Essential Information & explanations, latest texts & monographs on
Dog.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (Today Show Book Club #13) by Mark Haddon
Walter, the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle
Baby Einstein: Dogs Board Book by Julie Aigner-Clark
Don't Shoot the Dog! : The New Art of Teaching and Training by Karen Pryor
Art of Raising a Puppy, The by New Skete Monks
How to Housebreak Your Dog in Seven Days by Shirlee Kalstone
Walter the Farting Dog: Trouble at the Yard Sale by William Kotzwinkle
How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend: The Classic Training Manual for Dog Owners (Revised & Updated Edition) by Monks of New Skete
How to be the Leader of the Pack...And have Your Dog Love You For It. ("How to" booklets from Dog's Best Friend) by Patricia B. McConnell
Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight : An African Childhood by ALEXANDRA FULLER
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo
The Cautious Canine by Patricia B. McConnell
Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by MARK HADDON
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
Dog
Dog
Doberman pinscher breed
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Canidae
Genus:Canis
Species: lupus
Subspecies:familiaris
Trinomial name
Canis lupus familiaris
Dog usually means the domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris. The word is sometimes used to refer collectively to any mammal that belonging to the family Canidae (as in "the dog family"), such as wolves, foxes and coyotes. This article deals with the domestic dog.
Table of contents showTocToggle("show","hide")
1 Ancestry and history of domestication
2 Dog society
3 Dog breeds
4 Interactions between dogs and humans
4.1 Dogs as working partner
4.2 Dogs as sporting partner
4.3 Dogs as pet
4.4 Dogs as food
5 Dog reproduction
6 Miscellaneous
6.1 Dogs and chocolate
7 Related topics
8 External links
9 References
Ancestry and history of domestication
Molecular systematics indicate that the domestic dog is descended from a wolf-like ancestor, and dogs and wolves can still interbreed. The domestication of the dog probably occurred at least 14,000 years ago, and perhaps long before that: there is archaeological evidence of dog remains, showing the characteristic morphological differences from wolves, from at least 14,000 years ago, while wolf remains have been found in association with hominid remains that are at least 400,000 years old. The molecular genetic data suggest that the domestic lineage separated from modern wolves around 150,000 years ago (Vilà et al, 1997).
Dog society
Dog societies are characterized by a companionate hierarchy, in which each individual has a rank in society, and in which there is intense loyalty within the group. Dogs thrive in human society because their relationships with humans mimic their natural social patterns. The dog is always aware of its rank vis-a-vis other individuals in the group, and it may be noted that an assertive dog often considers itself the alpha animal, while considering its human owner to be subordinate.
Dog breeds
There are numerous dog breeds, over 800 being recognised by national dog clubs. A few basic breed types have evolved gradually during the domesticated dog's relationship with man over the last 10,000 or more years, but most modern breeds are of relatively recent derivation. Many of these are the product of a deliberate process of artificial selection. Because of this, some breeds are highly specialized, and there is extraordinary morphological diversity across different breeds. Despite these differences, dogs are able to distinguish dogs from other kinds of animal.
The definition of a breed is a matter of some controversy. Some groups use a definition that ultimately requires extreme in-breeding to qualify. Dogs that are bred in this manner often end up with severe health problems. Other organizations define a breed more loosely, such that an individual may be considered of one breed as long as, say, three of its grandparents were of that breed. These considerations come into play among breeders who enter their dogs in dog show competitions.
In February 2004, the Canine Studies Institute in Aurora, Ohio, managed to arrange all breeds of dog into ten categories, according to Darwinian Evolutionary principles. [1]
Mutts are dogs that do not belong to specific breeds, instead being mixtures of two or more. These are also called mixed-breed dogs or mongrels. Mixed breeds are in general terms no better or worse than purebred dogs as companions, pets, working dogs, or competitors in dog sports.
Most dogs are capable of and enjoy swimming, but they should be tested in shallow water first to make sure that they do not panic.
Interactions between dogs and humans
The relationship between dogs and humans is ancient. Dogs serve humans in many ways.
Dogs as working partner
There are guard dogs, hunting dogs, and herding dogs. Dogs have served as guides for the blind, as commandos, have flown into outer space (see Laika), and a dog (P.H. Vazak) was even credited as author of an Oscar-nominated screenplay.
Dogs as sporting partner
Many people compete with their dogs in a variety of dog sports, including agility, flyball, and many others. This often strengthens the bond between human and dog, since they must trust one another in a variety of environments and must learn how the other works and thinks.
