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82-497: (Redirected from Family Dog ) Family dog may refer to: A dog suited for a family; also known as a Companion dog The Family Dogg , a British vocal group Family Dog (TV series) a short-lived American TV series Family Dog Productions , also known as The Family Dog, a music promotion group run by Chet Helms in San Francisco The Family Dog,

164-404: A "difference in motivation" between wolves and dogs. Some puppies and dogs engage in coprophagy out of habit, stress, for attention, or boredom; most of them will not do it later in life. A study hypothesizes that the behavior was inherited from wolves, a behavior likely evolved to lessen the presence of intestinal parasites in dens. Most dogs can swim. In a study of 412 dogs, around 36.5% of

246-468: A 2024 UK study analyzing 584,734 dogs, it was concluded that purebred dogs lived longer than crossbred dogs, challenging the previous notion of the latter having the higher life expectancies. The authors noted that their study included " designer dogs " as crossbred and that purebred dogs were typically given better care than their crossbred counterparts, which likely influenced the outcome of the study. Other studies also show that fully mongrel dogs live about

328-471: A certain work or role. Their behavioural traits include guarding, herding, hunting, retrieving, and scent detection. Their personality traits include hypersocial behavior, boldness, and aggression. Present-day dogs are dispersed around the world. An example of this dispersal is the numerous modern breeds of European lineage during the Victorian era. Dogs are extremely variable in size, ranging from one of

410-407: A close bond sometimes with as many as 20 or more dogs in their kennel in order to keep a highly responsive and loyal team. The musher will need to cultivate a particularly strong relationship with their lead dog. The lead dog will ultimately decide which path the team takes. Canines are employed worldwide in various militaries around the world where they perform a variety of jobs on land, sea, and in

492-632: A concert hall in the Richmond District, San Francisco run by Family Dog Productions, in operation during the late 1960s Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Family dog . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Family_dog&oldid=922347503 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

574-644: A control method for overpopulation. Neutering often occurs as early as 6–14 weeks in shelters in the US. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) advises that dogs not intended for further breeding should be neutered so that they do not have undesired puppies that may later be euthanized. However, the Society for Theriogenology and the American College of Theriogenologists made

656-636: A joint statement that opposes mandatory neutering; they said that the cause of overpopulation in the US is cultural. Neutering is less common in most European countries, especially in Nordic countries —except for the UK, where it is common. In Norway, neutering is illegal unless for the benefit of the animal's health (e.g., ovariohysterectomy in case of ovarian or uterine neoplasia). Some European countries have similar laws to Norway, but their wording either explicitly allows for neutering for controlling reproduction or it

738-499: A natural instinct called prey drive (the term is chiefly used to describe training dogs ' habits) which can be influenced by breeding. These instincts can drive dogs to consider objects or other animals to be prey or drive possessive behavior. These traits have been enhanced in some breeds so that they may be used to hunt and kill vermin or other pests. Puppies or dogs sometimes bury food underground . One study found that wolves outperformed dogs in finding food caches, likely due to

820-401: A north–south position in calm magnetic field conditions. Dogs' vision is dichromatic ; their visual world consists of yellows, blues, and grays. They have difficulty differentiating between red and green, and much like other mammals, the dog's eye is composed of two types of cone cells compared to the human's three. The divergence of the eye axis of dogs ranges from 12 to 25°, depending on

902-417: A pet is impure. Almost universally positive outcomes are reported among those who keep dogs as pets. The human-canine bond is strengthened, or diminished, depending on the quantity and quality of the time spent with the canine and through activities such as routine walking, feeding, grooming, and play. The cattle dog has long worked alongside humans, with the start of herding activities roughly being around

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984-403: A reduction in plasma cortisol , which is correlated to an overall reduction in stress. These results demonstrate the canines' innate desire to form an attachment with a human, and also demonstrate the positive health effects for the canine associated with the relationship. Upon loss, due to death or retirement, the majority of caregivers report intense feelings of grief. Human–canine bonding

