Dog
| Dog Temporal range: Late Pleistocene (c. 14,000 yrs B.P.) to present [1] | |
|---|---|
Domesticated | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | C. familiaris |
| Binomial name | |
| Canis familiaris | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
|
List
| |
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Dogs are mammals, usually to be kept as pets, or work on farms or for the police. Some dogs are trained to be rescue dogs and join teams such as mountain rescue.[4]
Dogs have been bred by humans from ancestral wolves. They were the first animals to live with humans.[5] There was a lot of different types among wolves in the Late Pleistocene.[1] [6]
Today, some dogs are used as pets, and others are used to help humans do their work. They are popular pets because they are usually playful, friendly, loyal, and listen to humans. Thirty million dogs in the United States have been registered as pets.[7] Dogs eat both meat and vegetables, which are often mixed together and sold in stores as dog food.[8] Dogs often have jobs including police dogs, army dogs, assistance dogs, fire dogs, messenger dogs, hunting dogs, herding dogs, or rescue dogs. A baby dog is called a pup or puppy.[9]
Dogs are sometimes known as "human's best friend" because they are kept as pets, are usually loyal, and like being around humans.[10]
Appearance and behaviour
[change | change source]Dogs can smell and hear better than humans but cannot see in full color. Due to the structure of their eyes, dogs can see better in low light than humans. They also have a larger field of vision.[11]
Like wolves, wild dogs travel in groups called packs. A dog in a group helps and cares for others.[12]
Lifespan of dogs
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Different dog breeds have different lifespans. In general, smaller dogs live longer than bigger ones.[13] The size and the breed of the dog change how long the dog lives on average. Breeds such as the Dachshund usually live for fifteen years, Chihuahuas can reach the age of twenty. On the other hand, the Great Dane has an average lifespan of six to eight years; some Great Danes have lived for as long as ten years. An American Bulldog lives for around 15 years. Bigger dogs will have smaller lives than smaller dogs because of the pressure on its heart to move around.[14]
Anatomy
[change | change source]Size and skeleton
[change | change source]Dogs come in a wide range of sizes, from very large breeds like the Great Dane weighing 50-79 kg and measuring 71-81 cm, to very small breeds like the Chihuahua weighing 0.5-3 kg and measuring 13-20 cm.[15] There are variations in the skeletal structure among different types of dogs.[16] The dog's skeleton is well-suited for running, with neck and back vertebrae having extensions for back muscles, ribs providing space for the heart and lungs, and flexible shoulders.[17] Selective breeding over time has led to larger skeletons in breeds like smaller skeletons in breeds like terriers.[18] Most dogs have 26 vertebrae in their tails, but some naturally have as few as three. The dog's skull has consistent components across breeds but varies in shape.[19]
Senses
[change | change source]
Dogs have senses like sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and sensing Earth's magnetic fields. Studies show they may detect small changes in magnetism and prefer to poop facing north or south when the magnetic field is calm.[20][21]
Dogs see mainly yellows, blues, and grays. They struggle with red and green because they have fewer color-detecting cells than humans.[22][23] Their eyes are less sharp than humans', seeing details up to eight times worse.[24]
Smell is their strongest sense. Dogs have 40 times more smell receptors than humans—up to 300 million in breeds like bloodhounds.[25] They hear sounds four times farther than humans (up to 400 meters).[26]
Whiskers help dogs sense vibrations, air movements, and nearby objects in the dark. They also help guide food to the mouth.[27]
Dogs and humans
[change | change source]Dogs are often called "man's best friend" because they fit in with human life. Dogs can serve people in many ways. For example, there are guard dogs, hunting dogs, herding dogs, guide dogs for blind people, and police dogs. There are also dogs that are trained to smell for diseases in the human body or to find bombs or illegal drugs. These dogs sometimes help police in airports or other areas. Sniffer dogs (usually beagles) are sometimes trained for this job. Dogs have even been sent by Russians into outer space, a few years before any human being. The first dog sent up was named Laika, but she died within a few hours.[28]
There is much more variety in dogs than in cats. This is mainly because humans have selected and bred dogs for specific jobs and functions.[29]
Dog breeds
[change | change source]
- See main article, List of dog breeds.
There are over 450 recognized dog breeds, according to the American Kennel Club.[30] Dogs started to become more diverse during the Victorian era when humans began controlling which dogs were bred.[19] Most breeds come from a small number of original dogs from the last 200 years. Since then, dogs have changed quickly in appearance and have been selectively bred by people.[31] These breeds have unique features like body size, skull shape, tail type, fur texture, and color.[32] Humans have bred dogs for specific traits to help with tasks such as guarding, herding, hunting, retrieving, and scent detection. Dogs also show different behaviors like being very social, boldness, and aggression.[33] Today, dogs are found all over the world.[34]
Photo gallery
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References
[change | change source]- 1 2 Thalmann, Olaf; Perri, Angela R. (2018). "Paleogenomic Inferences of Dog Domestication". In Lindqvist, C.; Rajora, O. (eds.). Paleogenomics. Population Genomics. Springer, Cham. pp. 273–306. doi:10.1007/13836_2018_27. ISBN 978-3-030-04752-8.
