Oldest dog breed

It is difficult to precisely define ancient dog breeds, as genetic make-ups undergo slight changes and modifications with each new generation, meaning that no breed is ever permanently locked. That said, some have remained predominantly stable in form, lifestyle and genetics across very long time frames. Among the oldest canine breeds is the Greenland sled dog, which arose in the Bering Sea region at least 2,000 years ago and arrived in Greenland approximately 1,000 years later. This ancient canine ancestry closely matches Inuit history. When these peoples began their migration from Siberia across to Arctic regions of what is now North America and Greenland, they brought with them dogs from which Greenland sled dogs, huskies and malamutes later evolved. Other very old dog breeds include the Central African basenji, Japanese Akita Inu and saluki, which was revered in ancient Egypt and kept as a royal pet.

A 2020 study, led by Dr Mikkel-Holger Strander Sinding, noted: “Based on 10 genomes of Greenland sled dogs and an ancient 9,500-year-old genome of a Siberian sled dog we can see a few things. Firstly, Greenland sled dogs experienced a population bottleneck ~900 years ago, fitting the immigration to Greenland and have maintained a largely consistent ancestry since arrival. The 9,500-year-old dog, from a site with the world oldest sled remains, shares close common ancestors with modern Arctic dogs (Greenland sled dogs, Siberian husky and Alaskan Malamute). However, the Greenland sled dog is the genetic lineage/breed closest to this ancient sled dog. Greenland sled dogs are still closer to Siberian husky and Alaskan Malamute (their recent cousins), but Siberian husky and Alaskan Malamute are more diluted (admixed with other dogs) from the ancient origin than Greenland sled dogs are.”