1066-494: A set of social-cognitive abilities in domestic dogs that are not possessed by the dog's canine relatives or other highly intelligent mammals, such as great apes , are parallel to children's social-cognitive skills. Most domestic animals were initially bred for the production of goods. Dogs, on the other hand, were selectively bred for desirable behavioral traits. In 2016, a study found that only 11 fixed genes showed variation between wolves and dogs. These gene variations indicate

1148-439: A sizeable population of working dogs worldwide. Working dogs today perform a wider variety of jobs than ever before in history, working in fields such as explosive detection, therapy, and invasive species detection. Dogs are used for service due to their highly developed sense of smell . Research shows they can smell human emotions. A strong canine-human bond is formed between the dog and the handler while performing jobs together;

1230-401: A strong bond is required to safely and quickly perform their jobs. Many of the people who work with a canine partner will also live with them, which facilitates a strong bond between both partners. Many military dogs have also been adopted by their former handlers once they have been retired. Canine-human jobs span fields including hunting , herding , military , medical , and search . In

1312-458: A study of Boxer litters, 22% of puppies died before reaching 7 weeks of age. Stillbirth was the most frequent cause of death, followed by infection. Mortality due to infection increased significantly with increases in inbreeding. Dog behavior has been shaped by millennia of contact with humans. They have acquired the ability to understand and communicate with humans and are uniquely attuned to human behaviors. Behavioral scientists suggest that

1394-536: A study of seven dog breeds (the Bernese Mountain Dog , Basset Hound , Cairn Terrier , Brittany , German Shepherd Dog , Leonberger , and West Highland White Terrier ), it was found that inbreeding decreases litter size and survival. Another analysis of data on 42,855 Dachshund litters found that as the inbreeding coefficient increased, litter size decreased and the percentage of stillborn puppies increased, thus indicating inbreeding depression. In

1476-698: A workshop hosted by the IUCN /Species Survival Commission's Canid Specialist Group considered the dingo and the New Guinea singing dog to be feral Canis familiaris . Therefore, it did not assess them for the IUCN Red List of threatened species . The earliest remains generally accepted to be those of a domesticated dog were discovered in Bonn-Oberkassel , Germany. Contextual , isotopic , genetic , and morphological evidence shows that this dog

1558-548: A year longer on average than dogs with pedigrees. Furthermore, small dogs with longer muzzles have been shown to have higher lifespans than larger medium-sized dogs with much more depressed muzzles. For free-ranging dogs, less than 1 in 5 reach sexual maturity, and the median life expectancy for feral dogs is less than half of dogs living with humans. In domestic dogs, sexual maturity happens around six months to one year for both males and females, although this can be delayed until up to two years of age for some large breeds. This

1640-405: Is a domestic animal that likely travelled a commensal pathway into domestication (i.e. humans initially neither benefitted nor were harmed by wild dogs eating refuse from their camps). The questions of when and where dogs were first domesticated remains uncertain. Genetic studies suggest a domestication process commencing over 25,000 years ago, in one or several wolf populations in either Europe,

1722-653: Is a notable genus with 5 species in which dogs are the definitive host . Additionally, dogs are a source of zoonoses for humans. They are responsible for 99% of rabies cases worldwide; however, in some developed countries such as the UK, rabies is absent from dogs and is instead only transmitted by bats. Other common zoonoses are hydatid disease , leptospirosis , pasteurellosis , ringworm , and toxocariasis . Common infections in dogs include canine adenovirus , canine distemper virus , canine parvovirus , leptospirosis , canine influenza , and canine coronavirus . All of these conditions have vaccines available. Dogs are

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1804-432: Is allowed in practice or by contradiction through other laws. Italy and Portugal have passed recent laws that promote it. Germany forbids early age neutering, but neutering is still allowed at the usual age. In Romania, neutering is mandatory except for when a pedigree to select breeds can be shown. A common breeding practice for pet dogs is to mate them between close relatives (e.g., between half- and full-siblings). In

