According to records, dogs have been with humans for at least 10,000 years. We don’t know when they diverged from wolves, but one thing is certain: they have been an integral part of human life for centuries. Most of the dogs we see today are genetically modified crossbreeds to please different people in different areas of the world (department dogs, hunting dogs, garden dogs, field dogs, sheepdogs, etc.), but there are some (very few) that They are the closest thing to the “original dogs.”
The following breeds are examples of “Pariah dogs” that have lived wild lives and have changed very little since ancient times. One of their characteristics is that they reproduce only once a year, unlike domestic dogs, which reproduce several times.
Carolina Dog
The so-called “American dingo” was discovered in the 1970s living a secluded and solitary life in the southeastern United States. Their behavior is more similar to that of wild dogs than that of feral dogs. It is now recognized as a pure breed.
Australian Dingo
Today’s “pure” dingo is in danger of disappearing, due to so much interbreeding with other breeds of modern domestic dogs.
Basenji
Better known as “the dog that does not bark,” this is supposedly one of the oldest breeds of dogs. It is native to some areas of the Congo, in Africa. For example, it has been depicted in Egyptian tombs, which shows how ancient it is.
Xoloitzcuintle or “Mexican dog”
The Xoloitzcuintle is an extremely old, hairless dog. In Mexico, this dog has existed for more than 3 thousand years, and there is a possibility that it originated from the spontaneous mutation of baldness in American dogs as a way to adapt to the humid and warm regions from which they came. This breed almost became extinct with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, but managed to survive in rural areas.
North American Indian Dog
Much less wild but just as old as the Carolina dog, this breed was used for a multitude of tasks, from guarding and hunting to pulling sleds. He was a fellow worker of the indigenous people for thousands of years. It is the most wolf-like Pariah dog that exists today.
Alopekis
“Small but mighty,” alopekis is mentioned by classical writers such as Aristotle, and can be found on vessels dating back to 3000 BC. C. The breed could be found throughout Greece and there are still several of them in that country.
New Guinea singing dog
This dog falls into the category of dingo dogs (more wild than feral). It is believed to be extinct in the wild, but there are some in captivity, thanks to conservation efforts.