Canis is the Latin word meaning 'dog', and under this genus, he listed the domestic dog, the wolf, and the golden jackal. In 1758, the Swedish botanist and zoologist Carl Linnaeus published in his Systema Naturae, the two-word naming of species ( binomial nomenclature). Taxonomyįurther information: Canis lupus dingo § Taxonomic debate – the domestic dog, dingo, and New Guinea singing dog This influence on human society has given them the sobriquet of ' man's best friend'. Over the millennia, dogs became uniquely adapted to human behavior, and the human–canine bond has been a topic of frequent study. They perform many roles for humans, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and the military, companionship, therapy, and aiding disabled people. Dog breeds vary widely in shape, size, and color. The dog has been selectively bred over millennia for various behaviors, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes. Due to their long association with humans, dogs have expanded to a large number of domestic individuals and gained the ability to thrive on a starch-rich diet that would be inadequate for other canids.

Dogs were the first species to be domesticated by hunter-gatherers over 15,000 years ago before the development of agriculture. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from extinct Pleistocene wolves, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative.

The dog ( Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris ) is a domesticated descendant of the wolf.

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