Dog, (Canceres canicosa), domestic animal of the genus Canis (order Canis). It’s actually one subspecies of this grey wolf (Canceres canicosa). The dog is definitely one of man’s most widely-known and most-loved domestic animals – second only to the cat. And it’s also widely hunted for its beautiful coat, intelligence and even canine prowess – which is why you’ll often see clever, brave dogs tackling even bigger prey (such as bears) with their powerful jaws. But even though man has domesticated dog as his domestic pet, the dog is still a wild animal that can behave unpredictably.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing then for the dog, who was initially tamed for the purpose of hunting wolves, but later were used for dog fights with neighboring farmers, which could get out of hand and lead to the depletion of many dog breeds. Luckily, though, there have been a few dog breeds that gained domestication through intentional breeding and are now used in farms across the united states. These breeds are now used more as companions and house dogs than for hunting. And despite their domestication, there are many differences between them and the wolves that remain prevalent throughout the United States.
Some common dogs among the Canine Federation of America (CFA) – including the German shepherd, Doberman Pincher, Golden Retriever, Rottweiler, and Labradors – are the result of crossbreeding between various dog breeds. Examples of these are the Cocker Spaniel (which was actually native to Germany), Yorkshire Terrier ( ancestor of today’s Rottweiler and English Fox Terriers), and the Chow (which received its name from the Chinese “ching”) among others. And just to complicate things more, there are some dog breeds that were introduced to the country when European settlers brought their dogs along with them. One of these dogs was the Alaskan Malamute, which was originally bred in Alaska. The same example is with the Alaskan Pit Bull Terrier, which received its name from a resident of Alaska who’d seen a similar dog there.
Another example of a breed that was imported to the US from Europe and other places around the world are mixed-breed rescue dogs. Examples include Portuguese Water Dogs, Chinese Crested Dogs, Setters, Golden Retrievers, and Cocker Spaniels among others. It should be noted, however, that breeders who import rescue dogs to the US and sell them as purebreds may not meet requirements set forth by the American Kennel Association (AKA) and the United States Dog Breeders Association (USDAA).
The interesting thing about canids and wolves is that they seem to have interchanged in a big way over the years. Wolves, in particular, look surprisingly similar to Canids in modern times. Wolves were first brought to North America by explorers seeking food along rivers; today, researchers know that they have adapted well to living in urban areas in Europe. Wolves can be identified as the only canid species that pre-dates humans, as their ancestors have existed since ancient Egyptian times.
Interestingly, dogs’ sense of smell is not quite as clear-cut as we might like. We know that dogs use their sense of smell to find food, but it’s unclear whether they use their nose to seek out other things, or if they’re just lying around, whimpering, and hoping for someone to come and cuddle them. In any case, it seems clear that dogs have very strong personalities – they’re constantly on the lookout for new things, and they like to be around people. If you’d like to get an interesting dog companion, take a moment to consider the possibility of getting a curious dog or a mischievous dog, or perhaps even a wild dog or an exotic toy dog!