Dogs, big and small, yappy or shy, are more than just our best friends. They are intelligent, loyal, and often hilarious creatures that act in ways that can teach us a lot about ourselves.
In a process that’s generally thought to have begun 14,000 years ago, humans domesticated dogs, produced innumerable breeds, and trained them for a wide variety of tasks and sometimes dubious actions, from guarding property and sniffing for bombs to racing and fighting other dogs to the death. But it’s a hard job to figure out exactly how wild wolves evolved into dogs, and many researchers have scoffed at the notion that dingoes—the indigenous dog of Australia whose features resemble wolf-like characteristics—played a key role in that transformation.
The average dog can understand somewhere in the neighborhood of 165 words, according to Coren, but how much they can actually comprehend remains somewhat of a mystery. What’s more important is how they perceive those words, which may have more meaning to them than we think.
Whether you are writing about an animal that’s a beloved pet, a service dog for the disabled or injured, or an investigative or rescue dog, a good research strategy is essential. Visiting a local animal shelter or talking with people who care for animals in your community is one way to get firsthand experience. Other helpful strategies include taking obedience classes, participating in dog agility or rally activities, and visiting local breeders and dog shows.