about Hamsters

Hamsters

Hamsters are small, nocturnal rodents, meaning they are more inclined to be active by night rather than in the daytime

Because of their nocturnal habits, Hamsters are less likely to be handled during the daytime and if they are, they are more prone to give you a nip

as they may be grumpy

Hamsters are popular pets, the most common and largest one being the Syrian Hamster, also known as the 'Golden Hamster'. The Syrian Hamster is naturally solitary and must be kept singular and not in pairs

or groups as they will fight

Unlike Guinea Pigs, the Hamster is an unsociable animal and different species have to be kept single as pets, putting one hamster with another

hamster would cause fights in which one or both could be harmed

However, the Russian Hamster and the Dwarf Hamster (who grow to be about 8 centimetres), like the company of their own kind, however, it is

. still a good idea to keep males and females seperate

The only time hamsters can be put together is for mating and still you

. have to be at hand to interact if any combat develops

The best way to avoid confrontations at mating time is to make sure you put the female into the male territory. Breeding hamsters can produce a

. litter every few weeks

:Here are the general statistics of a Golden Hamster

Adult weight: Male 85 - 140 grams, Female 95 - 120 grams

Life span: Average 2 years, maximum expected 3 years (some (reach 5 years

Water consumption: Variable, they can tolerate long periods without water, however, you should always have fresh water available by sipper bottle or supply of fresh fruit/vegetables

Food consumption: 10 - 15 grams per day (adult), depends upon level of

activity

(Body temperature: 36.2 - 37.5C (rectal

Behaviour: Docile unless surprised or awakened

Nocturnal

Hibernate when temperature drops below 5ºC, however, animal may be

roused by gentle stimulation and application of warmth

Curious by nature

Because hamsters are desert animals, they like to conserve water and so it is quite normal for them to eat their own

. droppings so they can save as much water as possible

about Cows

Cows

Cows are members of the sub-family 'Bovinae' of the family 'Bovidae'. This family also includes Gazelles, Buffalo, Bison, Antelopes, Sheep and

. Goats

Cows are raised for many reasons including: milk, cheese, other dairy products, also for meat such as beef and veal and materials such as leather hide. In older times they were used as work animals to pull carts

. and to plow fields

In some countries such as India, cows were classed as sacred animals and were used in religious ceremonies and treated with much respect

Today, cows are domesticated ungulates (hoofed animals with two toes on each hoof) that we see very often chewing the grass in farmers fields as we walk or drive through the countryside

There is an estimated 1.3 billion head of cattle and 920 breeds of cow in the world today. Cows are referred to as the 'fosters mothers to

the human race' because they produce most of the milk that people

. drink

.'The mature female of the species is called a 'cow

.'The mature male of the species is called a 'bull

.'A group of cows is called a 'herd

.'A young female cow is called a 'heifer

.'A baby cow is called a 'calf

A cow spends up to 6 hours a day eating. Cows spend over 8 hours a day chewing thier cud which is regurigated, partially digested food. Cows

. each drink equivalent to a bath tub full of water a day

Cows occupy a unique role in human history. Cows have been considered one of the oldest forms of wealth. Cows have always been of interest to man because of their amazing ability to be able to provide meat and dairy products, have been strong animals to work with and also reproduce

!the mselves while eating nothing but grass. Amazing

Cow Reproduction

.The average cow is 2 years old when she has her first calf

Calves are fed from the cow until they are between 8 and 9 weeks old. It is essential for a calf to be fed their mothers milk from the start as it contains antibodies that protect the new calf from

. diseases

Two months before giving birth, a dairy cow takes

. a rest from giving milk in order to grow her calf

During this period the cow is known as a Dry Cow. When a dairy cow gives birth, this process is called a freshening. All calves are born with

. horn nubs. It is common for a vet to remove these nowadays

Did you know that cows never forget their calves. It is quite common to

see them licking their grown calves just as they did when they were

. young

How to determine the age of a cow

The age of a cow is determined by examination of the teeth and less perfectly by the horns. The temporary teeth are in part erupted at birth

