Scientific name: canis lupus familiaris
People have been keeping dogs as pets for thousands of years. Dogs can be used to herd animals like sheep, and if they are well trained they will obey commands like sit and fetch.
Dogs come in a huge variety of different colours and sizes, from tiny Chihuahuas right up to huge dogs like the Great Dane. A female dog is called a bitch and a baby dog is called a puppy. Modern dogs were domesticated from wolves, and were originally kept as hunting companions.
Pis forPrairie dog
Scientific name: Cynomys
Prairie dogs are ground-dwelling rodents. They often live in large groups, and they make complex burrow homes on the grasslands of North America. Prairie dogs spend a lot of time grazing and digging, and they stand up to watch for danger and warn the group with sharp calls.
Ris forRough Collie
Rough collies are a long-haired breed of medium-sized to large dog originally used to herd animals in Scotland. They are not a nervous or agressive dog and are good with children. They make good family pets. The most famous rough collie is Lassie, so some people call this kind of dog a Lassie dog.
You use the when you are talking about a specific instance of something rather than a general one. For example, the dog to mean a particular dog or a dog to mean any dog.
Shih tzu are an ancient breed of companion dog, bred to be a lap dog for Chinese royalty. They were bred to look like the lions in traditional oriental art. Their fur will grow into a long, silky coat if looked after, but most people keep their fur clipped short. They are a sweet, devoted, playful dog.
Dachshunds are a small dog with a long body and short legs, sometimes called a sausage dog. Some people say that a dachshund is "two dogs long and half a dog high". They are the shape they are because they were bred to hunt animals that live down burrows, such as badgers and rabbits. Dachshunds come in a variety of colours, and can have long or short hair.
Sis forSt Bernard
A Saint Bernard is a dog originally bred for rescue in the Swiss Alps. They are a large dog, with a large head, and can weigh anything up to 100kg (220 pounds).
St Bernards are prone to many genetic health conditions, such as hip displaysia and turned eyelids, and have a lifespan of only 8 years.
They are loyal and affectionate, but because they are so big it is essential they are well-trained, as such a large dog can knock children down and hurt them if it is boisterous.
Bis forBark (Dog)
The noise a dog makes is called a bark. It can be written as woof, yap, ruff or bow-wow. The dog in the picture is barking at the camera.