CC BY-SA 3.0 · Andreas Wolber · source
Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- 20–90 cm at shoulder
- Weight
- 1–90 kg (varies by breed)
- Habitat
- Human homes, farms, and urban areas worldwide
- Diet
- Omnivore — meat, grain, vegetables
- Active Time
- Diurnal, active during the day
- Lifespan
- 10–13 years
Field Notes
- Dogs can understand more than 150 words and respond to human pointing gestures — an ability even chimpanzees rarely show.
- A dog's nose print is as unique as a human fingerprint.
- The smallest breed is the Chihuahua (under 2 kg); the largest is the Great Dane (up to 90 kg).
About the Domestic Dog
The domestic dog is a subspecies of the grey wolf domesticated by humans at least 15,000 years ago, making it the first domesticated animal. Dogs have been selectively bred for tasks ranging from herding and hunting to companionship and assistance work, producing enormous variety in size, coat, and temperament. They communicate through barks, whines, body posture, and tail movement, and are uniquely attuned to human social cues. Dogs are found on every continent and remain one of the most popular pets worldwide.
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