Interesting Dog Breeds
Caring for a dog can be a very difficult task, and most people do not have the time or money to look after a canid. As a result, many dogs are neglected in their early life. The wolf was domesticated about fifty thousand years ago and since then there have been several different and breeds. While it is not possible to count the number of canids before the domestication of man, it is believed that there can be as many as twenty to thirty distinct bands prior to the arrival of farming.
Among these twenty to thirty canids there are many different types, including the long-tailed boobie, the Alaskan malamute, the Canadian pug, the Mexican poodle, the Siamese, the golden lab, the sloping water dog, the Havana puppy, the bouvier des flandres, and many other types. However, the dog with the closest resemblance to a domestic dog, the saluki, is actually a special dog breed, not a domestic dog. These dogs were originally bred as hunters, and to this day they possess many of the same characteristics of a wild animal, including strength, speed, ferocity, and incredible senses. In fact, one of the best dog facts on the planet is that salukis are among the twenty fastest dogs, when tested. In addition, they possess strong, athletic bodies, big feet, longish legs, alert eyesight, and an astonishing sense of smell!
It would be a mistake to think that dogs were only used for hunting in ancient times. They also served in other roles throughout human history. Many ancient civilizations used dogs as companions and guards, helping keep humans safe while they were away from home. In the United States, many dogs served as guides, or quick aids in traveling and fortification. Some dogs became members of royal families and were even trained to assist the military in various ways.
There are several amazing dog facts involving dogs and their evolution from wolves. One dog fact that should not really come as a surprise, but has nevertheless been accepted as fact by a number of individuals, is that dogs are the oldest known species on earth. From their origins as hunting dogs, destined to track and catch their prey, dogs have evolved into much more. Today's dogs can detect a person's heartbeat and are even able to respond to voices. Their sense of smell is so acute that dogs will help police departments locate missing persons.
Some other amazing dog facts include the fact that dogs have more than their share of strange habits. Among the most popular of these strange canine habits is the well-known dog trick of asking for a paw print. Most dogs will greet you with an excited wave or a jump, but a dog with paws prints will stand still, staring at you, until you approach. Then it will leap onto your lap or stand beside you to greet you.
A number of different breeds of dogs make up the dog family we know today. In order to determine which breeds belong in which groups, it is important to understand the history of each breed and look at how it was historically bred to determine its compatibility with other breeds. This process of breeding dogs to create the different breeds we know today is fascinating, and we may learn a little bit about our own human ancestors through this process. It would be interesting to know that the Chinese gave us many dog breeds, but very little information about them. Studying the history of dogs, both ancient and modern, can offer insight into the lives of our early ancestors.