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Introduction
The dog is an animal that was first domesticated by humans over 14,000 years ago. The dog has become one of the world's
most popular pets and is considered a trusted work partner as well as a beloved companion. These mammals derive
from the Dog Family which consists of wolves, foxes, jackals, hyenas, dingoes, coyotes and many, many more. Dog ancestry has
been traced back to approximately 40 million years ago. They exist in a vast variety of shapes, sizes and breeds. These highly
intelligent animals have been used to our advantage to suit different purposes. They have been used to hunt, guard, detect
drugs for police, help the deaf and the blind etc. Dogs have even been crowned as Britain's cleverest group of pets
according to the Test Your Pet's Intelligence survey and pet IQ tests. 40,000 owners participated in Britain's largest
ever online pet survey and 25,000 pets and their owners took part in the series of six IQ tests represented by Rolf
Harris and Katie Humble on BBC 1's Test Your Pet. The scientific name used for a domestic dog is Canis Familiaris. The dog
is also a lovable companion to humans and is a family member in many households worldwide today.
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About Dog Ownership
Before owning a dog or puppy, it is crucial that you think about the needs they will require such as; specialist care,
time, money, attention and long-term commitment before considering looking after one-you may be looking after this pet for
the next 15 years! You should also have the necessary food, accommodation and other accessories for the animal before making
a final decision about dog ownership. Although dogs seem like rewarding pets, they can be very demanding. The dog will need
companionship, regular exercise and proper training. Dog ownership is a decision to be made with the whole family. You will
also need to think about what type of dog would be suitable for your family, due to the dog’s temperament and size.
Furthermore, dogs could be quite untidy. They’ll no doubt leave hairs around the house and some may even chew on furniture!
In addition, dogs can get ill and catch diseases just like humans. Common diseases to look out for are worms, kennel cough,
fleas and more, so don’t get a dog if you are squeamish, because you’ll also have to clean up after them when
you take them for walks and give them flea-baths. Dogs like to spend time in the outdoors, so be sure you have a secure garden
and think about it carefully if you have a small baby or an elderly person in your household. Be prepared for the costs of
the dog. Usually, it would cost £700 a year in the UK to keep an average-sized dog. There are also
vet bills to think about and a chance of having puppies. Having your dog neutered or spaded is a recommendation from the RSPCA;
this will prevent them from having puppies. If you are a person with a full-time job, it would be best to not get a dog because
it requires lots of love and attention. Your pet will also die some day, so be ready for that too.
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Breeds
Dogs come in a huge range of different sizes, colours, temperaments and breeds. Pure-blood breeds are called Pedigree
dogs and dogs with many breeds in its background are named Mongrel dogs. "Mixed breeds" and "Cross breeds" are NOT the same.
Mixed breed dogs have various lineages that are most likely unknown, as for cross breeds, they are only two different breeds
of dog combined together. Mixed breed dogs are less likely to suffer from inherited diseases and disabilities than purebred
dogs are. Pure bred dogs are born from two dogs of the same type of breed. A few rare and unusual dog breeds are the Podengo,
Broholmer, Lundehund and Lowchen. The Podengo is also known as the Portuguese Warren Hound. It is usually a fawn or yellow
colour, but can be brown, black or sooty coloured without white patches or spots. It resembled a long-bodied chihuahua. The
Broholmer is a breed that is recognized only in Denmark. It was believed to of become extinct in
the 1960's but, in December of 1974, a purebred Broholmer popped up in Finland. This dog, named Bjoern was a male, and the
owners hoped to of found a female for him to mate with, this didn't happen. Bjoern died in 1975 and the breed has yet to appear
again. The Lundehund is a breed which has lived solely on two islands in the north of Norway. The Lundehund has 5 toes, and seven or eight
cushions! It is a climbing dog, bred for rugged terrain. The Lowchen is native to France. It's called "petit chien lion" or, "little
lion dog." This is due to its fur growth, as it resembles a lion's mane. The tallest dog breeds are the Great Dane, the Irish
Wolfhound, the St. Bernard, the English Mastiff, the Borzoi and the Turkish Shepherd Dog. All of these breeds can attain 36
inches (90 cm) at the shoulder! The smallest breed of dog is the Chihuahua which is between 2-6lbs. The second smallest breed of dog is the Yorkshire
Terrier.
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