Dog

DOG, Canis lupus familiaris is a domestic mammal belonging to the Canidae family (order Carnivora). It is related to foxes and jackals and is a subspecies of the grey wolf (Canis lupus). The dog is one of the world's two most common and popular domestic animals (the cat is the other). It has been a hunting companion, guardian, object of derision or affection, and friend to humans for over 12,000 years.

From the grey wolf, the dog has evolved into over 400 different breeds. Humans have played a significant role in the development of dogs that meet specific societal needs. Dogs were bred to amplify tendencies that were visible from their first contact with people using the most basic kind of genetic engineering. The original dogs were hunters with excellent senses of sight and smell, despite the lack of facts concerning their evolution. As need or desire emerged, humans developed these impulses and formed new breeds.