The Ultimate Quiz on Domesticated Canid Species

Domesticated Canid Species: A Summary

• Dogs are a domesticated descendant of the wolf and were the first species to be domesticated over 15,000 years ago.
• Dogs have been selectively bred over millennia for various behaviors, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes, resulting in a large number of domestic individuals and unique abilities to thrive on a starch-rich diet.
• Carl Linnaeus classified the domestic dog as Canis familiaris and the grey wolf as Canis lupus, considering the dog a separate species from the wolf due to its upturning tail.
• A 1999 study of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) indicated that the domestic dog may have originated from the grey wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative.
• Dogs were domesticated in the time of hunter-gatherers before the development of agriculture, and the earliest remains of a domesticated dog were discovered in Bonn-Oberkassel, Germany, dated to 14,223 years ago.
• Dogs are the most variable mammal on earth with around 450 globally recognized dog breeds, derived from small numbers of founders within the last 200 years.
• The dog's skeleton is well adapted for running, with significant skeletal variation between dogs of different types.
• A dog's senses include vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and one study suggested that dogs can feel Earth's magnetic field.
• Dogs are susceptible to specific genetic ailments and parasites, and some human foods and household ingestible are toxic to them.
• The typical lifespan of dogs varies widely among breeds, but for most, the median longevity ranges from 10 to 13 years.
• Dogs reach sexual maturity around six months to one year and will experience subsequent estrous cycles semiannually.
• Neutering is advised for dogs not intended for further breeding to reduce overpopulation and hypersexuality problems. Inbreeding depression is considered to be due mainly to the expression of homozygous deleterious recessive mutations.Dogs: A Comprehensive Summary

Genetics

• Inbreeding can lead to decreased litter size and survival in dogs.
• Certain dog breeds have a higher risk of stillborn puppies and mortality due to infection as inbreeding coefficient increases.
• Dogs were initially selected for their behaviors, and only 11 fixed genes showed variation between wolves and dogs, which were unlikely to have been the result of natural evolution.
• Dogs generally show reduced fear and aggression compared to wolves, with some genes associated with aggression in certain dog breeds.
• Dogs have high sociability and lack of fear, which may include genetic modifications related to Williams-Beuren syndrome in humans.

Behavior

• Dogs' minds have been shaped by millennia of contact with humans, leading to unique social-cognitive abilities.
• Dogs demonstrate advanced memory skills and can learn by inference and exclusion learning.
• Dogs can read and react appropriately to human body language and verbal commands.
• Dogs have a theory of mind and can engage in deception.
• Domestic dogs may have lost much of their original problem-solving abilities once they joined humans.

Communication

• Dogs communicate through eye gaze, facial expression, vocalization, body posture, and gustatory communication.
• Humans communicate with dogs using vocalization, hand signals, and body posture.

Ecology

• Dogs are the most widely abundant large carnivoran living in the human environment.
• The estimated global dog population in 2013 was between 700 million and 987 million, with 20% living as pets in developed countries.
• Dogs have limited potential to compete with other large carnivores due to their strong association with humans.
• Other predators, such as wolves, coyotes, big cats, and hyenas, have been known to attack dogs.

Diet

• Dogs are described as omnivores and have extra copies of genes involved in starch digestion.
• Dogs require animal flesh for vitamin D and arginine to maintain nitrogen balance.

Roles with humans

• Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and the military, companionship, and aiding disabled individuals.

• The majority of contemporary dog owners describe their pet as part of the family, and dogs play an active role in family life.

• Dogs have been bred for herding, hunting, and rodent control, among other roles.

• Some dogs are trained as service dogs and assistance dogs to assist individuals with disabilities.

• People often enter their dogs in competitions, such as breed-conformation shows or sports.

• Dog meat is consumed in some East Asian countries, including Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.The Controversy Around Dog Meat: Health Risks, Benefits, and Cultural Importance

• Some argue that eating dog meat is not different from eating other animals and is Western hypocrisy

• In Korea, the primary dog breed raised for meat, the Nureongi, is different from those kept as pets

• The most popular Korean dog dish is bosintang, a spicy stew meant to balance the body's heat during summer

• Rabies is a disease for which dogs are the most important vector, and tens of millions of people globally suffer significant dog bites each year

• Dogs can cause falls, accidents, and infections such as toxocariasis and cutaneous larva migrans

• Dogs suffer from the same common disorders as humans, and researchers are identifying genes associated with dog diseases similar to human disorders

• Studies suggest that dogs can enhance physical health and psychological well-being, but the evidence is mixed and has been criticized for being poorly controlled

• People with pet dogs take considerably more physical exercise than those with cats and those without pets

• The benefits of contact with dogs also include social support and exposure to immune-stimulating microorganisms

• Using dogs and other animals as a part of therapy dates back to the late 18th century

• Dogs have cultural importance as symbols of guidance, protection, loyalty, and love, and they feature in mythology, religion, and folklore from different cultures worldwide

• Different religions have different views on dogs, with some regarding them as unclean and others permitting their trade and keeping as pets.