1886-468: Is associated with impulsive behaviors , anxiety behaviors, and fear of unfamiliar noise, people, or animals. Some dog breeds are hairless, while others have a very thick corded coat. The coats of certain breeds are often groomed to a characteristic style, for example, the Yorkshire Terrier 's "show cut". A dog's dewclaw is the fifth digit in its forelimb and hind legs. Dewclaws on

1968-700: Is closely related to the ancestor of domestic dogs. In 2018, a study identified 429 genes that differed between modern dogs and modern wolves. As the differences in these genes could also be found in ancient dog fossils, these were regarded as being the result of the initial domestication and not from recent breed formation. These genes are linked to neural crest and central nervous system development. These genes affect embryogenesis and can confer tameness, smaller jaws, floppy ears, and diminished craniofacial development, which distinguish domesticated dogs from wolves and are considered to reflect domestication syndrome. The study concluded that during early dog domestication,

2050-508: Is correlated with the formation of a strong social bond. Canines are capable of distinguishing between positive and negative human facial expressions and will react accordingly. Dogs appear in religions all over the world, particularly in Mesoamerican folklore and myth , thus signifying the deep reverence that humans all over the world have had and continue to have for them. Despite this relationship's significance throughout history, it

2132-536: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Dog The dog ( Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris ) is a domesticated descendant of the wolf . Also called the domestic dog , it was selectively bred from an extinct population of wolves during the Late Pleistocene by hunter-gatherers . The dog was the first species to be domesticated by humans , over 14,000 years ago and before

2214-423: Is dominated by a large visual cortex , the dog brain is dominated by a large olfactory cortex . Dogs have roughly forty times more smell-sensitive receptors than humans, ranging from about 125   million to nearly 300   million in some dog breeds, such as bloodhounds . This sense of smell is the most prominent sense of the species; it detects chemical changes in the environment, allowing dogs to pinpoint

2296-461: Is not found in any other canid . In the 2005 edition of Mammal Species of the World , mammalogist W. Christopher Wozencraft listed the wolf as a wild subspecies of Canis lupus and proposed two additional subspecies: familiaris , as named by Linnaeus in 1758, and dingo , named by Meyer in 1793. Wozencraft included hallstromi (the New Guinea singing dog) as another name ( junior synonym ) for

2378-426: Is not necessarily always a positive one; dogs can be viewed in an extremely negative light, depending on the region. Psychologists believe that the relationship between human and canine is a bidirectional attachment bond , which resembles that of the typical human caretaker/infant relationship, and shows all of the usual hallmarks of a typical bond. Some examples of behaviors that led scientists to this conclusion

2460-666: Is opposed by many veterinary and animal welfare organisations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association and the British Veterinary Association . Evidence from veterinary practices and questionnaires showed that around 500 dogs would need to have their tail docked to prevent one injury. Numerous disorders have been known to affect dogs. Some are congenital and others are acquired. Dogs can acquire upper respiratory tract diseases including diseases that affect

2542-753: Is significant divergence in terms of skull shape between types. The three basic skull shapes are the elongated dolichocephalic type as seen in sighthounds , the intermediate mesocephalic or mesaticephalic type, and the very short and broad brachycephalic type exemplified by mastiff type skulls. The jaw contains around 42 teeth, and it has evolved for the consumption of flesh. Dogs use their carnassial teeth to cut food into bite-sized chunks, more especially meat. Dogs' senses include vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and magnetoreception . One study suggests that dogs can feel small variations in Earth's magnetic field . Dogs prefer to defecate with their spines aligned in

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2624-621: Is the display of proximity seeking behavior where the canine will seek out its caretaker as a means to cope with stress , and consequently the absence of the caretaker will trigger separation anxiety to a varying degree. Another such behavior is the safe haven effect, which describes when the canine more freely explores novel objects in the caretaker's presence. Canines are capable of assessing humans' emotional states , as well as discriminating humans by levels of familiarity. Studies have demonstrated that shelter dogs benefit from interacting with complete strangers. These interactions result in

