Molecular systematics indicate that the domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) descends from peculiar or aggrandized populations of wild wolves (Canis lupus)
This hang tough up a select breeding situation that resulted in a strain of wolves having shorter and shorter flight distances, until they were eventually comfortable near humans, having tame themselves, so to speak. At that point, they were tolerated by humans, so long as they were also useful, in such ways as catching rats or driving away other predators. Dog Cages In time, other uses, such as hunting, were found for them. The Farm Fox Experiment Advance of Dogs
