dog
Definition
A domesticated carnivorous mammal that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, non-retractable claws, and a barking, howling, or whining voice; the most common companion animal.
To remember it
Picture the friendly dog wearing a top hat and bow tie, waving at you. Think of how dogs are often dressed up in fun costumes for special occasions.
Examples
- A1
My dog loves to play fetch in the park every morning before I go to work.
- A1
The little girl has a small white dog that follows her everywhere she goes around the house.
- A2
Dogs need regular exercise, a healthy diet, and lots of attention from their owners to stay happy and healthy.
- A2
He trained his dog to sit, stay, and come when called — it took several months of daily practice to get it right.
- B1
Domestication of dogs: dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) were the first domesticated animal, descended from gray wolves; DNA evidence places domestication at 15,000 to 40,000 years ago; the exact location is debated but may have occurred independently in Europe and Asia; early dogs likely self-domesticated by scavenging human camps (the "dumping ground" hypothesis); domestication involved selection for tameness, reduced fear of humans, and social sensitivity; dogs' ability to follow human pointing gestures and read human social cues surpasses that of wolves and even chimpanzees.
- B1
Dog breeds and selective breeding: there are approximately 340 recognized dog breeds, organized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale into 10 groups (sheepdogs/herding, pinschers/schnauzers, terriers, dachshunds, spitz/primitive, scent hounds, pointing dogs, retrievers, companion/toy, and sighthounds); selective breeding has produced extreme morphological diversity — from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane; some breeds were developed for specific working roles (border collie for herding, greyhound for coursing, bloodhound for tracking); extreme selective breeding can cause health problems (brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds like bulldogs and pugs have respiratory issues; large breeds like Great Danes have shorter lifespans).
- B2
Dogs and human culture: dogs appear in art and literature from ancient times; they are associated with loyalty, fidelity, and companionship (the Latin phrase "canis fidelis"); guide dogs for the blind were formalized in post-WWI Germany; dogs serve in police and military roles (detection, patrol, search and rescue); dog fighting (an illegal blood sport) has been banned in most countries; the human-dog bond is exceptionally strong — studies show owners' oxytocin levels rise when they look at their dogs, mirroring the parent-infant bonding mechanism; dog ownership is associated with reduced stress, lower blood pressure, and increased physical activity.
- B2
Working dogs: dogs have been bred and trained for a wide variety of working roles; herding dogs (border collie, Australian shepherd) round up livestock; hunting dogs include hounds (tracking by scent), pointers (locating birds), retrievers (fetching downed game), and terriers (pursuing prey underground); sled dogs (huskies, malamutes) were essential transport in Arctic regions; search and rescue dogs locate missing persons using air scent or tracking; detection dogs identify drugs, explosives, currency, invasive species, and even cancer; psychiatric service dogs support people with PTSD and other mental health conditions.
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