2706-442: Is the terminal appendage of the vertebral column , which is made up of a string of 5 to 23 vertebrae enclosed in muscles and skin that support the dog's back extensor muscles. One of the primary functions of a dog's tail is to communicate their emotional state. The tail also helps the dog maintain balance by putting its weight on the opposite side of the dog's tilt, and it can also help the dog spread its anal gland 's scent through

2788-404: Is the time at which female dogs will have their first estrous cycle , characterized by their vulvas swelling and producing discharges , usually lasting between 4 and 20 days. They will experience subsequent estrous cycles semiannually, during which the body prepares for pregnancy . At the peak of the cycle, females will become estrous, mentally and physically receptive to copulation . Because

2870-837: Is well adapted for running; the vertebrae on the neck and back have extensions for back muscles, consisting of epaxial muscles and hypaxial muscles , to connect to; the long ribs provide room for the heart and lungs ; and the shoulders are unattached to the skeleton, allowing for flexibility. Compared to the dog's wolf-like ancestors, selective breeding since domestication has seen the dog's skeleton increase in size for larger types such as mastiffs and miniaturised for smaller types such as terriers ; dwarfism has been selectively bred for some types where short legs are preferred, such as dachshunds and corgis . Most dogs naturally have 26 vertebrae in their tails, but some with naturally short tails have as few as three. The dog's skull has identical components regardless of breed type, but there

2952-438: The Late Pleistocene . DNA sequences show that all ancient and modern dogs share a common ancestry and descended from an ancient, extinct wolf population that was distinct from any modern wolf lineage. Some studies have posited that all living wolves are more closely related to each other than to dogs, while others have suggested that dogs are more closely related to modern Eurasian wolves than to American wolves. The dog

3034-408: The development of agriculture . Experts estimate that due to their long association with humans, dogs have gained the ability to thrive on a starch -rich diet that would be inadequate for other canids . Dogs have been bred for desired behaviors, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes. Dog breeds vary widely in shape, size, and color. They have the same number of bones (with the exception of

3116-479: The human–canine bond has been a topic of frequent study, and dogs' influence on human society has given them the sobriquet of " man's best friend ". The global dog population is estimated at 700 million to 1 billion, distributed around the world . The dog is the most popular pet in the United States, present in 34–40% of households. In developed countries, around 20% of dogs are kept as pets, while 75% of

3198-406: The mammary glands , ovaries , and other reproductive organs . However, neutering increases the risk of urinary incontinence in bitches, prostate cancer in dogs, and osteosarcoma , hemangiosarcoma , cruciate ligament rupture , pyometra , obesity , and diabetes mellitus in either sex. Neutering is the most common surgical procedure in dogs less than a year old in the US and is seen as

3280-468: The military . Communication in dogs includes eye gaze, facial expression, vocalization, body posture (including movements of bodies and limbs), and gustatory communication (scents, pheromones, and taste). They mark their territories by urinating on them, which is more likely when entering a new environment. Over the millennia, dogs became uniquely adapted to human behavior; this adaptation includes being able to understand and communicate with humans. As such,

3362-1166: The nasal cavity , the larynx , and the trachea ; lower respiratory tract diseases which includes pulmonary disease and acute respiratory diseases; heart diseases which includes any cardiovascular inflammation or dysfunction of the heart; haemopoietic diseases including anaemia and clotting disorders ; gastrointestinal disease such as diarrhoea and gastric dilatation volvulus ; hepatic disease such as portosystemic shunts and liver failure ; pancreatic disease such as pancreatitis ; renal disease ; lower urinary tract disease such as cystitis and urolithiasis ; endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus , Cushing's syndrome , hypoadrenocorticism , and hypothyroidism ; nervous system diseases such as seizures and spinal injury ; musculoskeletal disease such as arthritis and myopathies ; dermatological disorders such as alopecia and pyoderma ; ophthalmological diseases such as conjunctivitis , glaucoma , entropion , and progressive retinal atrophy ; and neoplasia . Common dog parasites are lice , fleas , fly larvae , ticks , mites , cestodes , nematodes , and coccidia . Taenia

