Dog (Britannica)

8/12/2019 Dog (Britannica)

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CHAPTER I

THE DOG

The dog is one of the most popular pets in the world. Its loyalty and devotion arelegendary, and because of this the dog has been called man's best friend. Classdistinctions between people have no part in a dog's life. It can be a faithful

companion to either rich or poor.

Dogs have been domesticated for most of human history and have thus endeared

themselves to many over the years. Stories have been told about brave dogs that

served admirably in war or that risked their lives to save persons in danger.hen !ompeii"the #oman community destroyed by $ount %esuvius in &D (

"was finally e)cavated, searchers found evidence of a dog lying across a child,apparently trying to protect the youngster. !erhaps few of the millions of dogs inthe world may be so heroic, but they are still a source of genuine delight to their

owners.

& dog fits easily into family life. It thrives on praise and affection. hen a

master tells a dog that it is good, the animal happily wags its tail. *ut when amaster scolds a dog, it skulks away with a sheepish look and with its tail tucked

between its legs.

!eople in the city as well as those in other areas can en+oy a dog. $ediumsi-e orsmall dogs are bestsuited for the confines of the city. arge dogs need

considerable e)ercise over a large area.

Dogs are not always well thought of, however. Dogs in the city have been in the

center of controversy. Some people have critici-ed dog owners for allowing theirpets to soil sidewalks and lawns, although in some cities laws oblige owners to

clean up after their dogs. /rban dog owners have argued that the animals serve

as protection against vandals and burglars and thus protect their detractors as

well as their owners.

hen a person decides to own a dog, he should be prepared to care for itproperly. 0or a dog to stay healthy it must be correctly fed and ade1uately

groomed, and its medical needs must be met. 0or a dog to be wellmannered itmust be properly trained. It should never be illtreated or mishandled. 2therwise,

it may bite in its own defense or develop bad habits.

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The wild ancestors of all dogs were hunters. olves and other wild relatives ofthe dog still hunt in packs for their food. Dogs have retained the urge to be with

the pack, and most do not like to be left alone for long. Some breeds of dogs stillretain the hunting instinct.

Dogs e)ist in a wide range of si-es, colors, and temperaments. Some, such as theDoberman pinscher and the 3erman shepherd, can serve as alert and aggressive

watchdogs. 2thers, such as the beagle and the cocker spaniel, are playful family

pets, even though they were bred for hunting. Still others, such as the collie andthe elsh corgi, can herd farm or range animals. 4ach of the dogs +ust

mentioned is a purebred. & mi)ed breed dog, however"one with many breeds

in its background"can +ust as easily fit into family life.

2ver the years dogs have performed various services. They have pulled sledsover snowy tracts. They have delivered messages, herded sheep and cattle, andeven rescued persons trapped in the snow. Dogs have served as a source of food,

too. The ancient #omans are said to have pri-ed certain kinds of dog stew. The&-tecs of ancient $e)ico raised tiny dogs, thought to be the forebears of the

chihuahua, to feed the large carnivores in the private -oos of the &-tec rulers. In

the past dogs have even been worshiped as gods. In contemporary times theyhave been used in drug research, medical e)perimentation, and space science.

Soviet scientists launched dogs into space to test the ability of mammals to

survive the rigors of space travel before people were sent up.

Dogs are trained as guard dogs in peacetime by the /nited States &rmy and

other military services. *ecause of their keen sense of smell, dogs are used bypolice to track down escaped prisoners. aw enforcement agencies also rely on

the dog's acute sense of smell to uncover illegal drugs, and at airports dogs detect

plants, foods, e)plosives, and other forbidden items in travelers' luggage. Somespecially trained dogs aid deaf or handicapped people5 others serve as the 6eyes7

of the blind, guiding the steps of their sightless masters around obstacles and

ha-ards.

