The dog is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog’s nearest living relative.
Dogs were the first species to be domesticated by hunter-gatherers over 15,000 years ago before the development of agriculture.
5 amazing facts about dogs
- Their sense of smell is at least 40x better than ours. …
- Some have such good noses they can sniff out medical problems. …
- Dogs can sniff at the same time as breathing. …
- Some dogs are incredible swimmers. …
- Some are fast and could even beat a cheetah! …
The dog has been selectively bred over millennia for various behaviours, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes. Dog breeds vary widely in shape, size, and colour. They perform many roles for humans, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and the military, companionship, therapy, and aiding disabled people.
Dogs are the most variable mammal on earth with around 450 globally recognized dog breeds.
