Domestic dog
? A domestic dog is what
All of the more than one thousand dog breeds that exist today are referred to as "domestic dogs." Even though these creatures have wildly different looks, all dogs—from Chihuahuas to Great Danes—belong to the same species, Canis familiaris. This distinguishes domestic dogs from canines found in the wild, including coyotes, foxes, and wolves.
The majority of domestic dogs are kept as pets, although many breeds can live on their own, whether in a forest or on the streets. A 2016 consumer insights research found that dogs are present in one-third of all households worldwide. As a result, domestic dogs are the most often owned pets worldwide.
evolution's beginnings
All dogs are descended from wolves, but not from the gray wolf (Canis lupus), as many people believe. In fact, DNA evidence points to a Eurasian origin for the vanished wolf that served as the ancestor of modern dogs. The precise species from which dogs descended is still a mystery to biologists.
It's unclear when dogs split off from their wild predecessors, although genetic evidence points to a time period of 15,000–30,000 years ago.
While it's impossible to pinpoint the exact moment when a wild wolf species evolved into a domesticated dog, the majority of biologists agree that the change happened over time as wolves grew accustomed to living alongside people. Perhaps consuming human food scraps was how wolves first went down this path. Many generations later, by deliberately feeding the wolves, humans may have encouraged them to remain nearby. Those wolves may have eventually been invited into human homes and bred to promote particular features. It's believed that everything happened over a period of thousands of years.
? A domestic dog is what
All of the more than one thousand dog breeds that exist today are referred to as "domestic dogs." Even though these creatures have wildly different looks, all dogs—from Chihuahuas to Great Danes—belong to the same species, Canis familiaris. This distinguishes domestic dogs from canines found in the wild, including coyotes, foxes, and wolves.
The majority of domestic dogs are kept as pets, although many breeds can live on their own, whether in a forest or on the streets. A 2016 consumer insights research found that dogs are present in one-third of all households worldwide. As a result, domestic dogs are the most often owned pets
worldwide.
evolution's beginnings
All dogs are descended from wolves, but not from the gray wolf (Canis lupus), as many people believe. In fact, DNA evidence points to a Eurasian origin for the vanished wolf that served as the ancestor of modern dogs. The precise species from which dogs descended is still a mystery to biologists.
It's unclear when dogs split off from their wild predecessors, although genetic evidence points to a time period of 15,000–30,000 years ago.
While it's impossible to pinpoint the exact moment when a wild wolf species evolved into a domesticated dog, the majority of biologists agree that the change happened over time as wolves grew accustomed to living alongside people. Perhaps consuming human food scraps was how wolves first went down this path. Many generations later, by deliberately feeding the wolves, humans may have encouraged them to remain nearby. Those wolves may have eventually been invited into human homes and bred to promote particular features. It's believed that everything happened over a period of thousands of years.