About Dogs, by Stepan G.A.

Modern dogs belong to the species Canis Lupus Familiaris. They are part of the Canid family, a group that includes foxes, wolves, and jackals. Dogs have been evolving for thousands of years from their wolf ancestors. Dogs, like wolves and humans too, are pack animals, meaning that they survive within a group; their commensalistic relationship with humans was and still is very strong. Wild wolves may have first been drawn to humans while looking for food, and through much time of domestication, they could’ve become helpful hunting partners, and later, become useful for herding livestock.

Dogs are also known for their sense of smell. Average dogs have about 220 million olfactory receptors, while certain breeds like the Bloodhound can have over 300 million, which is 100,000 more than humans have! This is why many service dogs are used for tracking purposes. Along with this, dogs also have the ability to smell certain hormones and detect hormonal swings. This means that they can sense adrenaline, cortisol, and other hormones which ultimately leads to them being able to sense your mood and a lot of other health importances. Their ears also work differently from humans, being able to hear much higher frequencies than humans can. However, their sense of vision is not nearly as developed, often seeing blurrily or having difficulty seeing colors. 

Some of the oldest known dog breeds are the Saluki, Alaskan Malamute, and Siberian Husky, but most dog breeds emerged in about the past 200 years. Distinctive types of dogs develop because humans selectively breed the animals for certain traits they prefer. Labrador retrievers were bred as hunting dogs, for example. Dachshunds’ long, short shape helped them burrow underground to chase after badgers, while greyhounds were bred for speed. However, there are also many dogs that are a mix of different breeds, including cross breeds like the labradoodle, which has become popular across the US in recent years. The large majority of dogs in animal shelters are mixed breeds. 

 Pictured Saluki Breed

Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the world because of their close relationship with people. Recent studies have found that spending even 10 minutes with a therapy dog can reduce pain and improve mental health in hospital patients. Owning a dog provides physical assistance, too, by encouraging owners to be active. 

Dogs are one of our greatest companions. With their compassionate nature and fascinating abilities of sense, there’s a reason why dogs were our best friends from the beginning, to the now. 

Sources: 

https://www.thesprucepets.com/dog-sense-of-smell-4776425