Dogs 'helped man out-compete with Neanderthals'

Dogs could have been the deciding factor which enabled modern humans to out-compete with Neanderthals and colonise Europe, researchers claim.

Man's relationship with his best friend has lasted 32,000 years, with cave-dwelling hunter-gatherers using dogs to carry supplies so that they could save their energy for hunting.

The bond between man and dog arose at around the time Neanderthals began to surrender their dominance over Europe, which had lasted for the previous 250,000 years.

Excavations of early human dwellings suggest the animals were revered by our ancestors, with their teeth adorning jewellery and their images occasionally painted on walls, the Daily Mail reported.

Dogs, which at the time would have been at least the size of German Shepherds, could have helped humans by transporting meat and other supplies from one place to another, removing an energy burden from their masters which would have given them an advantage when hunting.

Pat Shipman, an anthropologist at Penn State university, said: "Animals were not incidental to our evolution into Homo sapiens – They were essential to it. They are what made us human."

The Telegraph

Dogs are what allowed us to become modern humans for the last 32,000 years.

Dogs - mans' best friend.

Very interesting to say the least. I've had experience with my dog while hiking/camping for the first time in a National Forest in which I lived. Keep in mind we had never done this before, she was well behaved, but I also worked with her around my house. Never in the woods. Well, long story short she acted as if we had been camping our whole lives together. She never strayed far from the trail and at night she stayed within the range of the fire-light. A few times she stirred while I was sleeping, but there are coyotes, bob cats, deer, etc..

She was a GREAT dog! Honey the Boxer gone too soon from a genetic heart defect. She was born perfect.

reply to post by ollncasino
s+f mans best friend for sure, i will always have dogs and prefer there friendship to most people, i know my bitch(rotty) will protect me in a time of need ....yeah dogs are so cool

reply to post by eyeinoz


This is no surprise to me, why else would dogs make such good pets. It also explains why dogs are so loyal, it's bred into them.

Want I like about dogs, and animals is they can do no wrong.

The article seemed to have not included dogs in the hunting process.

Dogs are amazing.

I definitely agree with some previous posters. If you take a dog out with you hiking or camping, it feels extremely familiar to both you and the dog.

Bark bark bark woof woof woof.

I've been saying this for years, and I have included the concept in two of my short stories (one published here last year): Dogs are what makes us human. S+F.

I have heard this theory before as well and I totally agree. The symbiotic relationship which man and dog have had throughout the millenia is something to really behold.

I honestly think the domesticated dog is man's finest accomplishment.
(Rufus Hambone would also agree)