Facts about dogs - pets information

 A domestic dog is a dog that is kept as a pet.

The word "domestic dog" refers to any of the world's several hundred canine breeds. While every dog, from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane, is a member of the same species, Canis familiaris, despite their differences in appearance. Domestic dogs are distinguished from wild dogs like coyotes, foxes, and wolves by this distinction.

Domestic dogs are typically kept as pets, although several breeds can survive on their own in the wild, whether in a forest or on the streets. According to a 2016 consumer insights research, dogs are present in one-third of all households globally. As a result, the domestic dog is the world's most popular pet.

Origins in evolution

Origins in evolution All dogs are descended from wolves, but not the grey wolf (Canis lupus), as many people believe. DNA data indicates that the now-extinct wolf progenitor of contemporary dogs was Eurasian. Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly which animal gave birth to dogs.

It's also unknown when dogs split from their wild forebears, although genetic evidence suggests it happened between 15,000 and 30,000 years ago.

While it's hard to explain how a wild wolf became a domesticated dog, most biologists assume it happened over time as wolves got increasingly used to people. Perhaps wolves began their journey down this route by consuming human leftovers. Humans may have encouraged wolves to stay close by actively feeding them several generations later. Those wolves may have later been accepted into human homes and bred to foster certain characteristics. All of this is supposed to have taken thousands of years to unfold.

Breeds of dogs

Many of the dogs you know and love today are the result of selective breeding between animals with favourable physical or behavioural characteristics. For example, ancient peoples began breeding canines that could live and labour in the cold some 9,500 years ago. These canines would go on to form the sled dog family, which includes breeds like huskies and malamutes and is still virtually unmodified today.

Similarly, humans created German shepherds to herd cattle, Labrador retrievers to help hunters catch ducks and other game, and sausage-shaped Dachshunds to chase badgers down a tunnel. Other human requirements, like as house defence and pest control, were met by a slew of new breeds.

Certain breeds were developed to make dogs more appealing as companions. The labradoodle, for example, was created in an attempt to produce a hypoallergenic guide dog by combining the characteristics of a Labrador retriever with a poodle.

Working dogs

While humans no longer rely on dogs for everyday labour as they once did, there are still numerous modern vocations for dogs.

Canines now aid law enforcement by sniffing out narcotics, explosives, and even electronics, thanks to their superior sense of smell, which is between 10,000 and 100,000 times that of humans. They may also use their super-powered schnozzes to assist environmentalists in finding and protecting endangered animals.

They help search and rescue teams in the aftermath of natural catastrophes or reports of persons who have gone missing in the wild. In military operations, dogs trained to detect concealed bombs and opponents act as partners. Other canines aid officers in the search for fugitives from prison or the remains of murder victims. Instead, others work with customs agents who are looking for contraband ranging from cocaine to elephant ivory. Others take the lead in catching poachers, checking cargo ships for rats that could escape in remote harbours, or exposing forest insect problems in imported wood shipments.

Dogs can also detect early indicators of Parkinson's illness, diabetes, a variety of cancers, impending epileptic convulsions, and microorganisms resistant to antibiotics. They provide assistance to deaf and blind persons, as well as people with autism and post-traumatic stress disorder.