Women influenced coevolution of dogs and humans.

A cross-cultural analysis found several factors may have played a role in building the relationship between humans and dogs, including temperature, hunting and surprisingly - gender. The analysis used ethnographic information from 144 traditional, subsistence-level societies from all over the globe. People were more likely to regard dogs as a type of person if the dogs had a special relationship with women -- such as having names and being treated as family.

In a cross-cultural analysis, Washington State University researchers found several factors may have played a role in building the mutually beneficial relationship between humans and dogs, including temperature, hunting and surprisingly -- gender.

"We found that dogs' relationships with women might have had a greater impact on the dog-human bond than relationships with men," said Jaime Chambers, a WSU anthropology Ph.D. student and first author on the paper published in the Journal of Ethnobiology. "Humans were more likely to regard dogs as a type of person if the dogs had a special relationship with women. They were more likely to be included in family life, treated as subjects of affection and generally, people had greater regard for them."

Full article HERE

I have to wonder how much these people were paid for this 'research'?    Not the same in all cases of course, but IN GENERAL, it's the woman who does the nourishing and nurturing.  Which is why I always caution people wanting to buy a puppy 'for their children' that mum has to be in agreement with this new arrival because once the novelty has worn off, and with kids it so often does once the work involved in the huge needs of a puppy kick in, it's all down to mum to look after the dog.