Learn from the experts at Alaska Dog Works the 50 greatest events in dog history.
8,000 years ago: The basenji arrives
Around 8,000 years ago, the original dog that had diverged from a common ancestor with the gray wolf had gone extinct. Around that time, the basenji emerged as the first and oldest modern dog species. Smart and independent, the so-called African “barkless dog” is still recognized by the American Kennel Club today.