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3444-473: The ova survive and can be fertilized for a week after ovulation, more than one male can sire the same litter. Fertilization typically occurs two to five days after ovulation. After ejaculation , the dogs are coitally tied for around 5–30 minutes because of the male's bulbus glandis swelling and the female's constrictor vestibuli contracting; the male will continue ejaculating until they untie naturally due to muscle relaxation . 14–16 days after ovulation,

3526-644: The Neolithic age depicting dogs and humans hunting together has been found. In particular, a mural discovered in Saudi Arabia that is more than 9000 years old depicts a domesticated dog being used for hunting. Today hunting dogs generally fall into one of three categories; Terriers, gun dogs, and hounds. Terriers are smaller dogs which can be used to hunt small animals such as birds and rabbits. Gun dogs are mostly used during upland and wetland hunting to retrieve downed game. Hounds typically specialize in

3608-582: The Swedish botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus assigned the genus name Canis (which is the Latin word for "dog") to the domestic dog, the wolf , and the golden jackal in his book, Systema Naturae . He classified the domestic dog as Canis familiaris and, on the next page, classified the grey wolf as Canis lupus . Linnaeus considered the dog to be a separate species from the wolf because of its upturning tail ( cauda recurvata in Latin term), which

3690-522: The Swiss Alps. Dogs and their handlers will have formed a close bond allowing each other to interpret each other's body language correctly leading to the successful detection of the desired object or person. Examples of body language to look for when the dog begins to "hit" on a scent cone are small pauses, tail flicks, and puffing air with the nose. Every dog is different and will present different signals that will take lots of dedicated training from

3772-459: The Western world, dogs are most commonly found as household pets. The overwhelming majority of American dog owners report that they feel as if their dog is a member of their family. Many Western owners allow their dogs to sleep in their beds with them and report lessened anxiety. In Muslim cultures the dog is regarded as unclean and the general consensus in those countries is that keeping a dog as

3854-472: The air. In the United States of America the Army Veterinary Corps and the 341st Training Squadron provide the training and logistics for many of the handlers and canines. Lackland AFB has around 900 canines at any given time. The commander of the 341st Training Squadron, William Roberts, states their mission is "to produce a dog that patrols and detects, either narcotics or explosives". In

3936-494: The animal is part of our community and is an important determinant for psychological well-being. According to self psychology , an animal can be a "self-object" that gives a sense of cohesion, support, or sustenance to a person's sense of self. Self-psychology explains why some animals are so crucial to a person's sense of self and well-being. Dog companionship often helps people to develop a daily routine and gives them something to look forward to each day. Studies also show owning

4018-476: The armed forces in various operations, comprising 299 Regular soldiers and officers with the ability to surge to a maximum capacity of 384 Military Working Dogs. The relationship between a soldier and his dog is often cited as deeply rooted and unshakable, with the result being that the handler and the dog can read almost imperceptible changes in each other's body language. In the United States military ,

4100-399: The breed, which can have different retina configurations. The fovea centralis area of the eye is attached to a nerve fiber , and is the most sensitive to photons . Additionally, a study found that dogs' visual acuity was up to eight times less effective than a human, and their ability to discriminate levels of brightness was about two times worse than a human. While the human brain

4182-407: The cause and vice versa. The typical lifespan of dogs varies widely among breeds, but the median longevity (the age at which half the dogs in a population have died and half are still alive) is approximately 12.7 years. Obesity correlates negatively with longevity with one study finding obese dogs to have a life expectancy approximately a year and a half less than dogs with a healthy weight. In

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4264-552: The chase and utilize a variety of noises to flush out game, used in hunting larger mammals such as deer, coyote, boar, and foxes. Dog sledding began as a formal sport in North America in 1908, however the practice of using dogs to pull sleds dates back to at least 6000 BC. Remnants of sleds and harnesses has been found with canine remains in Siberia which carbon-dated to 7800–8000 years ago. A dog musher will need to develop

