Dog

Dogs are mammals that belong to the family Canidae, such as wolves, foxes and coyotes. Usually, the term dog is used to mean the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).

Dogs and humans exist in a mutualistic relationship that dates back thousands of years. Dogs serve humans in many ways. There are guard dogs, hunting dogs, and shepherd dogs. Dogs have served as guides for the blind, as commandoes, have flown into outer space, and a dog (Vazak, P.H.) even wrote an Oscar-nominated screenplay. Relationships between humans and dogs are often characterized by strong emotional bonds, which run both ways. Consequently, dogs are very popular as pets and companions, independent of any utilitarian considerations.

Dog societies are characterized by companionate hierarchy, in which each individual has a rank in society, and in which there is intense loyalty within the group. Dogs thrive in human society because their relationships with humans mimic their natural social patterns. The dog is always aware of its rank vis-a-vis other individuals in the group, and it may be noted that an assertive dog often considers itself the alpha animal, while considering its human owner to be subordinate.

There are numerous dog breeds, many of which evolved under a process of artificial selection. Because of this, some breeds are highly specialized, and there is extraordinary morphological diversity across different breeds. Despite these differences, dogs are able to distinguish dogs from other kinds of animal.

The definition of a breed is a matter of some controversy. Some groups use a definition that ultimately requires extreme in-breeding to qualify. Dogs that are bred in this manner often end up with severe health problems. Other organizations define a breed more loosely, such that an individual may be considered of one breed as long as, say, three of its grandparents were of that breed. These considerations come into play among breeders who enter their dogs in dog show competitions.

Taxonomic classification:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Genus:
Species: Canis familiaris
Subspecies:

The Dog is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. It is thought that each animal is associated with certain personality traits.

Related topics: coprophagia (the behavior of eating feces).

Age of a dog

A dog has a very visible mark in his teeth, well as a horse, which mark does not disappear totally until he is very near or full 6 years old. Look to the 4 front teeth, both in the upper and lower jaw, but particularly to the teeth in the upper jaw, for in those 4 front teeth the mark remains the longest. At 12 months old you will observe every one of the 4 front teeth, both in the upper and under jaw, jagged and uneven, nearly in the form of a fleur de lis, but not quite so pointed at the edges of the jags as a fleur de lis is. As the dog advances in age these marks will wear away, gradually decrease and grow smoother and less jagged every year. Between 3 and 4 years old these marks will be full half worn down, and when you observe all the 4 front teeth, both in the upper and lower jaw, quite worn smooth and even, and not in the least jagged, then you may conclude that the dog is nearly if not full 6 years old. When those marks are worn quite flat and even, and those teeth quite level and even, you can no longer judge the age of a dog. Many huntsmen and game-keepers ignorantly look at the side and eye-teeth of a dog; there are many dogs not 2 years old which have had the canker in the mouth, with hardly one sound tooth in their heads.

Keeping your dog healthy

The best way to keep a dog healthy is to let him have plenty of exercise, and not to overfeed him. Let them have at all times a plentiful supply of clean water, and encourage them to take to swimming, as it assists their cleanliness. When they are washed no soap should be used, as it prevents their licking themselves, and they may thus become habitually dirty. Properly treated, dogs should only be fed once a day. Meat boiled for dogs, and the liquor in which it is boiled, thickened with barely-meal or oatmeal, forms capital food.

The distemper is liable to attack dogs from four months to four years old. It prevails most in spring and autumn. The disease generally manifests itself by a dullness of the eye, husky cough, shivering, loss of appetite and energy, and occasional fits. During the prevalence of this complaint dogs should be allowed to run on the grass and their diet should be spare.

To administer medicine to a dog, place him, if of moderate size only, upright on his hind legs, between the knees of a seated person. Apply a napkin round his shoulders, bringing it forward over the fore legs, by which he is secured from resisting. The mouth being now forced open by the pressure of the forefinger and thumb upon the lip of the upper jaw, the medicine can be conveniently introduced with the other hand, and passed sufficiently far into the throat to ensure it's not being returned. The mouth should now be closed and kept so until the matter given is seen to pass down.