Final answer:
It is true that humans domesticated dogs earlier than previously understood. The process of canine domestication showcases ancient human understanding of selective breeding, and dogs have long served multifaceted roles in human societies, from companionship to aiding in hunting and protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the provided reference material, it is true that dogs were domesticated by humans much earlier than previously believed. Evidence indicates that ancient humans had a sophisticated understanding of selective breeding practices, favoring animals with qualities such as a calm temperament, the ability to get along with others of their species, a controllable size, and a disposition that was amenable to living alongside humans.
The domestication of dogs played a transformative role in human culture. As descendants from wolves, particularly from subspecies like Canis lupus pallipes and Canis lupus lupus, dogs were among the earliest animals to be domesticated. Domestic dogs today only differ genetically about 0.2 percent from their ancestral wolf subspecies, which underscores the longstanding relationship between canines and humans.
The roles dogs have played include guarding and protection, hunting, and as sources of food in various cultures. For instance, the presence of domesticated dogs in human coprolites from the Hinds Cave site in Texas dates back to 9260 BP, suggesting that canines were involved in human societies thousands of years earlier than some historical records may suggest.