4346-835: The companion animal most frequently reported for exposure to toxins . Most poisonings are accidental and over 80% of reports of exposure to the ASPCA animal poisoning hotline are due to oral exposure. The most common substances people report exposure to are: pharmaceuticals, toxic foods, and rodenticides . Data from the Pet Poison Helpline shows that human drugs are the most frequent cause of toxicosis death. The most common household products ingested are cleaning products. Most food related poisonings involved theobromine poisoning (chocolate). Other common food poisonings include xylitol , Vitis (grapes, raisins, etc.) and Allium (garlic, oninions, etc.). Pyrethrin insecticides were

4428-537: The dingo. This classification was informed by a 1999 mitochondrial DNA study. The classification of dingoes is disputed and a political issue in Australia. Classifying dingoes as wild dogs simplifies reducing or controlling dingo populations that threaten livestock. Treating dingoes as a separate species allows conservation programs to protect the dingo population. Dingo classification affects wildlife management policies, legislation, and societal attitudes. In 2019,

4510-489: The dogs could not swim; the other 63.5% were able to swim without a trainer in a swimming pool . A study of 55 dogs found a correlation between swimming and 'improvement' of the hip osteoarthritis joint . The female dog may produce colostrum , a type of milk high in nutrients and antibodies, 1–7 days before giving birth. Milk production lasts for around three months, and increases with litter size. The dog can sometimes vomit and refuse food during child contractions . In

4592-597: The embryo attaches to the uterus , and after seven to eight more days, a heartbeat is detectable. Dogs bear their litters roughly 58 to 68 days after fertilization , with an average of 63 days, although the length of gestation can vary. An average litter consists of about six puppies . Neutering is the sterilization of animals via gonadectomy , which is an orchidectomy (castration) in dogs and ovariohysterectomy (spay) in bitches. Neutering reduces problems caused by hypersexuality , especially in male dogs. Spayed females are less likely to develop cancers affecting

4674-604: The expense of problem-solving ability . In a 2023 study of 58 dogs, some dogs classified as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -like showed lower serotonin and dopamine concentrations. A similar study claims that hyperactivity is more common in male and young dogs. A dog can become aggressive because of trauma or abuse, fear or anxiety, territorial protection, or protecting an item it considers valuable. Acute stress reactions from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) seen in dogs can evolve into chronic stress . Police dogs with PTSD can often refuse to work. Dogs have

4756-533: The family Canidae . They are classified as a subspecies of Canis lupus , along with wolves and dingoes . Dogs were domesticated from wolves over 14,000 years ago by hunter-gatherers , before the development of agriculture. The dingo and the related New Guinea singing dog resulted from the geographic isolation and feralization of dogs in Oceania over 8,000 years ago. Dogs, wolves, and dingoes have sometimes been classified as separate species. In 1758,

4838-657: The first to research and evaluate pet-facilitated therapy. In the early 1980s the term 'human–animal bond' was officially coined by Leo K. Bustad , who delivered a summary lecture on the Human–Pet Relationship on October 28, 1983, at the International Symposium in Vienna. This symposium was held in honour of Konrad Lorenz , and during his lecture, Bustad praised him for his work on the human–animal bond and encouraged others to build on Lorenz's work on

4920-449: The forelimbs are attached by bone and ligament, while the dewclaws on the hind legs are attached only by skin. Most dogs aren't born with dewclaws in their hind legs, and some are without them in their forelimbs. Dogs' dewclaws consist of the proximal phalanges and distal phalanges . Some publications theorize that dewclaws in wolves, who usually do not have dewclaws, were a sign of hybridization with dogs. A dog's tail

5002-400: The handler to learn how to correctly interpret. People who suffer from isolation, depression, and other mental illness to the point where it significantly interferes with day-to-day life may find security in an emotional support animal, however it is important to remember that usually dogs who fall into the emotional support animal category do not require any specific training. As a result of

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5084-509: The high Arctic, or eastern Asia. In 2021, a literature review of the current evidence infers that the dog was domesticated in Siberia 23,000 years ago by ancient North Siberians , then later dispersed eastward into the Americas and westward across Eurasia, with dogs likely accompanying the first humans to inhabit the Americas. Some studies have suggested that the extinct Japanese wolf

