Dog and scarf

The dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

is a mammal of the domestic dog family, close to the wolf and fox.

Once grouped in a separate species, known as the Scientific Canis canis familiaris or Canis, its origin is in fact probably diverse.

By default, the scientists bring together all the breeds of dogs in a group called Canis lupus familiaris, a subspecies of Canis lupus, to which also belong to other subspecies such as the common gray wolf .

feral domestic dogs (runaways) have established their own homogeneous group who are considered as subspecies of Canis lupus, such as dingoes and dogs singer.

dog domestication probably began between 16,000 and 15,000 BC in groups of hunters. In comparison, the horse will be domesticated by nomadic groups between 4000 and 3000 BC

The dog was simply tamed from other animals such as jackals and rodents. But it is the only maintained dependence, because it would have shown the most primitive socialization skills.

dog's ancestor, the wolf but experiments, during the last fifty years with selective breeding of foxes seem to give results similar to those observed in dogs (especially social behavior, pédomorphisme, childlike temperament .. .).