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Gray Wolf (Canis lupus lupus)

German shepherd (Canis lupus familiaris)CHAPTER II

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EVOLUTIO O! THE DOG

The dog traces its ancestry back to a fivetoed, weasellike animal called Miacis,

which lived about 89 million years ago. This animal was the forebear of the cat,raccoon, bear, hyena, and civet, as well as of the wolf, fo), +ackal, and dog.

Miacis, undoubtedly a tree climber, probably also lived in a den. ike all den

dwellers, it no doubt left its 1uarters for toilet functions so that the den would

remain clean. The ease of housebreaking a modern dog probably harks back tothis instinct.

:e)t in evolutionary line from Miaciswas an animal called Cynodictis, which

somewhat resembled the modern dog. Cynodictishad evolved from Miacisby

about ;9 to


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CHAPTER III

THE PARTER%HIP O! DOG AD HU&A

&uthorities agree that the dog was the first of man's domesticated animals. @owand when this domestication took place, however, remains unknown. & A9,999

yearold cave painting in 4urope seems to show a doglike animal hunting with

men. *ut most e)perts believe the dog was domesticated only within the lastBA,999 years. $oreover, fossil remains that would substantiate the presence of

dogs with humans have not yet been unearthed for periods earlier than about

B9,999 *C.

2ne theory holds that humans took wolf pups back to their camp or cave, rearedthem, allowed the tame wolves to hunt with them, and later accepted pups of thetame wolves into the family circle.

&nother theory suggests that dogs were attracted to food scraps dumped as waste

near humans' living sites. &s they scavenged and kept the site clean, the dogs

rendered a service to the humans. In turn, the humans would accept the presenceof the scavengers and would not drive them away.

Still other theories maintain that the dog was domesticated to pull sleds and otherconveyances bearing the heavy game killed by humans, to provide a ready

source of food, or to act as a sacrificial animal for magical or religious purposes.

Studies of hunter societies still in e)istence tend to substantiate some of these

theories. hatever the ultimate reason for the domestication of the dog,

however, the final submission must have been the conse1uence of thousands ofyears of caution and 6deliberation7 by the dog before it would cast its lot with

humans. &lso, the dog, itself a hunter, had to suppress its desire to kill the other

animals domesticated by humans. Instead, it had to learn to protect them.

Some dogs are considered feral, that is, they have returned to the wild state.

0eral dogs usually live in or near areas where there are people. &n e)tremee)ample is the dingo of &ustralia. It was domesticated in &sia long ago but has

roamed free in &ustralia for thousands of years. &nother e)ample of a wild dog

is the dhole of India.

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The partnership between dog and master has long been shown in paintings and

other art forms and in writings. !rehistoric paintings done about BA,999 yearsago on the walls of Spanish caves show doglike animals accompanying humans

on a hunt. Dogs are amply illustrated in the sculptures and pottery of ancient&ssyria, 4gypt, and 3reece. The ancient 4gyptians worshiped &nubis as the god

of death. &nubis was portrayed with the head of a +ackal or a dog. The 4gyptians

were great lovers of dogs and were responsible for developing many breeds bycrossing dogs with +ackals, wolves, and fo)es.

@omer, the 3reek author of the Odysseyin the (th century *C, is believed to be

one of the first to write about dogs. They were mentioned often in his classicepic. The ancient 3reeks believed that the gates of the underworld were guarded

by a savage threeheaded dog named Cerberus. The belief might have been

derived from the widespread practice in 3reece of using watchdogs. The ancient

#omans relied on watchdogs, too. So many dogs were kept in the larger #omancities that any house with a watchdog was re1uired to have a sign warning 6Cave

Canem7 >*eware of the Dog?. The #omans also used dogs for military purposes,some as attack dogs and some as messengers.

During the


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to perpetuate those traits and standardi-e the breed's appearance while

maintaining a friendly disposition in a dog, a trait so important for a family pet.

!eople have been amply repaid for this long partnership and rapport with thedog. Care and love have been e)changed for loyalty, companionship, and fun.

