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Were Dogs Domesticated as Dinner?

A look into the origins of the human-canine connection

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 8, 2009 11:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – Today, they’re man’s best friend, but dogs may have originally come to humans as their best bet for dinner. Researchers in Sweden examined the DNA of dogs around the world and found that they all seemed to be of the same lineage, pointing to “a single domestication event” in southern China, a region with a history of eating dogs, the New York Times reports.

Wolves scrounged human garbage for food, grew tamer, and were caught and bred, says the study’s head geneticist. While they may first have been eaten, they were soon likely used for other purposes. They expanded west, but probably not as food, since most people don’t snack on dog, the researcher notes. Instead, they likely were used for guarding and pulling sleds.

Domestic dogs' expansion around the world likely wasn't for food, a researcher says.
Domestic dogs' expansion around the world likely wasn't for food, a researcher says.   (Shutterstock)
New research suggests dogs may have been domesticated for their meat.
New research suggests dogs may have been domesticated for their meat.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
Mad
Sep 9, 2009 6:10 AM CDT
Bunny is good food
lindamae
Sep 9, 2009 5:25 AM CDT
I remember my visit to the Museum of History in Mexico City and the ceramic fattened dogs on the shelves. Apparently, the little chihuahuas were force fed and then became dinner. Americans are one of the few countries which has enough money to spend on our pets that we spoil them. We have humanized them - other countries cannot afford to do so.
kati
Sep 9, 2009 4:15 AM CDT
I don't see the difference between eating dog/cat v. goat/bunny for instance.

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