary of people, wolves sometimes preyed on humans. What’s more, they competed with humans for game.
But at some point, a group of humans and a group of wolves teamed up.
How did this happen?
No one is certain; scientists are debating many possible answers. One common theory is that the relationship started when some bold wolves began venturing into human camps to gobble up scraps. Thanks to the extra food they were eating, these wolves thrived and gave birth to many pups. Some of these pups inherited their parents’ bold personalities and, like their parents, made a habit of snacking on leftovers from human meals. When those pups grew up, they passed their boldness on to some of their pups, who also hung around human camps.
The cycle repeated over and over, resulting in generation after generation of wolves that were willing to get close to people.
Meanwhile, people realized that wolves made effective guardians. They protected humans from dangerous animals—of which there were many. Giant hyenas, cave bears, cave lions, and snakes all posed threats to early humans. The presence of wolves made these terrifying creatures less likely to attack. So humans started encouraging the wolves—particularly the smallest and friendliest ones—to stay close.
The Very First
As the centuries passed, the wolves living near humans started to change. Their bodies got smaller, their ears floppier. They became less aggressive and more eager to please humans. And at some point—probably 15,000 to 38,000 years ago—the creatures we know as dogs emerged.
Dogs were the first domesticated animals—that is, animals bred and raised to live among humans and seek out human care. Today, there are many kinds of domesticated animals—cows whose milk we drink, chickens whose eggs we eat, and sheep whose wool we use for our clothes.
But dogs were the very first.
Hunters and Warriors
For most of history, dogs were valued mainly for the jobs they could do. Ancient Greek shepherds used herding dogs to help manage their sheep. Roman warriors marched into battle alongside fierce war dogs. In ancient Egypt, some hunting dogs were so prized that when they died, they were mummified and buried with their owners.
Dogs were utilized in other ways too. Before forks, spoons, and napkins became common, people wiped their greasy hands on dogs that sat near the dinner table. On icy winter nights, people used dogs as foot warmers. Some European kings refused to take a bite of food unless their dogs tasted it first. Only then could they be sure the food hadn’t been poisoned.
In the Americas, native peoples used dogs as guards and hunting companions. George Washington plotted Revolutionary War battles with his hunting dog Sweet Lips by his side. In the 1800s, explorers Lewis and Clark journeyed across America’s western wilderness with a big black dog named Seaman. (Seaman once saved Lewis and Clark by chasing away a buffalo stampeding through their camp.)
We still have working dogs today—they sniff out bombs for the police, help guide the blind through city streets, and visit nursing homes to comfort the elderly. But the majority of dogs in the U.S. now are kept as pets. They sleep in our beds, lick our faces, and join us on family vacations.
And it all began in the distant past, with a family of wolves howling across a dangerous, frozen land.
in your own words, explain what a domesticated animals is. in a short sentence
Back then, large sheets of ice covered much of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. There were no nations yet, no cities or towns. For many of our early ancestors, life was a daily struggle. Many lived in caves or in huts made of animal bones. They hunted reindeer using stones and sticks. Danger lurked everywhere—diseases with no cures, saber-toothed tigers with 11-inch fangs, elephant-like mastodons with tusks as long and sharp as swords.
But it was also during this harsh time—now known as the Ice Age—that something beautiful was born: the friendship between humans and dogs.
Teaming Up
Scientists are only now starting to understand the long history of dogs. There are many mysteries. One thing is certain though: All dogs share a common ancestor, the gray wolf.
Of course, a fierce wolf did not suddenly and magically morph into a yapping Yorkshire with a red bow. The change from wolf to dog occurred gradually—over millennia.
Hundreds of thousands of years ago, humans regarded wolves as threats. Though generally wary of people, wolves sometimes preyed on humans. What’s more, they competed with humans for game.
But at some point, a group of humans and a group of wolves teamed up.
How did this happen?
No one is certain; scientists are debating many possible answers. One common theory is that the relationship started when some bold wolves began venturing into human camps to gobble up scraps. Thanks to the extra food they were eating, these wolves thrived and gave birth to many pups. Some of these pups inherited their parents’ bold personalities and, like their parents, made a habit of snacking on leftovers from human meals. When those pups grew up, they passed their boldness on to some of their pups, who also hung around human camps.
The cycle repeated over and over, resulting in generation after generation of wolves that were willing to get close to people.
Meanwhile, people realized that wolves made effective guardians. They protected humans from dangerous animals—of which there were many. Giant hyenas, cave bears, cave lions, and snakes all posed threats to early humans. The presence of wolves made these terrifying creatures less likely to attack. So humans started encouraging the wolves—particularly the smallest and friendliest ones—to stay close.
The Very First
As the centuries passed, the wolves living near humans started to change. Their bodies got smaller, their ears floppier. They became less aggressive and more eager to please humans. And at some point—probably 15,000 to 38,000 years ago—the creatures we know as dogs emerged.
Dogs were the first domesticated animals—that is, animals bred and raised to live among humans and seek out human care. Today, there are many kinds of domesticated animals—cows whose milk we drink, chickens whose eggs we eat, and sheep whose wool we use for our clothes.
But dogs were the very first.
Hunters and Warriors
For most of history, dogs were valued mainly for the jobs they could do. Ancient Greek shepherds used herding dogs to help manage their sheep. Roman warriors marched into battle alongside fierce war dogs. In ancient Egypt, some hunting dogs were so prized that when they died, they were mummified and buried with their owners.
Dogs were utilized in other ways too. Before forks, spoons, and napkins became common, people wiped their greasy hands on dogs that sat near the dinner table. On icy winter nights, people used dogs as foot warmers. Some European kings refused to take a bite of food unless their dogs tasted it first. Only then could they be sure the food hadn’t been poisoned.
In the Americas, native peoples used dogs as guards and hunting companions. George Washington plotted Revolutionary War battles with his hunting dog Sweet Lips by his side. In the 1800s, explorers Lewis and Clark journeyed across America’s western wilderness with a big black dog named Seaman. (Seaman once saved Lewis and Clark by chasing away a buffalo stampeding through their camp.)
We still have working dogs today—they sniff out bombs for the police, help guide the blind through city streets, and visit nursing homes to comfort the elderly. But the majority of dogs in the U.S. now are kept as pets. They sleep in our beds, lick our faces, and join us on family vacations.
And it all began in the distant past, with a family of wolves howling across a dangerous, frozen land.
in your own words, explain what a domesticated animals is. in a short sentence
Answers
GPT-4o mini
A domesticated animal is one that has been bred and raised to live alongside humans and depend on them for care and support.