V. Segura et al. (2022) reviewed 178 studies combining zooarchaeology, genetics, morphology, and ethnology to reconstruct the history of dogs in the Americas. The oldest remains date back 11,000–8,400 years BP in North America and 5,600–5,000 years BP in the Andes. Importantly, there is no evidence for an in situ domestication of dogs in the Americas, suggesting all populations trace back to earlier migrations with humans.
The review documents at least three pre-Columbian dog varieties in North America and six in South America. Historical accounts describe unusual phenotypes, such as “humped dogs,” which may have resulted from genetic mutations. Beyond companionship, dogs played diverse roles: for instance, the Coast Salish people bred woolly dogs specifically for blanket production.
The authors note that over 41 American dog breeds are currently recognized by kennel clubs, yet the genetic and cultural histories of many, particularly from Amazonian and Patagonian regions, remain underexplored. Key gaps include the study of local hybridizations with wild canids, migratory routes linked to Indigenous social networks, and quantification of morphological diversity.
Overall, the study emphasizes that the history of dogs in the Americas is complex and multifaceted. It calls for more integrative, interdisciplinary research to fully understand how Indigenous peoples shaped canine evolution and cultural significance across the continent.
Source: Segura, V., Geiger, M., Monson, T. A., Flores, D. A., & Sánchez‐Villagra, M. (2022). Biological and cultural history of domesticated dogs in the Americas. Anthropozoologica, 57, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.5252/anthropozoologica2022v57a1
