Researchers have identified the world’s oldest known genetic evidence of domestic dogs, pushing back the timeline of dog domestication by several thousand years.

The discovery, announced by the University of Oxford and published in Nature, a leading science journal, is based on ancient DNA from remains dating to roughly 16,000 to 14,000 years ago. These remains come from sites across Europe and Türkiye, including Pınarbaşı rock shelter and Gough’s Cave.

The analysis shows these early dogs were already distinct from wolves, confirming domestication about 5,000 years earlier than previously known. While specific modern breeds cannot be traced, the dogs likely resembled wolf‑like canines that lived closely with humans as companions, hunting aids, or guards.

By around 14,000 years ago, dogs were already widespread across these regions, highlighting their long-standing relationship with humans and providing new insight into one of the earliest examples of animal domestication.

ox.ac.uk