Ha"h'o

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La'a

Lass'e

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%erean# %#$**y

%'n*ad

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CHAPTER IV

LI!E HI%TOR+ O! A DOG

The normal life span of a small or mediumsi-e dog is about BA years. & large

dog lives only about ten years, however. 2n the average, a tenmonthold dog is

se)ually mature, able to reproduce. Smaller bitches >female dogs? go into theirfirst heat >become responsive to their first mating? at an earlier age than larger

ones.

0etal puppies grow in their mother's womb before they are whelped, or born.

&fter each of her litter is whelped, she licks the pup as dry as she can. The

newborn, hungry puppies snuggle by the teats on the bitch's underside, where shenurses them.

The puppies draw nourishing milk from their mother until they are weaned, orgiven food more solid than milk to eat. The time of weaning depends on the si-e

of the litter and the amount of milk that the bitch has available. Sometimes itoccurs as early as three weeks. !uppies should not be weaned, however, any later

than their seventh week.

The puppy's eyes, which are closed at birth, open when the pup is between one

and two weeks old. It then begins to see. Its first teeth, the puppy or milk teeth,

erupt through the gums during the third to si)th week of its life. !uppy teeth aremostly incisors and canines. *y the third month, the first of the permanent teeth

work through, and by the seventh month they all do. *y the time it reaches its

first birthday a puppy is considered a dog. It may retain some puppylike behaviorafter this age, however.

&lthough se)ually mature beforehand, a dog ordinarily does not attain fullgrowth until its first birthday or even later. *y this time, however, it is capable of

a wide range of responses to its environment. hen it meets another dog, its ear

position indicates how interested it is in the newcomer. If its ears are erect, it is

concentrating on the other. If its ears are pointing forward, it is on the alert. If thedog holds its tail high and wags it, the animal is happy and confident. If it dropsits tail and remains still, the dog is apprehensive. If it pulls its tail between its

legs, the dog is afraid. If on meeting a person or another dog it pulls back its lips

and growls, it is making a threat. If it bares its teeth without growling, the dog isready to attack and bite. & male dog establishes a territory by marking the

boundaries with urine, scent from the anal glands, or even feces. The dog will

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then defend that territory against intruders. 4very si) or seven months a female

dog goes into heat and will mate with nearly any available male within the threeweek length of her heat.

hen a dog reaches old age, its eyes begin to weaken. Cataracts may also form

in the lenses of its eyes. It begins to lose its keen sense of hearing. The hair on its

mu--le turns gray. The old dog begins to feel numerous aches and pains in itsmuscles and +oints and might become easily irritated and snap at members of the

family. Its body systems are breaking down, and it can no longer behave as it did

when younger.

,lond' and Adolf H'#ler

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Tr$dy and -os. !el'"'ano

CHAPTER V

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,REED% O! DOG

Several hundred dog breeds e)ist. 0or a puppy to be a purebred dog, its sire and

dam >father and mother? both must be of the same breed, as must its ancestorsdating back to the establishment of the breed. Eennel clubs of various countries

set their own standards that the breed must meet to be registered, for e)ample,

color of coat, height and weight, and shape of various body parts. In the /nitedStates the &merican Eennel Club >&EC? determines the standards for breeds it

recogni-es.

The &EC recogni-es seven groups and a miscellaneous class, based on the

breed's original uses sporting dogs, hounds, working dogs, terriers, toys, non

sporting dogs, and herding dogs. Sporting dogs hunt, locate >point?, and retrievegame birds. @ounds hunt all game e)cept birds. orking dogs can do such +obs

as performing rescues, locating people or things, pulling sleds and carts, andguarding life and property. Terriers were once bred to ferret out varmints such asrodents but are now bred more commonly as house pets. Toys are tiny dogs bred

mainly as pets. :onsporting dogs are those purebreds not included in the othercategories. @erding dogs control the movement of other animals. Some &EC

recogni-ed breeds are illustrated in the article.