. and all the incisors are erupted within twenty days

The first, second and third pairs of temporary molars are erupted in thirty days. The teeth have grown large enough to touch each other by the sixth month. They gradually wear and fall in eighteen months. The fourth permanent molars are through at around the fourth month. The fifth at the fifteenth month and the sixth at two years. The temporary teeth begin to fall at twenty-one months and are entirely replaced by the thirty-ninth

. to the forty-fifth month

Interesting Cow Facts

The oldest cow ever recorded was a Dremon Cow named 'Big Bertha' who died 3 months just before her 49th birthday on New Years Eve, .1993

Big Bertha' also holds the record for lifetime breeding as she'

. produced 39 calves

The heaviest live birth of a calf is 225 lbs for a British Friesian cow in

. 1961

.Dairy cows can produce 125 pounds of saliva a day

Dairy cows can produce up to 200 pounds of flatus (trumps and burps) a day

.Cows often have their ears pierced-with I.D. tags

.People first domesticated cows about 5000 years ago

.The Holstein cow produces the most milk of all breeds

Cows can live to the age of 25 years old if people would let

.them

.A cow stands up and sits down about 14 times a day

.In an average herd, there is 1 bull to every 30 cows

.Cows can detect odours up to five miles away

.The age of a cow can be determined by counting the rings on its horns

.Cows can see colour

.There are approximately 350 'squirts' in a gallon of milk

.Cows can pick and lick their noses with their tongues

Cows drink 25 - 50 gallons of water each day. That is nearly a bathtub

. full

.When the Pilgrims went to America, they took cows with them

about Ducks

Ducks

Ducks are birds. Ducks are also called 'Waterfowl' because they are normally found in places where there is water like ponds, streams and

. rivers. Ducks are related to Geese and Swans

Ducks are sometimes confused with several types of unrelated water birds with similar forms, such as loons (an aquatic bird found in many parts of North America and northern Europe) or grebes (freshwater diving birds) and coots (medium-sized water birds which are members

. (of the Rail Bird family

Duck Description

Ducks are smaller than than their relatives (swans and geese). Duck

.also have shorter necks and wings and a stout body

A female duck is called a 'hen', they are identified by their

. very-dull, .brown feathers

The females have dull-brown feathers so that they can hide from enemies and predators. They can also camouflage themselves in their nests and

. also protect their young

A male duck is called a 'drake', you can identify the male duck by its brightly coloured feathers. They use these

. coloured feathers to attract the female ducks for mating

Here is a beautifully coloured Drake with a purple plumage, shiny green

. head colouring, silvery white body and grey wings with blue markings

The males use their colourful plumage to attract females. However, they will lose or molt their colourful feathers when the females are busy hatching the eggs. The males will now look like the female in colour and will be unable to fly temporarily. They will molt again in early Autumn and get back their colourful feathers and be able to fly again. The females also molt. They replace all their feathers and get new ones after their

. ducklings are hatched

Ducks have webbed feet, which are designed forswimming. Their webbed feet act like paddles for the ducks. Because their feet are webbed, they

tend to 'waddle' instead of walking straight. Ducks cannot

. feel the cold in their feet even when swimming in icy cold water

The reason for this is because their feet have no nerves or blood vessels in them. The webbed feet are powerful and allows the duck to swim rather

. fast

A duck has water-proof feathers. There is a special gland

. called the 'Preen Gland' near the ducks tail

.This tiny gland produces oil which the duck uses to coat its feathers

The duck picks up the oil with its head and beak, and then smears it all over its body to make the outer feathers waterproof. Without this protective barrier, a ducks feathers would become water-logged and because they spend their whole lives around and in water, this water-proof barrier is extremely important. Beneath the water-proof coat are

. fluffy and soft feathers which keep the duck warm

The ducks mouth is called a beak or bill. It is usually broad and flat and has rows of fine notches along the edge called 'lamellae'. The lamellae helps the duck to grip its food so that it will not slip off. However, ducks beak comes in different shapesand sizes. The shape of the beak and body

.determines how the duck will hunt for its food

Duck Behaviour

Ducks keep clean by preening themselves. Ducks do this by putting their heads in funny positions and putting their beaks into their body. Ducks preen themselves very often. Preening also removes parasites, removes scales which cover newly sprouting feathers and also involves the

