The mystery of the 18,000-year-old pup found in the Siberian permafrost has fascinated scientists since its discovery in 2018. Dogor’s identity was remarkably well preserved, with fur, whiskers and even eyelashes intact. Researchers were stumped as to whether he was a dog or a wolf until genome sequencing in 2022 finally revealed the truth.

Dogor got his name for two reasons. First, the word “Dogor” means “friend” in the language of the region where he was found. Second, the word is a play on the question that was asked to scientists: is this creature a dog or a wolf?

As it turns out, we now know definitively that Dogor is a wolf fossil. And rather than answering our questions about dog evolution, this discovery ultimately raises further questions about the nature of adaptability itself—how did wolves and dogs survive the grim reality of the last ice age?

To understand this, we must first understand what an ice age is.

What is an ice age?

An ice age is a period when the Earth’s temperature drops over a long period of time, causing large sheets of ice to spread across continents and polar regions. The Earth has experienced several ice ages, the most recent of which was the “Last Ice Age”, known as the Quaternary glaciation.

Before an ice age, the Earth generally has a warmer climate. Interglacial periods, the warm phases between glaciations, can last tens of thousands of years. These periods allow flora and fauna to develop and spread.

Many different creatures evolved during these warmer times. Woolly mammoths, saber-toothed cats, and giant sloths, for example, thrived in these warmer climates. When temperatures dropped during the last ice age, these animals, along with others who had adapted to the warmer climate, faced major challenges.

How does Dogor fit into the history of the last ice age?

Dogor’s story offers a unique perspective on the survival strategies of Ice Age animals. The 2022 genome sequencing study found that Dogor is a wolf, which was determined by analyzing the DNA in his well-preserved body. This study was part of a larger effort that analyzed 72 ancient wolf genomes to understand the evolution and domestication of dogs.

Dogor’s near-perfect state of preservation offers a rare glimpse into the lives of Ice Age wolves. Its existence helps scientists understand the environmental conditions and challenges the species faced during this period. It also raises questions about how wolves adapted to the cold, how they hunted, and how their social structures may have helped them survive.

Understanding Dogor’s role in the last Ice Age deepens our knowledge of that period and highlights the remarkable adaptability of both wolves and early dogs. It shows that survival in such harsh times required resilience, adaptability and, in the case of some wolves and virtually all dogs, the formation of beneficial relationships with humans.

What we know about the evolution of dogs from the Dogor fossil

The story of how wolves became dogs is a fascinating tale of adaptation and mutual benefit. One theory is that wolves began to forage for carrion near human camps, and those that were less aggressive and more social were more tolerated by humans. Over time, these wolves began to live on human scraps, gradually becoming more docile and losing their fear of humans.

Through generations of natural selection and possibly targeted breeding by humans, these wolves developed characteristics that made them better suited to life with humans. They became less aggressive, more playful, and developed features we now associate with domestic dogs, such as floppy ears and a friendly nature.

This symbiotic relationship benefited both species: humans gained loyal companions and efficient hunting partners, while dogs received food, shelter and protection during the Ice Age.

Dogor’s fossil also sheds light on the broader history of dog domestication.

It was already known that dogs were domesticated from gray wolves during the Ice Age at least 15,000 years ago. However, where and how this domestication occurred remains a complex mystery. The researchers found evidence that two different wolf populations contributed DNA to dogs. This suggests that wolves may have been domesticated more than once, or that domesticated dogs interbred with wild wolves again.

The study found that both early and modern dogs are genetically closer to ancient wolves in Asia than to those in Europe, suggesting a domestication event somewhere in the east. Early dogs from northeastern Europe, Siberia, and the Americas appear to have a single, common origin from this eastern source.

However, early dogs from the Middle East, Africa and southern Europe show a different ancestry related to Middle Eastern wolves, suggesting that there may have been multiple domestication events or significant interbreeding with local wolf populations.

Our best guess: How wolves and dogs survived the last ice age

The survival strategies of wolves and dogs during the Ice Age were significantly different, but equally effective.

Wolves survived by adapting quickly to changing environments. They could travel great distances to follow their prey and avoid harsh conditions. Their social structures, hunting strategies and physical resilience allowed them to survive in the barren, cold landscapes.

Dogs, on the other hand, found a unique niche by forming close relationships with humans. This companionship brought mutual benefits that were critical for survival. Humans gained loyal and efficient hunting partners, while dogs gained reliable sources of food, warmth, and shelter. This partnership likely made survival easier for early dogs and helped them survive the Ice Age by integrating into humans’ social structures and becoming man’s best friend.