- ↑ Linnæus, Carl (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I (in Latin) (10 ed.). Laurentius Salvius. pp. 38–40. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
- ↑ Wozencraft, W. C. (2005). "Order Carnivora". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 575–577. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. JHU Press. pp. 575–577. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.
- ↑ "Dog | History, Domestication, Physical Traits, Breeds, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-09-05. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ↑ Irving-Pease, Evan K.; Ryan, Hannah; Jamieson, Alexandra; Dimopoulos, Evangelos A.; Larson, Greger; Frantz, Laurent A.F. 2018. Paleogenomics of Animal Domestication. In Lindqvist, C.; Rajora, O. (eds) Paleogenomics. Population Genomics. Springer, Cham. pp. 225–272. doi:10.1007/13836_2018_55. ISBN 978-3-030-04752-8
- ↑ Cairns, Kylie M.; Crowther, Mathew; Letnic, Mike (2023-05-29). "New DNA testing shatters 'wild dog' myth: most dingoes are pure". The Conversation. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ↑ Gifford, Clive; Lisa Clayden (2002). Family Flip Quiz Geography. Miles Kelly Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84236-146-7.
- ↑ CVA, Julie Buzby DVM, CAVCA (2023-12-21). "14 Vegetables Dogs Can Eat (And May Just Love)". Dr. Buzby's ToeGrips for Dogs. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "When Does My Puppy Finish Growing? How Long Do Puppies Grow?". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ↑ Editorial, Chewy (2018-04-05). "Why Your Dog Is Actually Your Best Friend". BeChewy. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ↑ "How Do Dogs See the World?". www.petmd.com. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ↑ Robbins, Nancy (2012-02-14). Domestic Cats: Their History, Breeds and Other Facts. Nancy Robbins. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-4700-7538-5.
- ↑ "Good Dogs Live Longer — ScienceNOW". Archived from the original on 2011-11-29. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ↑ "50 Fascinating Facts About Dogs". www.petassure.com. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ↑ Byosiere, Sarah-Elizabeth; Chouinard, Philippe A.; Howell, Tiffani J.; Bennett, Pauleen C. (2018-10-01). "What do dogs (Canis familiaris) see? A review of vision in dogs and implications for cognition research". Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 25 (5): 1798–1813. doi:10.3758/s13423-017-1404-7. ISSN 1531-5320. PMID 29143248.
- ↑ Nießner, Christine; Denzau, Susanne; Malkemper, Erich Pascal; Gross, Julia Christina; Burda, Hynek; Winklhofer, Michael; Peichl, Leo (2016-02-22). "Cryptochrome 1 in Retinal Cone Photoreceptors Suggests a Novel Functional Role in Mammals". Scientific Reports. 6 21848. Bibcode:2016NatSR...621848N. doi:10.1038/srep21848. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 4761878. PMID 26898837.
- ↑ "Back pain". Elwood vet. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ↑ Miller, Paul E.; Murphy, Christopher J. (1995-12-15). "Vision in dogs". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 207 (12): 1623–1634. doi:10.2460/javma.1995.207.12.1623. PMID 7493905.
- 1 2 DK (2023-07-06). The Dog Encyclopedia: The Definitive Visual Guide. Dorling Kindersley Limited. ISBN 978-0-241-63310-6.
- ↑ Nießner, Christine; Denzau, Susanne; Malkemper, Erich Pascal; Gross, Julia Christina; Burda, Hynek; Winklhofer, Michael; Peichl, Leo (2016). "Cryptochrome 1 in Retinal Cone Photoreceptors Suggests a Novel Functional Role in Mammals". Scientific Reports. 6 21848. Bibcode:2016NatSR...621848N. doi:10.1038/srep21848. PMC 4761878. PMID 26898837.
- ↑ Hart, Vlastimil; Nováková, Petra; Malkemper, Erich Pascal; Begall, Sabine; Hanzal, Vladimír; Ježek, Miloš; Kušta, Tomáš; Němcová, Veronika; Adámková, Jana; Benediktová, Kateřina; Červený, Jaroslav; Burda, Hynek (December 2013). "Dogs are sensitive to small variations of the Earth's magnetic field". Frontiers in Zoology. 10 (1): 80. doi:10.1186/1742-9994-10-80. PMC 3882779. PMID 24370002.
- ↑ Byosiere, Sarah-Elizabeth; Chouinard, Philippe A.; Howell, Tiffani J.; Bennett, Pauleen C. (1 October 2018). "What do dogs (Canis familiaris) see? A review of vision in dogs and implications for cognition research". Psychonomic Bulletin & Review. 25 (5): 1798–1813. doi:10.3758/s13423-017-1404-7. ISSN 1531-5320. PMID 29143248.
