ARCHAELOGISTS have identified a dog’s tooth showing man was taking his dog with him on walks 7,500 years ago.

The Alsatian-type dog was originally from the Vale of York but the tooth was found in Wiltshire, proving that man and dog moved happily together around the country — even before monuments were erected at Stonehenge.

Dog-walkers will nod happily at news which seems to affirm the ongoing companionable enjoyment between the two. But then walking the dog is now a national past-time.

Away from the rows about picking up dog mess lies a regular part of millions of domestic routines when Tyson, Rocky and Buster need their daily exercise.

Fortunately, we don’t have to walk as far as man appears to have done during the Mesolithic era and the 250 mile trek suggested by the find. The pleasure, however, appears to remain the same for both in this simple, timeless activity.