5166-458: The initial selection was for behavior. This trait is influenced by those genes which act in the neural crest, which led to the phenotypes observed in modern dogs. There are around 450 official dog breeds , the most of any mammal. Dogs began diversifying in the Victorian era , when humans took control of their natural selection. Most breeds were derived from small numbers of founders within

5248-580: The largest breeds, the Great Dane , at 50 to 79 kg (110 to 174 lb) and 71 to 81 cm (28 to 32 in), to one of the smallest, the Chihuahua , at 0.5 to 3 kg (1.1 to 6.6 lb) and 13 to 20 cm (5.1 to 7.9 in). All healthy dogs, regardless of their size and type, have the same amount of bones (with the exception of the tail), although there is significant skeletal variation between dogs of different types. The dog's skeleton

5330-509: The last 200 years. Since then, dogs have undergone rapid phenotypic change and have been subjected to artificial selection by humans. The skull, body, and limb proportions between breeds display more phenotypic diversity than can be found within the entire order of carnivores . These breeds possess distinct traits related to morphology, which include body size, skull shape, tail phenotype, fur type, and colour. As such, humans have long used dogs for their desirable traits to complete or fulfill

5412-449: The later stages of the dog's pregnancy, nesting behaviour may occur. Puppies are born with a protective fetal membrane that the mother usually removes shortly after birth. Dogs can have the maternal instincts to start grooming their puppies, consume their puppies' feces, and protect their puppies, likely due to their hormonal state. While male-parent dogs can show more disinterested behaviour toward their own puppies, most can play with

5494-579: The location of mating partners, potential stressors, resources, etc. Dogs also have an acute sense of hearing up to four times greater than that of humans. They can pick up the slightest sounds from about 400 m (1,300 ft) compared to 90 m (300 ft) for humans. Dogs have stiff, deeply embedded hairs known as whiskers that sense atmospheric changes, vibrations, and objects not visible in low light conditions. The lower most part of whiskers hold more receptor cells than other hair types, which help in alerting dogs of objects that could collide with

5576-472: The most common cause of pesticide poisoning. Metaldehyde a common pesticide for snails and slugs typically causes severe outcomes when ingested by dogs. Neoplasia is the most common cause of death for dogs. Other common causes of death are heart and renal failure . Their pathology is similar to that of humans, as is their response to treatment and their outcomes. Genes found in humans to be responsible for disorders are investigated in dogs as being

5658-497: The nose, ears, and jaw. Whiskers likely also facilitate the movement of food towards the mouth. The coats of domestic dogs are of two varieties: "double" being common in dogs (as well as wolves) originating from colder climates, made up of a coarse guard hair and a soft down hair , or "single", with the topcoat only. Breeds may have an occasional "blaze", stripe, or "star" of white fur on their chest or underside. Premature graying can occur in dogs as early as one year of age; this

5740-661: The occurrence of artificial selection and the subsequent divergence of behavior and anatomical features. These genes have been shown to affect the catecholamine synthesis pathway, with the majority of the genes affecting the fight-or-flight response (i.e., selection for tameness ) and emotional processing. Compared to their wolf counterparts, dogs tend to be less timid and less aggressive, though some of these genes have been associated with aggression in certain dog breeds. Traits of high sociability and lack of fear in dogs may include genetic modifications related to Williams-Beuren syndrome in humans, which cause hypersociability at

5822-419: The past, military working dogs in the US were often euthanized after they retired, especially if they were deemed unfit for home life or showed aggressive behaviors. However, today, the military makes every effort to adopt out these dogs to qualified families. Only dogs with serious medical conditions are euthanized. In the UK the 1st Military Working Dog Regiment provides trained dogs and handlers to support

5904-445: The population in developing countries largely consists of feral and community dogs. Gray wolf (domestic dog) [REDACTED] Coyote [REDACTED] African wolf [REDACTED] Ethiopian wolf [REDACTED] Golden jackal [REDACTED] Dhole [REDACTED] African wild dog [REDACTED] Side-striped jackal [REDACTED] Black-backed jackal [REDACTED] Dogs are domesticated members of

