Rather than humans seeking to bond with wolves, it was the wolves that chose to bond with humans.
Early human settlements offered new sources of food, such as discarded bones and rotting meat. Only the more audacious wolves could use this discovery to their advantage, and slowly, these wolves became more skilled at responding to cues in human behavior.
Even when the wolves were chased off, the draw of food outweighed the threat of danger. Within a few generations, differences could be observed between the wilder wolves and the proto-dogs. These animals showed a preference for being around humans rather than sticking with the pack.
We also know that if dogs have a choice to be with other dogs or with a person, they choose the person. The mere presence of a person causes a dog’s stress levels to drop dramatically.
A dog displays an alliance with people unlike any other animal, and even behave like a human infant toward its owner. As nineteenth century writer Josh Billings said, “A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”