<p dir="ltr">To kick off the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2015/show/info.html">139th Annual Westminster Dog Show</a>, which opens at Madison Square Garden in New York City today, we've called up some favorite pictures of pooches from the National Geographic archives.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the photo above, a pair of dogs—viewed over the hood of a car—roam the Bushman village of Wit Draai in South Africa.</p> <p dir="ltr">Human companionship with dogs stretches back to the Stone Age. Although scientists still debate the exact origins of domestic canines, many think they evolved from a group of wolves that have since died out. Some believe humans adopted wolf pups, favoring the ones that were less aggressive.</p> <p dir="ltr">Today, about 80 million dogs live in households across the United States. While they're still our loyal companions, they have become our co-workers too. They keep guard, soothe patients through therapy, star on the big screen, and&nbsp;<a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/06/war-dogs/paterniti-text">march side-by-side into combat with soldiers</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><b></b><i>—Text by Jenna Turner, photo gallery by Kathy Moran</i></p>