5986-407: The right side". Dogs can injure themselves by wagging their tails forcefully; this condition is called kennel tail , happy tail , bleeding tail , or splitting tail . In some hunting dogs , the tail is traditionally docked to avoid injuries. Some dogs can be born without tails because of a DNA variant in the T gene , which can also result in a congenitally short (bobtail) tail. Tail docking

6068-484: The studies by Dr. Samuel Corson pets have become commonplace in nursing homes where they can provide comfort and affection to people. Therapy dogs are used in hospitals around the world where they can have a positive impact on a variety of diagnoses, including cancer. examples of assistances dogs include: Canines' social impact on humans is especially significant for those who tend to be more isolated, such as children with no siblings or elderly persons. In this view,

6150-668: The subject. In the early 1970s, Konrad Lorenz had developed the field of ethology with his landmark research on the imprinting of behaviors in geese. Bustad and other pet therapy advocates formed the Delta Society, which was built on the earlier work of Levinson and Croson. In the 1970s and 1980s, national and international conferences led to greater recognition of the human–animal bond. Since then, there has been widespread media coverage of animal-assisted activity and therapy programs and service dog training. Today dogs are mostly kept as household pets although there still remains

6232-644: The tail's position and movement. Dogs can have a violet gland (or supracaudal gland) characterized by sebaceous glands on the dorsal surface of their tails; in some breeds, it may be vestigial or absent. The enlargement of the violet gland in the tail, which can create a bald spot from hair loss , can be caused by Cushing's disease or an excess of sebum from androgens in the sebaceous glands. A study suggests that dogs show asymmetric tail-wagging responses to different emotive stimuli. "Stimuli that could be expected to elicit approach tendencies seem to be associated with [a] higher amplitude of tail-wagging movements to

6314-415: The tail), powerful jaws that house around 42 teeth, and well-developed senses of smell, hearing, and sight. Compared to humans, dogs have an inferior visual acuity , a superior sense of smell, and a relatively large olfactory cortex . They perform many roles for humans, such as hunting , herding , pulling loads , protection , companionship , therapy , aiding disabled people , and assisting police and

6396-466: The time of the domestication of the sheep. Today's herding dogs have evolved a unique set of traits and mannerisms that makes them ideal for the job. Herding dogs may generally fall into several categories, these are protectors, drivers, headers, and heelers. Herding dogs rely on many predator skills such as posture and eye contact rather than brute force. Hunting is one of the oldest jobs that dogs have performed alongside humans. Cave art dating back to

6478-507: The working dog is traditionally one rank higher than his handler so that he is afforded the respect they deserve. Examples of Military working dogs include: Because of their highly developed sense of smell many canines today work with their handlers to search for many things including drugs, invasive species, and people. The first search and rescue dogs were the Saint Bernards who were trained to locate lost or stranded travelers in

6560-433: The young pups as they would with other dogs or humans. A female dog may abandon or attack her puppies or her male partner dog if she is stressed or in pain. Human%E2%80%93canine bond On average, female humans tend to have more positive attitudes towards dogs than male humans do, but studies have demonstrated that both dogs and humans release oxytocin while spending quality time together. This release of oxytocin

6642-613: Was not a local wolf. The dog was dated to 14,223 years ago and was found buried along with a man and a woman, all three having been sprayed with red hematite powder and buried under large, thick basalt blocks. The dog had died of canine distemper . This timing indicates that the dog was the first species to be domesticated in the time of hunter-gatherers , which predates agriculture. Earlier remains dating back to 30,000 years ago have been described as Paleolithic dogs , but their status as dogs or wolves remains debated because considerable morphological diversity existed among wolves during

6724-426: Was recognized by Boris M. Levinson , who had an immense influence on the establishment of the field of study. Levinson is known for accidentally discovering the benefits of assisted pet therapy . He found that withdrawn and uncommunicative children would interact positively whenever he brought his dog, Jingles, to their therapy sessions. His discovery was further reinforced by Sam and Elizabeth Corson , who were among

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