CHAPTER VI

CHOO%IG A DOG

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&n important thing to consider when buying a dog is whether it will fit

comfortably into your 1uarters when it reaches adult si-e. The presence of youngchildren in the family should also be a factor in selection. & dog for a growing

family must be able to stand rough treatment and be patient and calm. & toy dogwould be a poor choice for such a family because its tiny bones are fragile

enough to break if children play with it roughly. In general larger dogs, such as

abrador retrievers or 3erman shepherds, are better adapted both physically andtemperamentally for a young family.

& dog can be ac1uired from a number of sources. It can be bought from areputable pet shop, from a breeder, or from a kennel. ocal humane societies,

shelters, and breed rescue organi-ations have many dogs available, which their

former owners had to give up or which were found as stray. 0rom whateversource you get a dog, however, make certain it is healthy. &sk for proof, if

possible, that it has received all the necessary immuni-ing shots.It is also advisable to get a written reminder of whatever shots and other care thepup or dog will need after you take it home. !uppies are vaccinated against

canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus, parainfluen-a, and canine parvovirus.4ven if a puppy has had its first shots, it will need booster shots. ater, it will

need a rabies shot. & reputable pet shop or kennel ordinarily will have taken care

of these details, but get a signed verification from a veterinarian anyway. $ostolder dogs coming from shelters are already neutered >made incapable of

breeding?5 a puppy is commonly neutered at about si) months of age.

$ales are usually larger, stronger, and more aggressive, and they make e)cellent

watchdogs. 2n the other hand, females are usually more affectionate and gentle,

and if they are purebred dogs and are mated with males of their breed, their pupscan be sold for profit. The female has a strong maternal instinct and will guard

children as well as she does her own pups. Dogs of either se), however, are

commonly neutered to ensure against unwanted puppies. Castration, the removalof the testes, makes a male dog infertile and more docile. Spaying, or removal of

the ovaries, makes a female dog infertile.

Should one buy a purebred or a mi)ed breedG This 1uestion is hard to answerbecause a purebred dog sometimes turns out to be less desirable than e)pected,while a mi)ed breed often makes an alert, intelligent, and delightful family pet.

&s a rule, a purebred pup inherits the traits of its breed. &s a result, few surprisesin body form and temperament arise when the pup reaches adulthood. If you

want to buy a purebred but are unfamiliar with the breed, first look at a full

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grown dog of the breed. The puppy will grow to resemble it. If you want to buy a

mi)ed breed, try to see its sire and dam. The sire and dam will display anyunwanted trait that may lie hidden in the puppy.

Ideally, children and puppies should grow up together. Caution should be taken,

however, when dog owners bring a newborn baby home. !ampered dogs

sometimes resent the newcomer because the baby receives most of the parents'attention. They should make an effort to pay attention to the dog, too.

& puppy should be at least eight or nine weeks old before it is taken from itshome kennel. *y this time it will have been weaned and be eating regular food.

&t first, the puppy must be fed four times a day. *y the time it is mature,

feedings should be down to twice a day or even once a day in the case of a dogthat gets little e)ercise. Diet and feeding instructions should accompany the

puppy. If it was eating a prepared dog food at the kennel, the same diet should bemaintained until the puppy shows its dislike of it by 6going off its feed,7 orrefusing to eat. Several types of dog food may have to be tried before the dog

settles on a favorite. If it refuses all the choices offered, however, consult thebreeder or a veterinarian for help. It is always best to consult a trusted

veterinarian at the first sign that a dog may be ill.

CHAPTER VII

CARIG !OR A DOG/ EVER+DA+ CARE

Dog owners are responsible for feeding, housebreaking, and grooming their pets.

They should also oversee the health of their dogs. It's best to consult aveterinarian at the first sign of a dog ailment.

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& dog can be fed either the dry meal, biscuit, semimoist, or canned type of dog

food. hichever type is selected must contain the carbohydrates, fats, proteins,minerals, and vitamins essential for the animal's wellbeing. &s a rule, the cost of

feeding a large dog can be kept low by giving it the less e)pensive dry mealtype.

