Difference between revisions of "Dog"

Revision as of 21:51, April 24, 2008

is a man's best friend

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-{{Taxonomy|image = akitadog.jpg|kingdom = Animalia|phylum = Chordata|subphylum = Vertebrata|class = Mammalia|order = Carnivora|suborder = Caniformia  |family = Canidae|genus = Canis|species = lupus|sub = C. l. familiaris (Domesticated dog)}}
+is a man's best friend
-'''Dogs''' are one of the most well-known domesticated species, with archaeological and historical records showing that they have lived in a mutually beneficial relationship with humans for thousands of years.
-Male dogs are referred to as a ''dog'', while a female is called a ''bitch''. Offspring are called ''pups'' (or ''puppies'') until around a year old. The collective noun for a group of offspring is ''litter''.
-Research has shown that it is probable that the first settlers respectively of the [[America]]s and [[Australia]] brought dogs of some sort with them.
-== Scientific details ==
-Dogs (scientific name ''Canis lupus familiaris'') are a subspecies of [[wolf|wolves]], divided into a multitude of different breeds all in principle capable of interbreeding (though in some cases, physical relations between representatives of two breeds are unlikely or problematic - Chihuahuas and Great Danes, for example).
-Fossils of canine skulls smaller than those of wolves have been found with human artefacts, with dates based on evolutionary assumptions estimated to betwen 130,000 and 190,000 years ago.<ref name="DK">Kingsley, Danny, [http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s513072.htm Humans live a dog's life]</ref> whilst DNA evidence has been used to suggest that dogs diverged from wolves between 100,000 and 135,000 years ago.<ref name="DK" />
-<ref>Vila, Carles; Carles Vila, Peter Savolainen, Jesus E. Maldonado, Isabel R. Amorim, John E. Rice, Rodney L. Honeycutt, Keith A. Crandall, Joakim Lundeberg, Wayne, Robert F. (1997-01-30; accepted 1997-04-14). [http://www.mnh.si.edu/GeneticsLab/StaffPage/MaldonadoJ/PublicationsCV/Science_Dog_Paper.pdf Multiple and ancient origins of the domestic dog], ''Science'' 276: 1687-1689. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.</ref>
-Secular archaeology has placed the earliest known domestication at potentially 12,000 BC-10,000 BC and with certainty at 7,000 BC. <ref>Scott, John Paul (1965), Dog behavior: The genetic basis, University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-74338-1.</ref>
-Dogs are also viewed as being the single most genetically diverse species on Earth - largely thanks to human-imposed selective breeding, the vast array of dog breeds surpasses any other creature on the planet. Due to selective breeding by man, however, many breeds of dog have significant [[gene|genetic]] disorders. These include hip dysplasia (common with German Shepherds), and respiratory problems caused by shortening of the face, as seen with Boxer dogs and the Bulldog's lip.
-== Bites ==
-[[Image:Dog - Jay Paul - The New York Times.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Dog in a kennel with the animal said to be on hold due to court case]]
-Despite being  colloquially known as "man's best friend", every 40 seconds, someone in the [[United States of America|United States]] seeks medical help for a dog bite, with approximately 800,000 such bites per year requiring medical attention.<ref>http://www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statistics.html</ref>
-Due to the high cost of dog bite liability claims, some [[insurance]] companies have blacklisted certain breeds and refuse to provide homeowners insurance to those who own these dog breeds. <ref>http://www.dogbitelegalcenter.com/resources/common-dogs.html</ref>
-== Uses ==
-Dogs are used for many purposes:
-*Guarding property and livestock.
-*Herding [[sheep]] and [[cow|cattle]].
-*Tracking by scent, carrying messages, and mountain rescue.
-*Pursuing, flushing and retrieving game, and killing [[vermin]].
-*Providing assistance to blind and deaf people.
-*Military and police duties including guarding, tracking and attacking. In [[World War II]], the [[Soviet Union]] attempted to train dogs to place explosive charges under German [[tank]]s.
-*To detect illegal drugs (German Shepherds are commonly trained to do so by police)
-*As a beast of burden, or for drawing sledges and dogcarts.
-* As a performing animal. [[Circus]] dogs have been trained to dance, ride bicycles and walk the tightrope.
-* For fighting, now illegal in most places, e.g. everywhere in USA.
-*As food. Dog is still considered a delicacy in [[China]], [[Korea]] and parts of [[Africa]] today.
-Today most dogs in western countries are kept for [[pet|companionship]] only. Stray and feral dogs cause many problems, spreading diseases such as [[rabies]], and attacking people and [[livestock]].
-== Further reading ==
-* [http://www.mastiffexperts.com Mastiff Experts]
-==References==
-<div class="references-small"><div class="references-2column"><references /></div></div>
-[[Category:Canines]]
-[[Category:Biblical Animals]]

Difference between revisions of "Dog"

Revision as of 21:51, April 24, 2008

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