Dog Temporal range: Late Pleistocene (c. 14,000 yrs B.P.) to present [1]
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Domesticated
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Carnivora |
Family: | Canidae |
Genus: | Canis |
Species: | C. familiaris
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Binomial name | |
Canis familiaris | |
Synonyms[3] | |
List
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Dogs are mammals, usually kept as pets, for work on farms or for the police. Some dogs are trained to be rescue dogs and join teams such as mountain rescue.[4]
They have been bred by humans from their ancestral wolves. They were the first animal to live with humans.[5]
There was a lot of different types among wolves in the Late Pleistocene.[1] The dingo is also a dog, but many dingos have become wild animals again and live in the wild, away from humans (parts of Australia).[6]
Today, some dogs are used as pets, and others are used to help humans do their work. They are popular pets because they are usually playful, friendly, loyal, and listen to humans. Thirty million dogs in the United States have been registered as pets.[7] Dogs eat both meat and vegetables. Often mixed together and sold in stores as dog food.[8] Dogs often have jobs including police dogs, army dogs, assistance dogs, fire dogs, messenger dogs, hunting dogs, herding dogs, or rescue dogs. They are sometimes called "canines" from the Latin word for dog - canis. Wolves are also canines. A baby dog is called a pup or puppy. A dog is called a puppy until it is about one year old.[9]
Dogs are sometimes known as "man's best friend" because they are kept as pets, are usually loyal, and like being around humans. Dogs like to be petted, but only when they can first see the petter's hand before petting. One should never pet a dog from behind.[10]
August 26 is National Dog Day worldwide.[11] While March 26 is National Puppy Day in the United States.[12]
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