- ↑ Siniscalchi, Marcello; d'Ingeo, Serenella; Fornelli, Serena; Quaranta, Angelo (8 November 2017). "Are dogs red–green colour blind?". Royal Society Open Science. 4 (11) 170869. Bibcode:2017RSOS....470869S. doi:10.1098/rsos.170869. ISSN 2054-5703. PMC 5717654. PMID 29291080.
- ↑ Pongrácz, Péter; Ujvári, Vera; Faragó, Tamás; Miklósi, Ádám; Péter, András (1 July 2017). "Do you see what I see? The difference between dog and human visual perception may affect the outcome of experiments". Behavioural Processes. 140: 53–60. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2017.04.002. ISSN 0376-6357. PMID 28396145.
- ↑ Coren, Stanley (2004). How dogs think: understanding the canine mind. Internet Archive. New York : Free Press. pp. 50–81. ISBN 978-0-7432-2232-7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link) - ↑ Barber, Anjuli L. A.; Wilkinson, Anna; Montealegre-Z, Fernando; Ratcliffe, Victoria F.; Guo, Kun; Mills, Daniel S. (2020). "A comparison of hearing and auditory functioning between dogs and humans". Comparative Cognition & Behavior Reviews. 15: 45–94. doi:10.3819/CCBR.2020.150007.
- ↑ Care PA (24 June 2015). "Dog Senses - A Dog's Sense of Touch Compared to Humans | Puppy And Dog Care". Puppy And Dog Care. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ↑ "Why Are Dogs Man's Best Friend? The Unbreakable Bond Explained - Vet Advises". 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2024-07-14.
- ↑ "Why are there so many dog breeds but only a few cat breeds?". CORDIS | European Commission. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
- ↑ "Becoming Recognized by the AKC". AKC.org. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ↑ Pendleton, Amanda L.; Shen, Feichen; Taravella, Angela M.; Emery, Sarah; Veeramah, Krishna R.; Boyko, Adam R.; Kidd, Jeffrey M. (2018-06-28). "Comparison of village dog and wolf genomes highlights the role of the neural crest in dog domestication". BMC Biology. 16 (1): 64. doi:10.1186/s12915-018-0535-2. ISSN 1741-7007. PMC 6022502. PMID 29950181.
- ↑ "Chihuahua dog | Size, Lifespan, Barking, Personality & Origin | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ↑ "Great Dane | Size, Lifespan, Temperament & Health Issues | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2025-05-02. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ↑ Parker, Heidi G.; Dreger, Dayna L.; Rimbault, Maud; Davis, Brian W.; Mullen, Alexandra B.; Carpintero-Ramirez, Gretchen; Ostrander, Elaine A. (2017). "Genomic Analyses Reveal the Influence of Geographic Origin, Migration, and Hybridization on Modern Dog Breed Development". Cell Reports. 19 (4): 697–708. Bibcode:2017CellR..19..697P. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2017.03.079. PMC 5492993. PMID 28445722.
Bibliography
[change | change source]- Boitani, Luigi; Mech, L. David (2003). Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-51696-7. OCLC 904338888.
- Cunliffe, Juliette (2004). The encyclopedia of dog breeds. Bath: Paragon Books. ISBN 978-0-7525-8018-0.
- Fogle, Bruce (2009). The encyclopedia of the dog. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7566-6004-8.
- HarperCollins (2021). "Collins Dictionary". HarperCollins Publishers L.L.C.
- Jones, Arthur F.; Hamilton, Ferelith (1971). The world encyclopedia of dogs. New York: Galahad Books. ISBN 978-0-88365-302-9.
- Smith, Bradley, ed. (2015). The Dingo Debate: Origins, Behaviour and Conservation. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Australia. ISBN 978-1-4863-0030-3.
- Wang, Xiaoming; Tedford, Richard H. (2008). Dogs: Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History. Columbia University Press, New York. pp. 1–232. ISBN 978-0-231-13529-0. OCLC 502410693.
Other websites
[change | change source]
| Definitions from Wiktionary |
| Media from Commons |
| News stories from Wikinews |
| Quotations from Wikiquote |
| Source texts from Wikisource |
| Textbooks from Wikibooks |
| Learning resources from Wikiversity |
- Biodiversity Heritage Library bibliography for Canis lupus familiaris
- Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) – World Canine Organisation
- Dogs in the Ancient World, an article on the history of dogs
- View the dog genome Archived 13 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine on Ensembl
- Genome of Canis lupus familiaris (version UU_Cfam_GSD_1.0/canFam4), via UCSC Genome Browser
- Data of the genome of Canis lupus familiaris, via NCBI
- Data of the genome assembly of Canis lupus familiaris (version UU_Cfam_GSD_1.0/canFam4), via NCBI
