# Dog — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Canis lupus familiaris (Linnaeus, 1758)*

> A dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated mammal descended from the grey wolf, kept worldwide as a companion, working, and assistance animal; it is the same species across every breed, from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane.

**IUCN status:** Domesticated — Not Evaluated (IUCN)  ·  **WARN range:** Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Colombia

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Canis lupus familiaris |
| Lifespan | ~10–13 years (small breeds longer) |
| Weight range | ~1.5 kg (Chihuahua) to 80+ kg (Mastiff) |
| Height range | ~15 cm to 80+ cm at the shoulder |
| Diet | Omnivorous (carnivore-leaning) |
| Gestation | ~63 days (58–68) |
| Litter size | 1–3 (toy breeds) to 10+ (large breeds) |
| Baby name | Puppy |
| Group name | Pack (litter for puppies) |
| Recognised breeds | 400+ worldwide; 340+ via the FCI |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Carnivora
- **Family:** Canidae
- **Genus:** Canis
- **Species:** Canis lupus
- **Subspecies:** Canis lupus familiaris

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Not Evaluated (domesticated)
- **Population:** ~900 million worldwide, of which a large share are free-roaming or street dogs
- **Trend:** Stable to increasing globally
- **Assessed:** Not applicable (domesticated species)
- **CITES:** Not listed
- As a domesticated animal, the dog is not assessed for extinction risk by the IUCN Red List and is not covered by CITES. Welfare and humane population management — not conservation status — are the relevant concerns.

## Key facts: Dog
- Every dog breed — from the 1.5 kg teacup Chihuahua to the 80 kg Mastiff — belongs to one species, Canis lupus familiaris, descended from the grey wolf.
- Dogs were the first domesticated animal, with genetic and fossil evidence pointing to domestication somewhere between roughly 15,000 and 40,000 years ago in Eurasia.
- The average dog lives about 10–13 years; smaller breeds tend to outlive giant breeds, which often reach only 8–10 years.
- Canine gestation lasts about 63 days (typically 58–68), and litter size varies from 1–3 puppies in toy breeds to 10 or more in large breeds.
- Major registries such as the FCI recognise well over 300 breeds, though there are more than 400 breeds and landraces worldwide; all interbreed freely.
- Of the world's ~900 million dogs, a large share are free-roaming or street dogs, especially across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America — the focus of WARN's welfare work.

## History & Domestication
The dog is the oldest of all domesticated animals. Genetic studies show that dogs descend from an extinct population of grey wolves, and the split from the wolf lineage is estimated to have occurred somewhere between about 15,000 and 40,000 years ago, somewhere across Eurasia and possibly in more than one place. The leading hypothesis is that less-fearful wolves began scavenging around human camps and effectively domesticated themselves over generations, with tameness gradually favoured. Once that bond formed, people selectively bred dogs for jobs — hunting, herding, guarding, hauling, and companionship — which over millennia produced the extraordinary range of body shapes, coat types, and temperaments seen in modern breeds. Almost all of today's distinct breeds, however, are only a few centuries old, products of intensive 18th- and 19th-century breeding.

## Biology & Behaviour
Dogs are highly social carnivores that have evolved alongside humans, giving them an unusual ability to read human gestures, faces, and tone of voice. Their sense of smell is their dominant sense — many times more sensitive than a human's — and they hear far higher frequencies than we do. Reproduction is consistent across the species: females come into season roughly twice a year, gestation lasts about 63 days, and puppies are born blind and deaf, opening their eyes at around two weeks. Diet is omnivorous-leaning-carnivore; unlike cats, dogs can digest starches well, an adaptation to living alongside farming humans. Body size drives much of the variation in health and longevity, with the smallest breeds typically living several years longer than the largest.

## Choosing a Breed
Breed is best understood as a rough guide to size, coat, energy level, and temperament rather than a guarantee. High-energy working and herding breeds such as the Border Collie or German Shepherd need substantial daily exercise and mental work, while many companion breeds are content with less. Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds like the French Bulldog and Pug are popular but are prone to breathing, eye, and heat-tolerance problems, and tend to have shorter lifespans. Mixed-breed dogs often enjoy good general health and are widely available through rescue. Whatever the type, responsible ownership means matching a dog's needs to your lifestyle, and adopting rather than fuelling demand for poorly bred or trafficked puppies.

## Welfare & Rescue
Across much of the world, most dogs are not pedigree pets but free-roaming community or street dogs. In the countries where WARN's partners work — Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, and Colombia — large free-ranging dog populations face road injuries, disease, culling, and the risk of spreading rabies. The humane, evidence-based response is CNVR (catch, neuter, vaccinate, return) combined with mass rabies vaccination, which stabilises populations and protects both dogs and people far more effectively than culling. WARN's dedicated street-dog welfare guide covers these programmes in detail; this species guide is its companion, explaining the animal itself.

