Human-Dog Symbiosis and Ecological Dynamics in the Arctic

Abstract

Since the Late Pleistocene, humans and dogs have coevolved in the Arctic, forming a symbiotic relationship essential to survival, mobility, and adaptation. Archeological evidence shows dogs were used as traction animals by the Early Holocene, ultimately facilitating Inuit expansion and shaping Arctic settlement patterns. Despite recent declines in sled dog populations due to colonial factors, climate change, and cultural shifts, dogs remain central to Inuit identity. This paper frames the human-dog cooperation as a dynamic system of mutual learning, or enskilment, where both species acquire shared skills through collaboration. Tools like harnesses and whips serve as communicative devices within this system. Drawing on archeological and contemporary Inuit practices, the study highlights how embodied knowledge and animal agency contribute to ecological resilience. By viewing the Arctic as a co-managed landscape shaped by human-dog cooperation, the paper challenges static views of adaptation and underscores the enduring significance of this interspecies relationship.