Dog

:{{otheruses}}

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The dog is a canine carnivorous mammal that has been domesticated for at least 14,000 years and perhaps for as long as 150,000 years based on recent evidence. In this time, the dog has developed into hundreds of breeds with a great degree of variation. For example, heights range from just a few inches (such as the Chihuahua) to nearly three feet (such as the Irish Wolfhound), and colors range from white to black with reds, grays, and browns also occurring in a tremendous variation of patterns. Dogs, like humans, are highly social animals and pack hunters; this similarity in their overall behavioral design accounts for their trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human households and social situations.

Related Topics:
Canine - Carnivorous - Mammal - Chihuahua - Irish Wolfhound - White - Black - Red - Gray - Brown - Social animal - Pack hunter

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Dogs fill a variety of roles in human society. Working dogs of all kinds do traditional jobs such as herding and new jobs such as detecting contraband and helping the blind or disabled. For dogs that do not do their traditional jobs, a wide range of dog sports provide the opportunity to exhibit their natural skills. In many countries, the most common and perhaps most important role of dogs is as companions. Dogs have lived with and worked with humans in so many roles that their loyalty has earned them the sobriquet "man's best friend".

Related Topics:
Working dog - Herding - Detecting contraband - Helping the blind - Disabled - Dog sports - Companions - Sobriquet

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