The History of Dogs and Native Americans

Most researchers agree that about 12,000 years ago, a change slowly began to occur in the wolf populations. Some continued to thrive but others began to spend more time with people. It is possible that some wolves tended to be a little more playful than others. These wolves were not tolerated in the structured wolf pack; but this type of personality went well with people.

Perhaps shunned by their peers, these more friendly dogs entered the camps of the Native American. These dogs still looked to a leader for guidance and felt more comfortable knowing their place within a hierarchy. For this reason, the dog readily became an intricate part of the life of Native Americans.