& puppy should be housebroken as soon as possible. hen the puppy takes itsfirst water or food, note how long it takes for the puppy to urinate or defecate.

hen you discover the schedule, take the pup outside when the prescribed time

has elapsed after feeding or drinking. !raise the pup when it urinates anddefecates outofdoors. Soon, the puppy will associate the outdoors with toilet

function and will no longer soil the house or the newspapers that have been

spread around its living area.

Foung puppies should not be e)cessively groomed. & daily brushing with a softbrush is sufficient to remove surface dust and dirt. Some authorities believe thatto conserve its natural skin oils a pup should not be completely bathed until its

first birthday. $ud and deep dirt in its coat, however, can be removed with adamp, warm cloth. &fterward, the puppy should be completely dried with a

rough towel. & dog can then have a complete bath when it is old enough, but it

must be kept in the house until thoroughly dry, especially during winter. Dog'snails should be trimmed periodically if they are not worn down from walking on

sidewalks or other hard surfaces. Cut only the transparent part of the nail past the

foot pads. Close clipping can cut into the 61uick7"the portion of nail that hasnerves and blood vessels"and hurt the animal. Special clippers can be

purchased for trimming dog nails.

CHAPTER VIII

CAIE PE%T% AD DI%EA%E%

The flea is the dog's most common pest. In addition to causing itching, fleas alsocarry tapeworms and disease. Some dogs are allergic to fleas and have serious

reactions to them. ashing the dog with special soap can remove fleas. 0lea

preventive collars are also available to protect dogs with thin coats. 0lea collars,however, should not be used on shorthaired, singlecoated dogs"such as

greyhounds, whippets, and pointers"because of skin irritation. 0leas can be

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effectively managed with 6spoton7 li1uids. & few drops applied to the dog's

upper back once a month takes care of the problem.

The tick poses a greater danger to the dog. This pest attaches itself to the dog'sskin and sucks its blood. It also carries certain canine and human diseases. &n

owner can remove ticks from his dog by first dabbing alcohol on the infested

area and then picking the parasites off with twee-ers, making sure that the entiretick is removed. $any fleaprevention products also kill or repel ticks.

orms and other intestinal parasites often infest puppies. & puppy's fecal stoolsshould be checked periodically for them. If worms are detected, take a sample of

the infested stool to a veterinarian so that the type of parasite can be determined

and the proper treatment rendered. Commercial deworming medicines should beavoided unless prescribed by a veterinarian. @eartworm is a more serious pest in

that it can cause death. It can be prevented by giving the dog a monthly pill.Treatment for e)isting heartworms must be given under a veterinarian'sguidance.

& dog is obviously sick when it becomes listless and loses its appetite. Its bowel

movements may be irregular. It might also have pale, whitish gums and tongue,

dull eyes, and a dry coat. & sick dog often runs a fever. & dog's temperature isbest taken with a rectal thermometer. :ormal body temperature of a dog is

B9B.AH0 >;.8H C?. & dog's pulse can be taken by pressing your finger againstthe blood vessel in the % formed where the undersides of the hind legs attach to

the body. :ormal pulse rate of a dog is between A and B99 beats per minute.

& dog can be infected by several viruses, including those that cause distemper,

canine hepatitis, and rabies. & spirochetecaused ailment called leptospirosis is

also common among dogs. !uppies should be vaccinated against each of thesediseases. If any of them should arise, however, the suffering dog must be taken

to a veterinarian for treatment.

Distemperaffects the mucous membranes of the dog's respiratory tract. The

symptoms resemble those of human influen-a. Distemper causes the dog's

temperature to rise two to three degrees above normal. Canine hepatitis

affects the dog's liver and abdominal organs. It is marked by a fever as high as

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discolored and abnormalsmelling urine. &t the onset of the disease, the dog's

body temperature might soar as high as B9AH0.Rabiesis a disease that can pass to humans who have been bitten by infected

dogs. #abies is almost always fatal when the virus gets to the brain. *raininflammation causes the erratic behavior that is sometimes seen in a rabid dog.

