From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Domestic dog Temporal range: Late Pleistocene – Present (14,700–0 years BP) | |
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| Selection of the different breeds of dog | |
Domesticated
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Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Suborder: | Caniformia |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | C. lupus |
| Subspecies: | C. l. familiaris[1] |
| Trinomial name | |
| Canis lupus familiaris[1] | |
| Synonyms | |
The domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris or Canis familiaris)[4] is a member of genus Canis (canines) that forms part of the wolf-like canids,[5] and is the most widely abundant carnivore.[6][7][8] The dog and the extant gray wolf are sister taxa,[9][10][11] with modern wolves not closely related to the wolves that were first domesticated,[10][11] which implies that the direct ancestor of the dog is extinct.[12] The dog was the first domesticated species[11][13] and has been selectively bred over millennia for various behaviors, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes.[14]
Their long association with humans has led dogs to be uniquely attuned to human behavior[15] and they are able to thrive on a starch-rich diet that would be inadequate for other canid species.[16] Dogs vary widely in shape, size and colours.[17]Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and military, companionship and, more recently, aiding handicapped individuals. This influence on human society has given them the sobriquet "man's best friend".