Domestic Dog

Canis familiaris

A dog's sense of smell is up to 100,000 times more sensitive than a human's, enabling them to detect certain illnesses and track scents days after they were left.

Scientific name

Canis familiaris

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Carnivora › Canidae › Canis

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

increasing

Biome

urban

Habitat

Urban developments, suburban residential areas, agricultural farms, and homes worldwide.

Diet

Omnivorous, primarily consuming commercial dog food, meats, grains, and vegetables.

Range

Global distribution in association with human populations

Size

Highly variable; 15 to 110 cm tall at the shoulder, weighing 1 to 100 kg depending on breed.

Lifespan

10-15 years

Active

diurnal

Threats

Overpopulation, abandonment, neglect, and infectious diseases such as rabies and parvovirus.

Safe to approach?

Generally harmless and friendly, but can be defensive or territorial. When encountering an unfamiliar dog, ask the owner before petting. Do not run from stray dogs; stand still and avoid direct eye contact. If bitten, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately to prevent infection or rabies.

The domestic dog ( Canis lupus familiaris or Canis familiaris ) is a canid in the genus Canis , and is the most widely abundant terrestrial carnivore. The dog and the extant gray wolf are sister taxa as modern wolves are not closely related to the wolves that were first domesticated, which implies that the direct ancestor of the dog is extinct. The dog is the first species to be domesticated and has been selectively bred over millennia for...

Photo: Afsar Nayakkan, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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