The Dog is a canine carnivorous mammal that has been domesticated
for at least 14,000 years and perhaps for as long as 150,000
years based on recent evidence. In this time, the dog
has developed into hundreds of breeds with a great degree
of variation. For example, heights range from just a few
inches (such as the Chihuahua) to nearly three feet (such
as the Irish Wolfhound), and colors range from white to
black with reds, grays, and browns also occurring in a
tremendous variation of patterns. Dogs, like humans, are
highly social animals and pack hunters; this similarity
in their overall behavioral design accounts for their
trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human
households and social situations. Dogs fill a variety
of roles in human society. Working dogs of all kinds do
traditional jobs such as herding and new jobs such as
detecting contraband and helping the blind or disabled.
For dogs that do not do their traditional jobs, a wide
range of dog sports provide the opportunity to exhibit
their natural skills.
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