Dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated, and this process took place sometime between 12,000 and 32,000 years ago. Experts estimate that hunter-gatherers domesticated dogs more than 15,000 years ago, before the development of agriculture. The dog, known scientifically as Canis lupus familiaris, is currently the most abundant carnivore on land and has a long history of association with humans. The exact timing of when dogs broke off from their wild ancestors is still a mystery, but it likely occurred between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago.