Bond between dogs and humans dates back more than 15,000 years, study finds

Research suggests hunter-gatherers were feeding dogs and giving them ritual burials as early as the last ice age

They are humankind's best friend, and now ancient DNA analysis has revealed that the enduring bond between dogs and humans dates back more than 15,000 years.

The groundbreaking research, published in the journal Nature, pushes back the oldest genetic evidence for domestic dogs by 5,000 years, revealing that hunter-gatherers were feeding the animals and giving them ritual burials long before the emergence of agriculture.