A recent study has uncovered evidence suggesting that the bond between humans and dogs goes way further back than we ever thought 12,000 years, to be exact! 

A fascinating study led by François Lanoe from the University of Arizona reveals that this companionship is not only older than previously believed but was also deeply rooted in the lives of Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

The research started in 2018 when Lanoe and his team uncovered a 12,000-year-old canine tibia at Swan Point, Alaska. Then in June 2023, they made another exciting discovery: an 8,100-year-old canine jawbone at Hollembaek Hill.

These findings hint at early domestication and a unique bond between humans and canines that may have influenced the animals' diets surprising for a region where wild canines typically hunted land animals. The bones showed a diet rich in salmon proteins, suggesting humans likely played a role in feeding them.

Ben Potter, a co-author of the study, aptly called this the "smoking gun" of evidence, emphasizing that wild canines wouldn't have eaten salmon unless humans were involved. This revelation strengthens the idea that dogs and humans shared a long-standing, interdependent relationship.

For communities like Healy Lake, these discoveries align with their deep cultural beliefs about the mythical, timeless bond between people and their dogs. 

As Healy Lake resident Combs puts it, “I really love that we can look at the record and see that thousands of years ago, we still had our companions.”

So, the next time your dog greets you with that wagging tail and excited bark, just remember this bond is not only special but ancient! It’s a connection that has stood the test of time.