Canis Lupus Familiaris, or the domestic dog, as we know it is a furry, carnivorous animal in the same classification of species as man - mammals.
They belong to the "Carnivore" order and due to their large numbers in all parts of the world today, estimated close to one billion, they are the most abundant.
The domestic dog, as existing today, is a sub-species of the gray wolf, a wild hunter living in closely knit animal societies called "packs".
Plenty of research and studies have been conducted on domestic dogs in order to gain an insight into their behavioral patterns, habits and genetic dispositions.
While they still exhibit some traits of their ancestry like digging before curling up to sleep, burying things they find etc.
they have evolved in the company of humans to live in close contact with them, with a clear understanding of human nature, signs of communication and emotional patterns.
As more and more studies point out, dogs are much smarter than was thought previously; they can even know a trustworthy person from a not so trustworthy one.
For example, researchers place two cups on the floor, place a food item in one and leave the other empty.
On a cue of pointing to the right cup, the dog sees the direction of the pointer's hand to find the right cup with the 'reward'.
If however, the pointer points a finger to the wrong cup which is empty, the dog senses it is being misled and stops following the cues.
Studies in closed lab conditions with researchers and a group of dogs tell us that they can easily figure out during the course of experiments if the gestures the researchers are showing them are misleading them or not.
Once a person has been marked as 'unreliable' by a dog, it stops following cues given by that person.
Thus we are able to prove that a dog can effectively 'devalue the reliability of a human' very quickly leading to the conclusion that their social intelligence has evolved selectively during the course of their long association with humans.
In spite of their social traits and intelligence evolving to a very fine level during the course of their domestication by humans, they still rely greatly on their sense of smell and hearing, which is far, far advanced when compared to humans.
This social intelligence is what sets dogs apart from other animals and has allowed them such a vast insight into human behavior; they are able to sense human emotions very well and can differentiate between angry and happy faces of people.
The close bonds between man and dog have forged some very beautiful companionship as we can see from videos and movies.
Dogs are the first choice to help a city's police force in tackling criminals, busting drug shipments, and being the perfect foils for the custodians of law because of their ability to understand and obey commands and the discipline they display under extremely trying circumstances.
In recent news, a California law enforcement agency provided a piece of land on its grounds to be used as a cemetery for police dogs.
'K-9s" as these trained canines, who sniff out crime and bring down criminals, are referred to now finally have a place of their own to rest.
The usual practice is to bury the dog in a pet cemetery or have their ashes scattered.
This is the first where a cemetery for dogs killed on duty has been assigned.
The US Police Canine Association members are thankful that their canine friends will have a place where they will be remembered forever.
They belong to the "Carnivore" order and due to their large numbers in all parts of the world today, estimated close to one billion, they are the most abundant.
The domestic dog, as existing today, is a sub-species of the gray wolf, a wild hunter living in closely knit animal societies called "packs".
Plenty of research and studies have been conducted on domestic dogs in order to gain an insight into their behavioral patterns, habits and genetic dispositions.
While they still exhibit some traits of their ancestry like digging before curling up to sleep, burying things they find etc.
they have evolved in the company of humans to live in close contact with them, with a clear understanding of human nature, signs of communication and emotional patterns.
As more and more studies point out, dogs are much smarter than was thought previously; they can even know a trustworthy person from a not so trustworthy one.
For example, researchers place two cups on the floor, place a food item in one and leave the other empty.
On a cue of pointing to the right cup, the dog sees the direction of the pointer's hand to find the right cup with the 'reward'.
If however, the pointer points a finger to the wrong cup which is empty, the dog senses it is being misled and stops following the cues.
Studies in closed lab conditions with researchers and a group of dogs tell us that they can easily figure out during the course of experiments if the gestures the researchers are showing them are misleading them or not.
Once a person has been marked as 'unreliable' by a dog, it stops following cues given by that person.
Thus we are able to prove that a dog can effectively 'devalue the reliability of a human' very quickly leading to the conclusion that their social intelligence has evolved selectively during the course of their long association with humans.
In spite of their social traits and intelligence evolving to a very fine level during the course of their domestication by humans, they still rely greatly on their sense of smell and hearing, which is far, far advanced when compared to humans.
This social intelligence is what sets dogs apart from other animals and has allowed them such a vast insight into human behavior; they are able to sense human emotions very well and can differentiate between angry and happy faces of people.
The close bonds between man and dog have forged some very beautiful companionship as we can see from videos and movies.
Dogs are the first choice to help a city's police force in tackling criminals, busting drug shipments, and being the perfect foils for the custodians of law because of their ability to understand and obey commands and the discipline they display under extremely trying circumstances.
In recent news, a California law enforcement agency provided a piece of land on its grounds to be used as a cemetery for police dogs.
'K-9s" as these trained canines, who sniff out crime and bring down criminals, are referred to now finally have a place of their own to rest.
The usual practice is to bury the dog in a pet cemetery or have their ashes scattered.
This is the first where a cemetery for dogs killed on duty has been assigned.
The US Police Canine Association members are thankful that their canine friends will have a place where they will be remembered forever.
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