What characteristic provided a survival advantage for the ancestral wolf population that developed into dogs?

Tolerance to human proximity

The divergence leading to dogs was significantly influenced by proximity to human groups, creating a unique selective environment. While wild wolves were selected for avoidance and predatory prowess, individuals within the ancestral population that exhibited a lower tendency to flee when encountering small human groups gained a critical advantage. This tolerance allowed them access to resources, such as refuse piles, which offered readily available sustenance when traditional hunting proved difficult or dangerous. This crucial difference in selective pressure—tolerance versus wariness—was fundamental in carving out the separate evolutionary paths for dogs and wild wolves from their shared ancestor.