Man's best friend
Dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, dingos and jackals all belong to the Canidae or dog family. They are sometimes called canids (pronounced kay-nids).
All canids are carnivores. They have big mouths filled with 42 or 44 teeth specially adapted for eating meat. Canids have long, sharp teeth that grip prey and cut through flesh. They also have flat molars that can crunch up bones.
The first dinosaur canids appeared about 50 million years ago. These early dogs looked like wolves and foxes. But about 30,000 years ago, wild dogs began living with people.
Nobody knows how the first wild dogs became friends with humans. Maybe a hunter found a wolf cub and made it a pet rather than dinner. But dogs and mankind quickly became good friends. We give dogs food and a home. In return, dogs work for us.
Dogs help hunters kill game and help farmers protect livestock. Dogs pull carts and sledges, and protect property and people. Dogs can also track stolen property and lost people.
Because they are so useful, domestic dogs are nicknamed 'man's best friend'.