狗的英文介绍

狗的英文介绍
狗的英文介绍

狗的英文介绍
A Short History of the Dog
No other species of animal displays so much diversity.Today there are over 400 breeds of dog to choose from,in every shape and size,not to mention cross breeds.But despite so much variation,all domestic dogs are part of the same family,Canis familiaris,proven by DNA analysis to be descendants of Canis lupus,the wolf.
The wolf's adaptability to different environments,and its ability to co-operate socially,led to success in the wild.For the same reasons it was also well prepared for adapting to a domestic life.In fact it is the domesticated wolf that has proved most successful.Today there are more than 400 million dogs around the world,compared with only about 40,000 wolves left in the wild.
It's been a very long time since your Cocker Spaniel's forebears roamed the forests.But although it may not be that obvious,our dogs retain many of the behavioural characteristics of the young wolf - playfulness,an urge to explore,and a willingness to be submissive to a parent or leader figure.The ability of the wolf to vary its social organisation from living alone to living in pairs or in large packs,its excellent communication abilities,and its need to develop stable communal relationships have also been passed on to the dog.
Behaviourally the dog is a bit like a wolf that has never grown up,a permanent 11 year-old in human terms,with a special talent in each breed for running,guarding,herding or the like.
Dogs have had a special bond with humans for 12,000 years.We befriended each other when wolves were foraging around our Mesolithic camps for food,and our own ancestors quickly discovered that 'dogs' could help them track and hunt animals.
The wolves that were most tolerant of people thrived.Once a village had a resident population,humans recognised that young wolves could be socialised and put to useful purposes.We began by selecting them for their friendliness and then to breed them for physical and behavioural characteristics.
We bred our 'wolf' specifically to enhance useful behaviours.The wolf remains the best general all-rounder,but some breeds of dog have evolved so they are now far better at certain things than their ancestor.The Bloodhound can track a scent better,a German Shepherd guards better,a Greyhound is faster,Terriers are more tenacious,and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel fits much better on your lap than a Timber Wolf ever can!
By 7,000 BC breeding was widespread.The first recognised 'breed' probably resembled a swift,lanky greyhound,developed for its speed in hunting.As time went on,humans bred more specialist skills,such as Sighthounds and Scenthounds.Shapes and sizes evolved accordingly:shorter muzzles,shorter legs and acute hearing and sight.So much breeding went on that by the time of the Roman Empire most of today's general breed types were already identifiable.

I'm a dog.