What concept primarily drove the initial transition from wolf to dog in the animal kingdom?

Self-domestication driven by ecological opportunity

The process by which wolves transformed into dogs is viewed as less of a sudden human engineering feat and more of a gradual shift stemming from ecological dynamics. The key driver was self-domestication, where wolves exhibiting bolder temperaments or reduced fearfulness gained an advantage by persisting near human settlements to scavenge discarded scraps. These individuals were essentially the first to be selected, albeit informally, for tameness because their boldness allowed them to exploit a new niche. While selective breeding later accelerated and refined these traits, the initial recruitment into the human sphere was based on pre-existing behavioral inclinations rather than immediate human decree.