The domestic dog is probably the most popular pet in the world. It is estimated that there are between 70 and 500 million of individuals on the planet, therefore, there are many people who want to know more about these animals, starting with knowing the most remarkable characteristics of the dog.
It doesn't matter if you're doing a school project on dogs or if you simply want to know everything about these canines. On our site we will teach you how to describe a dog by showing you the 10 most important characteristics of dogs, such as their taxonomy, morphology, communication or the breeds of dogs that exist.
1. The taxonomy of dogs
To really understand the characteristics of the dog (or any other animal) it is essential to know its taxonomy, that is, its classification in the binomial nomenclature system. Thus, the taxonomy of the dog is represented as follows:
- Domain: Eukarya
- Animalia Kingdom
- Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Subclass: Theria
- Infraclass: Placentalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Canidae
- Subfamily: Caninae
- Gender: Canis
- Species: Canis lupus
- Subspecies: Canis lupus familiaris
two. The Origin of Dogs
It is not easy to determine the origin of dogs, however, it is estimated that the first specimens appeared for the first time 15,000 years ago in the Asian continent, now China, coinciding with the development of agriculture. These first opportunistic canids (less fearful and more sociable, which facilitated their domestication) approached human populations in search of carrion, mainly rich plant foods in starch. Thus, thanks to symbiosis, the first dogs appear[1]
The scientific name for the wolf, Canis lupus, and its subspecies, such as Canis lupus lupus, Canis lupus arabs, or Canis lupus signatus., remind us of the dog's scientific name, Canis lupus familiaris. So, is the dog descended from the wolf? A study of the DNA sequencing of the Canidae family indicates that the dog and the wolf belong to the same species, but that, however, they are different subspecies. It is therefore considered that wolves and dogs could have a common ancestor although there are no conclusive studies to confirm this[2]
3. Physical Characteristics of Dogs
The dog is a quadrupedal mammal (that is, it walks on four limbs) that stands out for having a tail and a mantle that covers however, today, thanks to the various dog breeds that exist, we find dogs of all sizes, shapes and colorsFor example, in terms of dimensions, the smallest dog, the chihuahua, measures between 15 and 25 cm. tall at the withers, while the largest, the Great Dane, has a minimum of 80 cm. tall at the withers.
The morphology is also very variable, thus, we find dogs with a very long snout and others with a flat snout, the so-called brachycephalic dogs. Another very significant aspect of the species is the tail, which can be long or short, in fact, there are even breeds that are born without it. This limb, made up of a variable number of vertebrae, may have more or less hair. The ears, provided with 18 muscles, are very flexible and expressive. Another important aspect is the cloak, which can be in all kinds of colors and patterns, as well as smooth, rough, or spongy.
It is a viviparous animal and, if we wonder about the dog's habitat, we should know that it is currently very difficult to explain where dogs live, since most of them live in cities and rural towns, the hand of manHowever, recent studies have discovered a new species of wild canid (Canis lupus hallstromi) that is considered to be the missing link between early canids and domestic dogs in the New Guinea highlands [3]
4. The social behavior of the dog
Sociobiology reveals that dogs are gregarious animals, that is, they live in communities made up of several individuals. But in addition, today, thanks to the domestication and socialization of the dog, we can enjoy an animal especially sociable with members of the same species and others, whether we are talking about cats, people or rabbits.
In dogs character can be highly variable and, contrary to what many people believe, breed does not determine a dog's temperament[4]In addition to socialization, the character of the dog is influenced by genetics and learningprovided by the tutor.
But also, if we delve into what habits dogs have, we can see that they have a very complete physical language, which is known as "calming signals", as well as the ability to vocalize. It is one of the characteristics of dogs that tends to be of most interest to caregivers!
5. Feeding the dog
What do dogs eat? Many people still wonder if the dog is omnivorous or carnivorous, however, some of the morphological characteristics of the species, such as claws, sharp teeth or specific enzymes, are typical of carnivores optional
However, as we told you at the beginning of the post, the dog is also an opportunistic scavenger, which has allowed its domestication. According to various theories, it is precisely this procedure that has allowed the dog to digest starch and, consequently, materials of vegetable origin [1]
6. The senses of the dog
Dogs have two especially well-developed senses: smell and hearing We will start with the most important, the sense of smell, fundamental for hunting, social and sexual behaviors. Unlike the human, which has only 5 million olfactory receptors, the dog has between 200 and 300 million olfactory receptors Another key aspect is the sense of hearing, much more acute than that of the human being.
7. Dog breeds
Continuing with the characteristics of dogs, we must know that there are currently more than 300 breeds of dogs, recognized by some or other cynological organizations, such as the FCI (Fédération cynologique internationale) or The Kennel Club, two of the most important. Likewise, there are other races that are recognized by secondary federations, governments and autonomies.
On our site you will find a guide to dog breeds and their characteristics, where you will find some of the most popular, such as the Labrador Retriever, the Lhasa Apso, the Shih Tzu, all types of Poodle, the Saint Bernard, the Dalmatian or the American pit bull terrier among many others.
8. The reproduction of dogs
Have you ever wondered how dogs reproduce? Although males are sexually active throughout the year, female dogs experience an average of two annual fertile periods, what we know as oestrus in female dogs, a time in which they can get pregnant. If copulation is successful in estrus, the fertile stage, the bitch is pregnant and a pregnancy takes place that will last between 60 and 90 days
During pregnancy the bitch will look for a nest (or we will offer it to her) and when the time comes the parto and the consequent birth of the puppies. The bitch will feed and care for them for two months or more, until the puppies' weaning arrives, when they will begin to be autonomous on their own.
9. Curiosities of dogs
Few topics about dogs produce as much expectation as curiosities, infinite and varied, always from the hand of man. Did you know that Laika, the astronaut dog, was the first living being to travel to space? What dogs have fingerprints on the nose? Or that Hachiko is considered the most faithful dog in the world?
Also discover on our site curiosities of a dog that you can't miss, you'll love them!
10. Life expectancy of dogs
To finish with the characteristics of dogs, we would like to point out that the longevity of dogs is highly variableand is due, in part, to to the care of the dog offered by her guardian. Thus, a dog that enjoys a good quality of life, which includes a good diet, daily physical exercise, well-being and correct preventive medicine will live longer.
But also, smaller dogs live longer than large or giant breeds, due to the metabolic process. In general, the life expectancy of a dog is between 7 and 20 years.
