Scientists discovered that dogs are entering a new phase of evolution

The study examines how modern dogs, especially those trained as service animals, exhibit unique abilities and temperaments that facilitate its integration into contemporary life, marking what Hare and Woods consider the “third wave of domestication”.

What is particular about this phenomenon is the speed with which these changes are occurring. It’s just that, in just one generation, dogs began to adapt to urban spaces, often limited and surrounded by people and other animals, showing that This evolution could be driven by our own expectations of coexistence.

For centuries, dogs were valued for their practical skills, and even a few decades ago, they were expected to act as guardians in the home, providing security. However, urbanization altered that panoramaand most families now prefer a companion who can relax in their homes, adapt to modern life and coexist without problems.

“Natural spaces where dogs could roam freely are increasingly scarce”Hare notes, highlighting how these environments have redefined canine behavior.

A representative case is service dogs, whose evolution is notable, since they are trained to support people with disabilities. They not only show a high level of obediencebut also a impressive development of social skills.

That is to say that, unlike before, from an early age exhibit a natural inclination toward human interaction and a calmness that is not always seen in common domestic dogs.

According to Hare and Woods, service dogs represent the spearhead of this third wave of domestication, since they are adaptable, reliable and tolerant to the dynamics of life in the city, qualities highly valued by those looking for dogs today.

The relationship between dogs and humans

The relationship between humans and dogs dates back a few years. 40,000 to 14,000 yearswhen wild wolves began to approach human settlements looking for food. The least aggressive were those that managed to adapt and reproduce, starting a natural selection process which would eventually lead to the domesticated dog.

This processchanged both his behavior and appearanceintroducing characteristics such as floppy ears and coat patterns that persist in current breeds, in addition to making them smaller in general terms.

With the Industrial revolution one arrived second wave of domesticationwhere the objective stopped being functional ability to focus on appearance. This gave rise to the breeds known today, selected largely by aesthetic features instead of practices.

However, Hare and Woods maintain thatThis trend appears to be giving way to a new phase in which again prioritize behavior: Humans now seek companions who can coexist in complex environments, preferring dogs with a friendly and adaptable temperament.

The third wave of domestication

This third wave of domestication raises the need to select dogs not only for their appearance, but also for their ability to adapt to the demands of daily life of human beings in this century.

In a parallel to the 1950s Russian experiments with foxes, in which scientists selected the most docile and friendly animals, Hare and Woods suggest that service dogs demonstrate how behavioral selection can transform quickly to a species.

For these researchers, The future of dogs is linked to how humans choose to raise and train themand predict that more owners are inclined to adopt dogs that can handle stress and respond positively to human interactions.

Hare and Woods argue that dogs that manage to adapt to these conditions have a better chance of success in the current environmentwhich could accelerate evolutionary changes in this species.

As humans continue to shape the future of their canine companions, scientists point out that city ​​homes They are the stage where this third phase of domestication is developing.

The demand for dogs that can integrate harmoniously in people’s daily lives, is increasing, which, according to experts, could lead to significant adaptations in their behavior and even in its biology.

In the coming decades, we could be seeing dogs that stand out for their calmness, adaptability and social skillsqualities necessary for fluid coexistence in human environments. Thus, the dogs of the future could be very different from those that our ancestors knew, offering a fascinating vision of how evolution and domestication continue to transform species, in a constantly changing world.