. removal of spreading oil over clean feathers

Duck Habitats

Many species of duck are temporarily flightless while moulting. Ducks seek out protected habitats with a good food supply during this period. .They usually moult before migrating

Ducks are found in wetlands, marshes, ponds, rivers, lakes and oceans. This is because ducks love the water. Some species of ducks migrate or travel longs distances every year to breed. Ducks usually travel to warmer areas or where the water does not freeze so that they can rest and raise their young. The distance may be thousands of miles away. Ducks are found everywhere in the world except the Antartica which is too cold for

. them

Duck Life Span

Ducks can live from 2 - 20 years, depending on species and whether they are wild ducks or ducks in captivity. Its a fact that a wild duck can live 20 years or more. Domestic ducks typically live 10 - 15 years in captivity. The world record is a Mallard Drake that lived to a ripe old age of 27

. years

Ducks and their feeding habits

Shovelers - these ducks have broad beaks and sift their food for insects, .nails and seed from the mud

Diving ducks and Sea ducks forage deep underwater. To be able to submerge more easily, the diving ducks are heavier than dabbling ducks and therefore have more difficulty taking off to fly. These ducks have long and narrow beaks. Their narrow beaks are also covered will saw-like

. edges which help them to grab fish

Dabbling ducks feed on the surface of water or on land, or as deep as they can reach by up-ending without completely submerging. Their beaks are broad and short. Dabbling ducks have tiny rows of plates along the inside of the beak called 'lamellae' like a whales baleen. These let them filter water out of the side of their beaks and keep food inside. Dabbling ducks eat plants, seeds, grasses and other small insects and animals that they find on or under the water. Usually they stick their tails in the air and

. stretch their heads into the water to reach their food

Dabblers usually have shiny coloured patches on their wings. The domestic ducks are dabblers too. They are descendents of the Mallards. Dabbling ducks take off from the water in quick jumps. Ducks with

longer necks dive with their head down into the shallow water and pick

. up their food

Duck Reproduction

Ducks usually look for a mate or partner in winter. Male ducks will attract the female ducks with their colourful plumage or feathers. The female ducks will then lead the male ducks to their breeding ground in spring. The breeding ground will usually be the place where the female

duck was hatched. The female duck builds her nest with grass or reeds or

. even in a hole in a tree

The male duck will guard their territory by chasing away other couples. Once the female lays 5 - 12 eggs, she will sit on her eggs to keep them warm so that they can hatch into ducklings. The male ducks on the other

. hand, will be with the other male ducks

The eggs will hatch within 28 days normally, except for the Muscovy duck which takes about 35 days to hatch.The mother duck will keep her brood of ducklings together to protect them from predators. Animals like the racoon, turtles, hawks, large fish and snakes are a ducks main predators and they will eat the ducklings. Ducklings are able to fly within 5 - 8

.weeks. Their feathers develop very fast

When the young are ready to fly, all the ducks will gather in flocks on large lakes, marshes or the ocean to migrate to their wintering home.

.When the ducks fly, they usually do so in a 'V-shaped' or a long line

Interesting Duck Facts

A hen makes a loud QUACK sound while the drake has a raspy, muffled

. call

Touching a duckling does not prevent the mother duck from taking care of it. It is however best to leave ducklings alone so as not to scare the

. mother duck away or accidentally injure them

Ducks sleep with half their brains awake. Ducks are more likely to sleep with one eye open when they are located on the edge of sleeping groups. .Ducks can detect predators in less than a second
Duck eggshells have tiny holes (pores) that allow it to breathe. A hen's

. eggs can have 7500 pores, most found at the blunt end of the egg

Respiratory gasses as well as water vapour travel through these pores

. allowing the egg to breathe

Baby ducks are precocial meaning they are born with their eyes wide open, with a warm layer of down and are not fully dependant on their parents for food. Ducklings are ready to leave the nest within hours of

. hatching

A 'clutch' is the total number of eggs laid by one bird during one nesting session. Clutch size affected by hereditary and environmental factors. .When food is abundant, birds lay more eggs

