The size of dogs’ brains has decreased by nearly 46 percent through the process of domestication; however, scientists emphasize that this does not indicate a reduction in intelligence. The relationship between humans and dogs is believed to be thousands of years old. Descended from wild wolves, dogs are today’s closest companions to humans. They have established themselves in various roles, from home security and hunting to livestock herding and emotional companionship. Yet, this close bond with humans has brought significant physical, behavioral, and neurological changes in dogs, as shown by a recent study.
A study published in Royal Society Open Science reports that the brain size of domesticated dogs has shrunk by almost 46 percent. Researchers caution against directly correlating this shrinkage with a decline in cognitive abilities. This major transformation, emerging after the Neolithic period, addresses a longstanding scientific question: How did living alongside humans alter dogs’ thinking capacities, behaviors, and brain structure? To answer this, French scientists conducted an extensive investigation involving 207 skulls of modern dogs, dingoes, and wolves, including 22 prehistoric samples. They used CT scans to create virtual models of cranial structures, providing reliable data on brain size. The findings suggest that while humans began domesticating dogs around 15,000 years ago, early dogs had brains as large as those of wolves. Significant changes started during the Neolithic era.
The Neolithic period marks the transition when humans moved from a nomadic lifestyle to settled farming communities. As villages and settlements developed, the role of dogs also changed. Previously required to make complex decisions in the wild, dogs began living around humans, guarding villages, and depending on leftover food. According to the researchers, these lifestyle shifts likely influenced the brain structure of dogs. “Domestication does not make dogs stupid; rather, it enhances their ability to understand humans,” explains Thomas Cucchi, the lead author of the study. “Today’s dogs, even if they do not always utilize their intelligence fully, are extremely clever. Domestication did not diminish their intellect but made them more skilled at understanding and communicating with people.”
