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→Dogs as Pets
As wolves-dogs were increasingly utilized for hunting and protection near human camps or eventually settlements, their utility expanded even more with the onset of agriculture. By then, protecting crops and domesticated animals (e.g., sheep and goats) from other humans and animals became an import function. Given that speed, ability to quickly identify threats, and be able to fight back were desirable traits for protection, this made dogs ideal for roles in agricultural societies. However, if dogs were only aggressive, this would mean they could be a threat to the inhabitants of settlements. Thus, what likely occurred is that dogs were trained to identify those they are linked with, through their day-to-day contact, and those who have little connection to them. This made dogs, as they evolved, become better able to differentiate different people and threats. While in the encampment or settlement, the evolving dogs had to be trained for more docile actions. This likely made them more friendly and easier to control. In fact, in nature, wolves have been found to be among the most gregarious animals and they show a high degree of cooperative traits compared to many animals (e.g., their ability to hunt together in packs requires cooperative behavior). These traits likely helped them develop into more friendly breeds, while still retaining characteristics for protection and hunting.
By historical periods, over 5000 years ago, dogs begin to be shown as more pet-like animals. In ancient Mesopotamia, the goddess Innana was shown as having seven dogs accompanying her. In fact, from Mesopotamia or perhaps Egypt, the first depictions of a dog collar are shown. Dogs were also discussed in various ancient mythology in Mesopotamia, where they served as companions and provided a protective guard. In Egypt, dogs were kept as pets. In fact, with military confict becoming the norm among early states, we also see dogs serving in the armed forces of countries, presumably as aggressive animals that cna protect or attack an enemy. The Egyptian god Anubis, although often shown as a jackal, temples to this god had dog burials, suggesting that dogs also were seen as having an afterlife.
==Current Global Use==
