The human-dog relationship – a historical perspective

Where has this bond between humans and dogs come from? And do you know about the disease that changed that developing bond? The disease was rabies, and it had an immense impact.

Back to the beginning...

There is archaeological evidence dogs were the first animals domesticated by humans more than 30,000 years ago (more than 10,000 years before the domestication of horses and ruminants). This started when wolves began scavenging food scraps from humans, who then began to domesticate the wolves providing them with shelter and protection. In return, the wolves helped the human hunter-gatherers with hunting. As these domesticated wolves were breeding, over 1,000s of years they became dogs as we know them today. 

Alongside evolution of the wolf’s physiology, there is evidence of the developing bond between humans and what we now call dogs. At a burial site in Predmosti (Czech Republic) a dog was discovered buried with a bone (believed to be from a mammoth) carefully placed in his mouth after death – it is believed to be 32,000 years old. In Ober-Kassel (Germany) the skeleton of a disabled dog was buried with the bodies of a man and of a woman; radiocarbon dating puts this at about 14,300 years ago. This is a unique early example of the developing connection; beyond uisng dogs for practical purposes only.

Other early dog burial sites were discovered in many other places; the mummified Black dog of Tumat in Russia is thought to be 12,450 years old, and in Israel at the Ain Mallaha Natufian settlement there are 12 individuals buried, one with their hand resting on the body of a small puppy (dating back at least 12,000 years).

From at least 6,000 years ago dogs were deified in many leading civilisations (Anubis in Egypt, Xolotl for the Mayas, Cerberus for the Greeks). Their role was either to accompany the deceased people to the other world (this stresses the guide role of dogs) or to guard the other world.

As dogs were evolving alongside humans, they are able to connect with us on a deeper level than many animals today.  

And along came the connection between rabies and dogs…

Rabies has scared communities for almost 4,000 years, particularly when it was realised that you were certain to die if you were bitten by a rabid animal. People started to put in place rules (and punishments) aimed at preventing the spread of rabies via dogs. One of the most famous examples are the 4,000 year old Eshnunna (an ancient city in Iraq) laws which state “If a dog is mad and the authorities have brought the fact to the knowledge of its owners; if he does not keep it in, it bites a man and caused his death, then the owner shall pay two thirds of a mina (40 shekels) in silver. If it bites a slave and causes his death he shall pay 15 shekels of silver.”

In the Bible, dogs had a bad reputation and were not well loved. Packs of wild dogs were feared and any contact with dog saliva was perceived to be terrible. You had to wash your hands seven times if you were exposed to dog saliva. During the Middle Ages in Europe, regulations for the containment of domestic dogs (to keep them and you safe) and elimination of stray dogs were passed in many cities and states. Each community had its own way of dealing with the disease; ranging from thorough wound cleansing after being bitten to faith based cures (placing a hair from the diseased dog into the bite or wearing a charm to protect you). None of this worked.

In the minds of people during these times dogs were both a faithful friend, a working companion and the carrier of a frightening, deadly disease.

Preventing rabies in humans today

We’ve known for decades that vaccinating a dog against rabies turns the dog from a carrier of rabies to a barrier stopping the spread of rabies to humans via dog saliva. But rabies is still a threat to many people. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that rabies occurs in more than 150 countries and territories, despite it being a vaccine-preventable viral disease. Currently 99% of rabies cases are in Africa and Asia but it has almost disappeared in Latin America with only about 20 cases a year reported. The WHO goes further, saying “Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans and rabies elimination is feasible through vaccination of dogs and prevention of dog bites.”

Vaccination initiatives help reinforce the human-animal bond. A vaccinated dog is more likely to be welcomed into the home as part of the family and is also a reflection of responsible dog ownership. A vaccinated dog can move back to its rightful place, in front of your fire and back into your life.

Boehringer Ingelheim is the world's leading provider of veterinary rabies vaccines¹. As part of the our Making More Health programme, we have started a pilot project which aims to raise awareness and knowledge of rabies in Nepal and establish local self-sustaining methodologies and processes.

You will be able to read more about this in the future as we approach World Rabies Day in September.

Guillaume Convert, Veterinary Public Health, Boheringer Ingelheim Animal Health Business Unit

¹internal data on file