Here's what we know:
* Ancient DNA evidence: Studies on ancient dog remains suggest that dogs were already domesticated in Europe around 15,000 years ago, and possibly even earlier in Asia.
* Wolf ancestry: Modern dogs share a common ancestor with wolves, and genetic studies have shown that dogs are most closely related to wolves from eastern Eurasia.
* Archaeological findings: Bones from early dogs and evidence of dog-like remains have been found at archaeological sites dating back to the late Pleistocene era.
While the precise date is debated, it's clear that the relationship between humans and dogs is ancient and spans thousands of years.