.A brood is the total number of hatchlings, or ducklings in a clutch

.Ducks have very good vision and they see in colour

about Ants

Ants

For more than 100 million years, ants have been living on the Earth. They can be found almost anywhere on the planet. As of 2006, there are 11,880

.known ant species, most of which reside in hot climates

Ants are members of the family of social insects which means they live in organised colonies. The family of ants is known as the Formicidae of the order: Hymenoptera (An order of highly specialized insects with complete metamorphosis that include the bees, wasps and ants that often associate

.(in large colonies with complex social organization

Ant Behaviour

Ants are one of the most successful groups of insects in the animal kingdom. They are of particular interest because they are a social insect and form highly organized colonies or nests which sometimes consist of millions of individuals. Colonies of invasive ant species will sometimes work together and form super-colonies, spanning a very wide area of land. Ant colonies are sometimes described as superorganisms because

. they appear to operate as a single entity

Ants have colonized almost every landmass on Earth. They can constitute up to 15% of the total animal biomass of a tropical rainforest; in the Amazon the combined weight of the ants is said to be four times larger than that of the tetrapods in the same area. It has also been estimated

. that the combined weight of all ants exceeds the weight of mankind

Ants and Aphids

Many ants eat the sweet fluid called 'honeydew' excreted by aphids. Some species keep and protect aphids - sometimes even in their own nests. Ants will transport aphids from plant to plant and take the eggs into their colony for the winter. Ants will also defend aphids from insect predators, such as lady beetles and lacewings, by attacking them in large numbers.

!are an ants favourite food

Ant Nests

Ants are clean and tidy insects. Some worker ants are given the job of taking the rubbish from the nest and putting it outside in a special rubbish dump. Each colony of ants has its own smell. In this way, intruders can be recognized immediately. Many ants such as the common

.Red species have a sting which they use to defend their nest

Some species of ant are known for attacking and taking over the colonies of others ant species. Others are less expansionist but nonetheless just as aggressive; they attack colonies to steal eggs or larvae, which they either eat or raise as workers. Some ants, such as the Amazon Ants, are incapable of feeding themselves, but must rely on captured worker ants to

.care for them

Ant Characteristics

There is a great diversity among ants and their behaviours. Ants range in size from 2 to about 25 millimetres (about 0.08 to 1 inch). Their colour may vary, most are red or black, but other colours can also be seen, .including some tropical groups with a metallic lustre

Ant Communication

Ant communication is accomplished primarily through chemicals called pheromones. Because most ants spend their time in direct contact with the ground, these chemical messages are more developed than in other Hymenopterans. So for instance, when a forager finds food, she will leave a pheromone trail along the ground on her way home. Home is typically located through the use of remembered landmarks and the position of the sun as detected with compound eyes and also by means of special sky

. polarization-detecting fibres within the eyes

Ants and Humans

Ants are useful for clearing out insect pests and aerating the soil. On the other hand, they can become pests when they invade homes, yards, gardens and fields. Carpenter ants damage wood by hollowing it out for nesting. Nests may be destroyed by tracing the ant trails back to the nest, .then pouring boiling water into it to kill the queen

Ordinary chalk can be used to keep ants at bay; drawing a line or circle

. around the protected area may prevent them from entering

In some parts of the world large ants have been used as sutures (stitches) by pressing the wound together and applying ants along it. The ant in defensive attitude seizes the edges in its mandibles and locks in place. The body is then cut off and the mandibles can remain in place for up to three

.ays closing the wound

Some species, called killer ants, have a tendency to attack much larger animals during foraging or in defending their nests. Human attacks are rare, but the stings and bites can be quite painful and in large enough

. numbers can be disabling

The Ant Hill

An ant hill, in its simplest form, is a pile of earth, sand, pine needles, or clay or a composite of these and other materials that build up at the entrances of the subterranean dwellings of ant colonies as they are

. develpoed

A colony is built and maintained by legions of worker ants, who carry tiny bits of dirt and vegetation in their mandibles and deposit them near the exit of the colony. Ants normally deposit the dirt or vegetation at the top of the hill to prevent it

. from sliding back into the colony

However, in some species they actively sculpt the materials into specific

. shapes and may create nest chambers within the mound

An ant colony is an underground lair where ants live. Colonies consist of a series of underground chambers, connected to each other and the surface

