Dogs Defined
There are several characteristics that distinguish dogs from other members of athe animal world, and enable enable them to constitute a group uniquely their own.
All dogs belong to a genetic family called Canidae, which includes 37 species of wolves, dfozxes , jackals and fetal dogs. Canids are meat eaters that possess powerful sight, smell and hearing. They have long legs and separated toes that enable them to run with great speed. The skull is thick and long sacross the head. A dog’s ears sit erect in all wild dogs, though selective breeding has created low-set ears in many modern breeds. The jaw runs fairly straight from front to back, locking in (usually) 42 large, sharp teeth. The canine tail also serves important functions. It is long, straight and strong, used fro balance, expression and sending signals to other animals, Although selective breeding has created breeds with curled tails, they are not natural in the wild
Although the length and thickness of a dog;s fur may vary from season to season or with geographic location, it always covers the animals fore warmth. Two layers cretae the coat, inclding a soft undercoat and a lobger, oily, thicker overcoat. The outer hairs are often called guard hairs.
As mammals, canine mothers produce milk which they use to nourish puppies. Members of the dog family usually mate about once a tear and gestate for two months before giving borth. Newborns inthe wild usually stay close to the mother for a few months, learning important lessons and becoming socialized. Members of the dog family are social creatures, often libing as mated pairs or woking in packs to hunt food. Although well-equipped biologically for huntng alone, group attackshave served dogs well for millions of years. Thir coordinated efforts enable them tto hunt larger prey.
The domestic dog is distinguished from its wild cousins by the mere fact of its domestication and breed changes brought about by natural selection and artificial breeding. “Domesticated” animals produce offspring with characteristics that enable them to live in close contact with humans. “Tame” animals may be to live near able to live near, usually serve, humans through enforced and training (image a Lion in the circus), but will have offspring with wild instincts that require thorough re-training. As any breeder can tell you, most offspring from domesticated animals would find reintroduction ito the wild very challenging.
Since the earlies domestication of wild dogs,, the demands of human society and selective breeding processes have affected evolutionary changes. While it is impossible to generalize about the physical changes that have occurred, some alterations include ear position, size and head shape. Breeders have also select dogs fro certain personality traits, such as tenacity, docility or a particular skill., breeders continue to select stock based on specific personality and physical standards, the domesticated dog is certain to evolve along these paths in the future.