Dogs are the most diverse of all animal species. Within the genus Canis lupus familiaris, you’ll find a dizzying array of sizes, body shapes, coat lengths, and coat colors.

The amazing thing is that all of these dogs, whether it’s a Whippet or a Mastiff, a Kuvasz or a Xoloitzcuintle, has a virtually identical body structure, as well as similar patterns of behavior.

It is broadly accepted that the dog, as we know it today, descends from the wolf. We may have changed the appearance of dogs in countless ways, but under the hood, the basic anatomical model is that of the wolf.

In common with wolves, dogs have;

* A skeletal structure made for running and chasing prey.

* Flexible front limbs with disconnected shoulder bones that serve as shock absorbers when the dog is running.

* Strong and heavily muscled hind limbs giving them excellent sprinting power, as well as the ability to pounce on their prey.

* Small feet with fused bones in the wrists which facilitates rapid changes of direction when running.

* A cardiovascular system built for endurance, so that they can follow prey for hours without tiring.

* Tails for signaling, a very important asset for co-operative hunters.

* Powerful jaws with specialized teeth, for catching, holding and tearing prey.

Here are some more interesting fact’s about dog anatomy;

Although many of the physical characteristics of modern dogs are due to selective breeding recent research suggests that numerous changes may have occurred naturally.

All dog coats are variants of yellow or a mutation of the beta defensin gene, which produces a black coat color.

Dogs have a system for regulating body temperature. This includes, panting, sweating through the pads of their paws, and a complex “heat exchanger” that isolates body heat from the brain.

Regardless of size, all dogs have 42 teeth – 6 pairs of incisors towards the front of the mouth, 2 pairs of fangs, or canines, and also premolars and molars for grinding their food.

A dog’s eye has three eyelids, the upper and lower lids plus a third lid that can sweep across the cornea and acts as a sort of windshield wiper.

A dog’s skeleton has 361 bones, although obviously the shape size and placement between, say a Greyhound and a Bulldog, are quite different.

If a dog is taken by surprise or if it is alert to danger, it will sometimes raise the hackles on its back. This caused a ridge of hair along the spine to stand up and is made possible by tiny muscles at the base of each hair shaft.

A key element in the success of dogs as a species is their poorly developed sense of taste which allows them to eat things that other animals would run a mile from.

Dogs have survived, and thrived, as a species for thousands of years, mainly because they have an anatomy that makes them adaptable to just about any environment.

To discover more about dog training, dog health, dog health and other helpful dog information visit Dogs and Dog Training.com

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