.of the earth by small tunnels

.There are rooms for nurseries, food storage, and mating

about Rabbits

Rabbits

Rabbits are one of Britains most familiar animals and favourite pets. Rabbits are seen about in broad daylight, near roadsides, hedgerows and scampering in fields often in large numbers. It seems hard to believe that

.(rabbits are not native of Great Britain. (See Rabbit History

Rabbits are mammals which belong to the 'Lagomorph' order (Lagomorph means 'hare-shaped') that also includes hares and pikas. Rabbits are similar to rodents in that they have incisor teeth that

. continually grow

Rabbits form the Family 'Leporidae' in which there are over 50 species. The rabbit species which is commonly kept as a pet is called a 'Oryctolagus cuniculus' and within this species various breeds have been developed by enhancing different characteristics through selectiv

. ingselective breed

An adult rabbit can grow up to 40 centimetres in length and weigh between 1.2 - 2 kilograms. Both male and female rabbits are similar in

. size, however, young rabbits are smaller

Rabbits vary in colour from black, grey to white. Rabbits have to groom their fur frequently otherwise it will become matted and lose its insulating properties. This means that rabbits avoid getting wet. Rabbits have very long hind feet and a distinctive fluffy tail that is usually black on top and

. white below

Rabbits large brown eyes are set on the side of their head to allow almost a 180 degree vision. A rabbit has large sensitive ears that can be turned in any direction. Rabbits have acute hearing that provides maximum

. information about their surroundings and alerts them of any danger

In the wild, rabbits like dry, well-drained slopes on field edges, grassland, woodland and dunes. Rabbits live in open country where predators like foxes and birds of prey are easily spotted. One rabbit is always on guard when they are feeding. When danger approaches the guard stamps its

feet and the whole colony will very quickly hurry down into their

.burrows

Rabbits that are kept as pets tend to have a life expectancy of about 8 - 12 years if cared for properly, however, rabbits in the wild do not live as long. Because of natural predators such as foxes, weasels and even crows, .wild rabbits have a

. shorter life expectancy of about 2 - 4 years

:General Rabbit Statistics

.Gestation (pregnancy) 30 - 33 days. Litter Size 4 - 12. Average*

.Weaning Age 7 - 8 weeks. From 50 days*

.Average domesticated rabbit life span 8 - 12 years*

.Heart Rate is around 220/per minute*

Normal Temperature 37 - 39.5 degrees Celsius, 101 - 103 degrees*
.fahrenheit

.Average Daily Water Intake 100 millilitres./Kg bodyweight*

.Sexual Maturity of a rabbit 16 - 24 weeks*

In the wild, the Doe (female rabbit) can produce a litter of around 3 - 7 young at one time. These litters of young rabbits (called 'kittens') are usually produced at 5 week intervals from January through to late summer. Kittens are born in underground burrows and are suckled by

. the female

Useful information about Rabbits

Rabbits are not rodents. Rabbits are lagomorphs. Other lagomorphs*

.include hares and pikas

A well cared for house rabbit that has been spayed or neutered early in*

. life has a life expectancy of 8 to 12 years of age

.The gestation period of a rabbit is about 30 - 33 days*

.A group of rabbits is called a herd*

.A group of rabbits lives in a warren*

.The male rabbit is called a buck. The female is called a doe and has 6 teats*

The doe is larger. The young are called kittens and as with baby cats, their*

.eyes open at about 10 days of age, their ears at about 12 days

The smallest breed of rabbit is the Netherland Dwarf Rabbit which*

. weighs just about 1 kilogram

The largest breed of rabbit is the Flemish Giant Rabbit which weighs in at*

.about 8 kilograms. - twice the size of the average cat

The rabbit is by nature a night browsing herbivore, resting in its burrow*

. by day

.Rabbits are naturally communal animals*

.Male rabbits should not be kept together as they are likely to fight*

Does and Bucks should be housed separately for obvious reasons. (You*

. (could be over-run with baby rabbits

.Rabbits front teeth (incisors) grow continuously, like toenails*

Rabbits are vegetarians and have a great ability to digest fibre that the

. rest of us cannot

!Rabbits feet are supposed to be lucky*

about Bees

Bees

All About Busy Bees

There are over 20,000 species of bees in the world in nine recognised families. There are still many unclassified species therefore the total population could be even higher. Bees can be found in every habitat on the planet that contains flowering dicotyledons - a name for a group of flowering plants whose seed typically contains two embryonic leaves or