Parvovirus infectioncauses serious intestinal ailments in dogs. It is highly

contagious and can result in death in +ust a few days. It causes vomiting, severe

diarrhea, and fever. !revention through vaccination and good sanitation is thebest defense against this often fatal disease. 2nce a dog has become infected,

there is no treatment that will kill the virus. Treatment consists of controlling the

symptoms and supporting the dog with good nursing care.

CHAPTER I0

TRAIIG A DOG

&ny young dog can be trained to understand commands and to do simple tricks.

hen correctly trained, it is conditioned to respond to your commands, noises,or gestures. & dog that is trained is more reliable and pleasant to be around, and

it will be easier to manage in an emergency. Dogs by nature fit into a packstructure. The owner fills the place of the leader of the pack whose orders must

be obeyed. Training helps a dog know what is e)pected of it and gives it a placein the pack where it can be comfortable.

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%an ,ernardo dos

2nce an owner decides to train his puppy he must be willing to stick with the +obuntil the puppy learns the task. 0irst, the owner should select a simple 6call7

name for the animal. The call name should be used fre1uently so the puppy canlearn to recogni-e the sound of it.

& training session is best begun when the puppy is hungry because it is morealert at that time. &lso, the owner can reinforce the dog's correct responses to

commands with a dog biscuit or meat tidbit. The hungry dog is more apt to

associate the correct performance of a task with a food reward.

ait until a puppy is at least si) months old before trying to teach it tricks, butdo teach it the meaning of 6no7 at an earlier age. The young dog must be

corrected vocally each time it does something that you disapprove of. If you are

consistent, it soon learns by your tone of voice what pleases you and whatdispleases you. 0ormal training sessions should entail no more than ten minutes

of work at a time, and they should never tire the dog.

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Do not be impatient with a puppy when teaching it simple tricks, and never getangry. If the training sessions are not going well, break them off and resume

them later in the day or even on another day. In addition, give praise and tidbitsto the dog only when they are earned.

$ost authorities recommend that owners attend obedience classes with theirdogs to learn the basic commands and techni1ues of training. :o dog should be

struck as part of training. It does no good to become angry at a dog for

something he has done earlier"chewing the newspaper, for instance. The dogknows you are angry but does not connect his chewing with your anger. Fou

must catch a dog in the act in order for it to know that his action is displeasing

you.

123 CIA Un'#

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anny/ AT! aen#

CHAPTER 0

DOG %HOW%

hen their dogs are effectively trained, owners of purebred, pedigreed dogs mayenter them in shows sponsored by local kennel clubs, under the auspices of the

&merican Eennel Club >&EC?. inners are awarded points based on how well

they conform to breed standards. 0ive points is the top mark a dog can win inany single show. To gain the coveted title 6Champion of #ecord,7 a dog must

have accumulated BA points in a series of shows, with at least two ma+or wins

>three points or more?. Dog shows are usually calledbench showsbecause the

dogs wait in raised stalls or benches before being +udged in the show ring.

Obedience trialsmay be held separately or as part of a larger show. These

trials test how well dogs can perform various tasks. The top mark in obedience

trials is =99 points. Field trials+udge the hunting abilities of sporting dogs and

hounds in realistic outdoor settings. Such skills as tracking, pointing, flushing,

and retrieving are tested in these trials. In agility trialsdogs compete on a

course of +umps and obstacles such as ladders and tunnels, following their

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trainers' commands. Cattle dogs and sheepdogs compete inherding trials to

show their ability to manage livestock.

Dog sports tournaments have become widespread, with many breeds competing

together. !opular events are agility, flyball, weight pulling, detection, diving, and0risbee catching.

Companion Dog

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Dog (Britannica)