Dogs/An Introduction to Dogs

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An Introduction to Dogs[edit | edit source]

The dog is of such use to human society in the Western World it has acquired the nickname "Man's Best Friend". They can be mixed in several subsets

  • companions (known as pets from the French word for small animal which is petete bête,
  • working dogs doing work to protect and manage other persons and animals, help out in emergencies, do police and military work.
  • sporting dogs such as racers or hunters (detection, corner and retrieval).
  • sled dogs are specific to the single activity that can be seen as work or sport.
  • show or breeder dogs this is reserved for exceptional individuals that have a good pedigree and embody the breed's wanted traces and characteristics and/or are particularly good at specific tasks, most of these animals are frequent at dog shows and activity demonstration and are well groomed and trained.
  • wild dogs are dogs that have lost the benefit of daily human contact and care and reverted to a more wild status, similar to their ancestry, the wolf. At the same time they are more damaging to the other wild life and dangerous to humans and human activity.
  • industrial dogs are reserved for industrial and human consumption, form use of the hide and fur to meat or subjects for bio-chemical test.

In 2001, there were estimated to be 400 million dogs in the world.

There are many breeds of dogs, with a huge range of sizes, natures and uses. An adult dog's behavior depends on its breed, training and situation, but, in general a dog responds to the way it is trained and treated, particularly when a puppy.


Most dogs are approachable, but obtaining the permission of the owner is a vital precaution.

At first, do not make any sudden moves, but slowly present the back of your clenched fist for the dog to sniff, only then - if it accepts you - you may gently rub below its ears - Dogs use smell much as we use sight to recognize friends, and this is how dogs learn who you are. It is like saying to each other say Hi! Are you a friend?