A Dog's World
The first ancestor of the dog can be traced back 30 million years! More than 300,000 years ago the wolf first appeared on earth. From this wild animal all domestic dogs evolved.
As the largest member of the dog family, wolves spread across the world developing distinct types; there are European, Indian, Chinese and North American wolves.
The wolf's relative, the jackal, as well as other wild dogs, could be found in Africa, Europe and Asia. Today there are more than 30 species in the dog family, from wolves, jackals, foxes, and wild dogs to the one species of domestic dog.
During the ice age, humans began to tame wolves. From these first animals came the earliest domestic dogs about 12,000 years ago.
Dogs, or canids as scientists call them, have an instinct to hunt for their food. From their wild ancestors they inherited keen senses of hearing, smell and sight - as well as powerful muscles for running fast - necessary for hunting prey
There are about 400 breeds of domestic dog in the world (although not everyone agrees with this number)! A breed is a group of dogs that are similar or identical in appearance and behavior.
Today there are purebred dogs which look like one another, and there are mixed breeds which have a combination of their parent's characteristics and can look very different from one another.
Dogs have been working animals for 3,000 years. Our initial relationship with them revolved around their usefulness to us. Dogs helped us hunt, herded farm animals, led us to food sources, pulled sleds, kept us warm on cold nights, warned us of approaching danger and acted as guard dogs.
Over time, some of these working partnerships became much more of a personal nature, as dogs became intertwined into our daily routines and lifestyles. Today, dogs not only provide companionship as pets but they continue to play many roles ranging from guide dogs for the blind, to tracking drugs for enforcement officers and finding trapped people on search and rescue missions in disasters such as earthquakes.
Since dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, it is our responsibility to provide them with care and protection. For a quick message on how to spread the word, check out the Pet Protection Pledge eCard!
Massachusetts State Trooper Gary Berlo with Jack, a German Shepard dog, demonstrate the safety and versatility of one of three Kevlar vests purchased by IFAW for police dogs.
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