Dogs as pet
Relationships between humans and dogs are often characterized by strong emotional bonds, which run both ways. Consequently, dogs are popular as pets and companions, independent of any utilitarian considerations. Many dog owners consider having unconditional acceptance from a friend who is always happy to see them to be quite utilitarian, particularly if the dog also leads them to regular exercise. Dogs are quite dependent on human companionship and may suffer poor health without it. Some research has shown that dogs are able to convey a depth of emotion not seen to the same extent in any other animal - this is purportedly due to their closely-knit development with modern man, and the survival-benefits of such communication as dogs became more dependent on humans for sustenance.
The word pooch is a generic, generally affectionate term for a dog.
For dog lovers, you may like to read How to choose your pet and take care of it.
A portrait of an adult female cockapoo.
Dogs as food
In certain cultures, dogs are grown on farms and slaughtered as a source of meat. Consequently, the conflicts between dog lovers and dog eaters occasionally appear as headline news. In other cultures, dogs have served as a standby source of food. One example is in China where Chow Chows were often posted to guard family storehouses. During a hard season when the food store was depleted, the dog would be then slaughtered as an emergency ration.
See also Gaegogi.
Dog reproduction
Puppies enjoy teething on almost anything
Unlike undomesticated canine species, where the females typically come into estrus (also called in season or in heat) once a year, usually in late winter, and bear one litter of young, the female of the domestic dog can come into season at any time of the year and usually twice a year. Most dogs come into season for the first time between 6 and 12 months, although some larger breeds delay until as late as 2 years. The amount of time between cycles varies greatly among different dogs, but a given dog's cycle tends to be consistent through her life.
Dogs bear their litters roughly 9 weeks after insemination.
An average litter consists of about six puppies, especially for breeds that have not strayed too far from their wild ancestors. However, litters of many more or only one or two puppies are also common. Some breeds have a tendency to produce very large litters. Since a mother can provide milk for only a few of those puppies, humans must assist in the care and feeding when the litter exceeds eight or so.
Some breeds have been developed to emphasize certain physical traits beyond the point at which they can safely bear litters on their own. For example, the Bulldog often requires artificial insemination and almost always requires cesarian section for giving birth.
Puppies often have coat or eye colors that do not last beyond early puppyhood. For example, eyes are often blue when they first open but change to other colors as the puppy matures. As another example, Kerry Blue Terrier puppies have light-colored coats when they are born and their distinctive "blue" color appears gradually as the puppy nears maturity.
Miscellaneous
The Dog is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. It is thought that each animal is associated with certain personality traits. See: Dog (Zodiac).
Dogs and chocolate
Chocolate in sufficient doses is lethally toxic to dogs (and, for that matter, to horses) and should never be fed to them. This is because chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical stimulant similar to caffeine, which they are unable to metabolize effectively. If they eat chocolate, the theobromine can remain in their bloodstream for up to 20 hours, and these animals may experience racing heartbeats, hallucinations, severe diarrhea, epileptic seizures, heart attacks, internal bleeding, and eventually death. A chocolate candy bar can be sufficient to make a small dog extremely ill or even kill it. In case of accidental intake of chocolate by a dog, contact a veterinarian or animal poison control immediately; it is commonly recommended to induce vomiting within two hours of ingestion. (Note that carob treats are often available as dog treats; these are unrelated to chocolate and are safe treats.)
Related topics
External links
References
- Vilà, C., Savolainen, P., Maldonado, J. E., Amorim, I. R., Rice, J. E., Honeycutt, R. L., Crandall, K. A., Lundeberg, J., & Wayne, R. K. (1997). Multiple and ancient origins of the domestic dog. Science, 276, 1687-1689.
The above article is adapted from from Wikipedia
All Wikipedia article text is available under the terms of the
GNU Free
Documentation License
Bibliographic Resources
Updates and comments at Essential Facts blog
Are you interested in Feng Shui?
Price Theory Resources
World Class Photographers
Some philosophical movements
Top PDF and eBook Downloads
|
|
Interesting Links
Sports
Kitchen Knowledge
Hollywood Icons
Mythology
Philosophy
Biology
Biology & Biologists
Cats & Dogs
Ethics
Logic
The Greats
Architectural Dates & Places
Styles ABC
Styles DTOI
Styles JTON
Styles OTOZ
Economics
Game theory
History
Marketing
Medical Update d06
Sociology
Chromosomes and Genomics
Psychology
Enginering Systems 1
Mathematics
Brilliant Mathematicians
Classic Authors
Fear No Exams
Nexus
Caracters & countries
Pairs &Twins
Science Plus
Science & Computers
Quantum Theory
|
