WOOF!

Dogs, descendants of wolves, have a rich history intertwined with humans. Their domestication began around 20,000 to 40,000 years ago, as wolves started scavenging near human settlements. Over time, these wolves evolved into dogs through a process of natural and human-driven selection, becoming companions and workers. Early dogs likely ate a diet similar to their wild ancestors—primarily meat, bones, and some plant matter scavenged from human waste.
As humans transitioned to agriculture around 10,000 years ago, dogs’ diets adapted too. Genetic studies show dogs developed the ability to digest starches more efficiently than wolves, reflecting a shift toward eating human food scraps like grains and vegetables alongside meat. In ancient civilizations—Egypt, Greece, Rome—dogs were fed meat, bread, and whatever their owners could spare. Medieval Europe saw dogs eating table scraps, offal, and bones, while working dogs like shepherds or hunters might get heartier fare.
By the 19th century, industrialization brought commercial dog food. In 1860, James Spratt created the first "dog cake" from wheat, vegetables, beetroot, and meat, marketed for pet owners. The 20th century introduced canned and kibble diets, formulated for nutrition and convenience, often based on meat, grains, and vitamins. Today, dogs eat a mix of commercial foods, raw diets, and home-cooked meals, reflecting both their carnivorous roots and omnivorous adaptability—shaped by millennia at humanity’s side.

CANINE DIET :The canine diet has evolved significantly over time, reflecting dogs’ descent from wolves and their long history with humans. As descendants of an extinct wolf population, early canines were primarily carnivorous, eating meat, bones, and occasional plant matter scavenged near human camps 20,000–40,000 years ago. As domestication progressed, particularly with the rise of agriculture around 10,000 years ago, dogs adapted to a more omnivorous diet. Genetic changes enabled them to digest starches from human food scraps like grains and vegetables, though meat remained a core component.
In ancient societies—such as Egypt, Greece, and Rome—dogs ate meat, bread, and leftovers from their owners. During the Middle Ages in Europe, their diet included table scraps, offal, and bones, with working dogs sometimes getting richer fare. The Industrial Revolution marked a shift: in 1860, James Spratt introduced the first commercial dog food, a "dog cake" of wheat, vegetables, beetroot, and meat. By the 20th century, canned food and dry kibble became standard, blending meat, grains, and supplements for balanced nutrition.
Today, canine diets vary widely. Commercial kibble and wet food dominate, formulated with proteins (e.g., chicken, beef), grains or grain-free alternatives (like potatoes), and vitamins. Raw diets, mimicking ancestral eating, include meat, bones, and organs. Home-cooked meals might mix meat with rice or veggies. While dogs retain carnivorous traits like sharp teeth and a short digestive tract, their adaptability—unlike the obligate carnivore cat—lets them thrive on diverse diets, shaped by both biology and human influence.

Post Script

 Dogs are descendants of an extinct population of wolves, not a single modern wolf species. Genetic and archaeological evidence suggests that their closest ancestors were part of an ancient wolf lineage that diverged from the wolves we know today, such as the gray wolf (Canis lupus). While gray wolves share a common ancestor with dogs and are their closest living relatives, the specific wolf population that gave rise to dogs no longer exists.
Studies, including DNA analysis from ancient dog and wolf remains, point to this domestication happening between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago, likely in Eurasia. The exact "which wolf" isn’t pinned to a surviving subspecies—think of it as a lost branch of the wolf family tree, uniquely tied to early human communities. Over time, selective pressures and human interaction transformed these wolves into the dogs we recognize, distinct in behavior, appearance, and genetics from any modern wolf population.