## Dog vs. grey wolf at a glance
| Trait | Domestic dog | Grey wolf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Canis lupus familiaris | Canis lupus |
| Relationship to humans | Domesticated companion | Wild, generally avoids people |
| Typical lifespan | ~10–13 years | ~6–8 years in the wild |
| Gestation | ~63 days | ~63 days |
| Diet | Omnivore-leaning, digests starch well | Carnivore, hunts large prey |
| Breeding | Up to twice a year | Once a year, seasonal |

## Dog Breeds Guide
From the Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever to the French Bulldog, German Shepherd, and 45 more — browse 50 of the world's most searched dog breeds with temperament, health, and care guides.

Full breed library (50 guides): https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog#breeds

- **Labrador Retriever:** The Labrador has topped popularity charts for decades, prized as a gentle, endlessly trainable family dog that's equally at home as a guide dog or a retriever. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/labrador-retriever
- **Golden Retriever:** Golden Retrievers pair a soft, feathered coat with one of the kindest temperaments in dogdom, making them beloved family companions and therapy dogs. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/golden-retriever
- **French Bulldog:** With bat ears and a compact frame, the Frenchie has surged to the top of city living, adored for being quiet, low-energy, and intensely people-focused. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/french-bulldog
- **German Shepherd:** A working dog without equal, the German Shepherd is brave, brilliant, and devoted, serving in police, military, and assistance roles worldwide. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/german-shepherd
- **Poodle:** Behind the show-ring coat is one of the smartest, most trainable breeds; poodles come in three sizes and shed very little. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/poodle
- **Beagle:** Driven by an extraordinary nose, the cheerful, sociable Beagle is a tireless scent hound and a famously good-natured family dog. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/beagle
- **Dachshund:** The 'sausage dog' was bred to dig out badgers; today its bold personality and unmistakable long body make it a household favorite. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/dachshund
- **Bulldog:** Wrinkled, stocky, and famously laid-back, the English Bulldog is a gentle companion that has become a symbol of determination. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/bulldog
- **Pembroke Welsh Corgi:** Short legs, big personality: the Corgi is a herding dog turned internet star, beloved by royalty and families alike. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/pembroke-welsh-corgi
- **Siberian Husky:** Built to run across the Arctic, the striking blue-eyed Husky is athletic, vocal, and famously friendly even with strangers. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/siberian-husky
- **Rottweiler:** A powerful working breed prized as a guardian and family protector when well trained. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/rottweiler
- **Boxer:** An athletic, clownish family dog with a short coat and boundless affection for its people. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog/boxer
- _…and 38 more breeds at the link above._

## What WARN does
WARN channels donor funding to vetted local partners running companion-animal rescue and humane population management in Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, and Colombia. That includes CNVR (catch, neuter, vaccinate, return) and mass anti-rabies vaccination for street dogs — most visibly through our Karachi street-dog programme — alongside emergency veterinary treatment, adoption support, and care for community cats. As an early-stage network we are honest that capacity is still building: every partner clinic we can fund means more dogs vaccinated, sterilised, and spared from culling.

For most of the world's 900 million dogs, the difference between suffering and a healthy life is a single vaccination and a sterilisation surgery. Your gift funds humane CNVR and rabies vaccination through WARN's partner clinics in Pakistan and beyond — protecting street dogs and the communities that live alongside them.

## Frequently asked questions: Dog
### How long do dogs live?
Most dogs live about 10–13 years on average. Smaller breeds often reach 14–16 years or more, while giant breeds such as Great Danes typically live only 8–10 years.

### How many dog breeds are there?
There are more than 400 recognised dog breeds and landraces worldwide. The largest international body, the FCI, formally recognises over 340 breeds, while national registries list somewhat different numbers.

### How long are dogs pregnant?
Canine gestation lasts about 63 days from conception, typically ranging from 58 to 68 days. Litters range from 1–3 puppies in toy breeds to 10 or more in large breeds.

### What is a baby dog called?
A baby dog is called a puppy. Puppies are born blind and deaf, open their eyes at around two weeks, and are usually weaned by six to eight weeks.

### What is a group of dogs called?
A group of dogs is most commonly called a pack. A group of puppies from the same birth is called a litter.

### Are dogs good pets?
Dogs are among the most popular pets in the world thanks to their loyalty, trainability, and strong social bond with people. The right fit depends on matching a breed's size, energy, and care needs to your lifestyle — and adopting is a great option.

## Sources
- [American Veterinary Medical Association — pet care and dog health](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/dog-care)
- [Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine — Canine Health Center](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center)
- [Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) — recognised breeds](https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/)
- [American Kennel Club — breed and popularity data](https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Dog (reproduction and biology)](https://www.britannica.com/animal/dog)
- [ASPCA — dog care and welfare](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care)
- [Wikipedia — Dog](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/dog