THE DOG
Every day, responsible pet ownership continues to grow—especially when it comes to the so-called “man’s best friend,” the dog. But where did they come from? Why are some big and others small? We ask ourselves all sorts of questions, and our curiosity only grows when we see dogs with unusual faces, splendid coats, or no fur at all walking down the street, running through the park, chasing a ball, or poking their wet noses out of a window.
The history of the dog dates back 20,000 to 30,000 years. They are direct descendants of Canis lupus lupus—the wolf. It was the evolutionary changes brought about by humans, as they gradually domesticated these animals, that gave rise to Canis lupus familiaris—the dog. (1)
Model: Teddy Breed: Pomeranian
Early wolves gradually adapted to the presence of humans (Homo sapiens), and together they began hunting and sharing food. Over thousands of years—and shaped by demographic traits, population needs, geographic conditions, human-led genetic manipulation, and interbreeding among canines—different breeds began to emerge. These breeds continued evolving until we arrived at the ones we know today. Currently, there are more than 400 dog breeds around the world.
Dogs possess physical and behavioral traits that set them apart from other animal species. Here are a few of them:
- Skin and coat: Each breed has a distinct type of coat that helps protect it from various climates and illnesses. Some dogs have short, long, straight, dense, or coarse hair. Many have a double coat that helps them withstand low temperatures. Others, like the Xoloitzcuintle, are hairless—their skin is fine and smooth, and we often see them dressed to protect them from harsh sunlight or cold. Regardless of a dog’s size, owners must learn about their breed and care for their coat properly to avoid skin damage or illness caused by poor grooming or exposure.
Sense of smell: This is arguably the most developed organ in dogs. They can identify over a million scents thanks to approximately 300 million olfactory receptors—compared to the roughly 5 million found in humans. Through smell, a dog can locate its home from great distances, recognize other animals, distinguish hierarchies within its species, and even sense when its human is approaching, kilometers away. Many of our furry companions have been trained to face danger, save lives, track scents, and even detect serious illnesses in hospital patients. Without a doubt, a dog’s sense of smell is its signature trait. - Hearing: If you have a dog at home, you should know they’re highly sensitive to sound. A dog’s hearing is developed to detect sounds four to five times better than humans. While humans perceive sound from about 7 meters away, dogs can hear from 28–30 meters. Their 20 ear muscles allow them to move their ears like radar dishes. Dogs pick up high and low frequencies that are imperceptible to the human ear. This sensitivity, however, can lead to physical and mental health issues—since they can’t control the sounds around them, stress, anxiety, ear infections, and even deafness may occur. That’s why dogs can distinguish voice tones and separate ambient noise. When training them, it’s important to use calm, pleasant, but firm tones—avoiding shouting or loud noises that could have the opposite effect
Model: Tokio Breed: French Bulldog
- Taste: This is the least developed sense in dogs. They have around 2,000 taste buds, compared to approximately 9,000 in humans. Dogs can distinguish between sweet, bitter, and sour flavors, but they struggle to detect salty ones. Their tongues are smoother and softer than ours, which limits their ability to savor food. While they can recognize textures—like those of vegetables—their diet is guided more by smell than taste. If a puppy is introduced early on to foods with textures and flavors beyond meat and kibble, it will be easier to include those same foods in its adult diet. Keep in mind that dogs don’t make the best choices based on taste, so it’s important to protect them from excessive consumption of salt, acids, and sweets—as well as from non-edible items like food wrappers. These can lead to gastric, intestinal, or even life-threatening organ issues.
- Sight: Dogs have evolved significantly, and their eyes haven’t been left behind. They’ve developed a large number of retinal neurons called rods, which send visual information to the brain in low-light conditions. That’s why dogs see better than humans in the dark. These rods also process movement faster and more frequently, giving dogs an edge when tracking moving objects. Contrary to popular belief, dogs don’t see in black and white—they perceive colors, mainly in shades of blue and yellow, though they struggle to detect reds and greens.
By learning more about dogs and the unique traits of each breed, we can better understand our furry companions at home. Research and promote responsible, loving pet ownership—not just in your own household, but among family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. Having the privilege of a dog’s companionship goes far beyond impulse—it’s a commitment worth embracing.
References
1 – https://vitakraft.es/
2 – https://es.wikipedia.org/
3 – https://www.advance-affinity.com/