.(cotyledons (part of the embryo within the seed of a plant

Bees belong to the largest insect order which also includes wasps and ants. They can survive almost everywhere, except in polar regions (Arctic

.and Antarctic) or at high altitudes

-Based on their behaviours, bees can be roughly divided into three groups

.Solitary, Social and Parasitic

There are around 400 species of Social Bees and these are grouped as

. the Bumblebees and Honeybees

Bees are very hard working and always seem to have endless energy. Bees buzz around visiting flower after flower collecting pollen and nectar. Bees are adapted for feeding on nectar and pollen, nectar is used as an energy source and pollen used primarily for protein and other nutrients. Most

. pollen is used as food for larvae

Bee Characteristics

Bees have a long proboscis (an elongated tube from the head of an insect) that enables them to obtain the nectar from flowers. Bees have antennae almost universally made up of thirteen segments in males and twelve in females. They all have two pairs of wings, the back pair being the smaller of the two. In very few species, one sex or caste has relatively short wings

. that make it difficult or impossible to fly

Many species of bees are poorly known. The smallest bee is a dwarf bee (Trigona minima) and it is about 2.1 millimetres long. The largest bee in the world is Megachile pluto (an Indonesian leafcutter bee that uses resin to make compartments in its nest), which can grow to be as large as 39 millimetres. The most common type of bee in North America is the 'Halictidae', or 'sweat bee', though this may come as a surprise to natives, .as they are so small and often mistaken for wasps

The most common species of bee is the Western honey bee, which produces honey, as do a few other types of bee. Human management of this species is known as beekeeping or apiculture (the practice of

. (intentional maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives

Bee Pollination

Bees play an important role in pollinating flowering plants, they may focus on gathering nectar or on gathering pollen, depending on their

. greater need at the time

Bees gathering nectar may accomplish pollination, but bees that are

. deliberately gathering pollen are more efficient pollinators

Bees periodically stop foraging and groom themselves to pack the pollen in to the scopa (pollen carrying apparatus), which is located on the legs in most bees and on the ventral abdomen on others


Pollen and nectar are usually combined together to form a 'provision mass', which is often soupy, but can be firm and formed into various shapes. It is stored in a small chamber (a cell), with the egg deposited on the mass. The cell is typically sealed after the egg is laid and the

('adult and larva never interact directly (a system called 'mass provisioning

The earliest animal-pollinated flowers were pollinated by insects such as beetles, so the syndrome of insect pollination was well established before bees first appeared. The advantage is that bees are specialized as pollinating insects, with behavioural and physical modifications that specifically enhance pollination and they are much more efficient at the task than beetles, flies, butterflies, pollen wasps, or any other pollinating . .insect Bee History

Bees, like ants, are essentially a highly specialized form of wasp. While the first definite fossil bees date from only forty million years ago, there is genetic and partial fossil evidence that they evolved alongside flowers, at . .least 140 million years ago

Bee Predators

Bees are the favourite meal of 'Merops apiaster', a bird actually called a 'Bee-Eater'. Bee-Eaters are mainly found in Africa and can be recognised by their bright coloured plumage, slender bodies and usually elongated .(.central tail feathers. (see photo

Before eating its meal, a bee-eater removes the sting by repeatedly hitting the insect on a hard surface

Other common predators of bees are kingbirds, mockingbirds and dragonflies

Visiting flowers can be a dangerous occupation. Many assassin bugs and crab spiders hide in flowers to capture unwary bees. Other bees are lost to birds in flight (see above). Insecticides used on blooming plants can kill large numbers of bees, both by direct poisoning and by contamination of their food supply

A honey bee queen may lay 2000 eggs per day during spring buildup, but she also must lay 1000 to 1500 eggs per day during the foraging season, mostly to replace daily casualties. Most casualties are workers simply dying of old age rather than being caught by predators

Among solitary and primitively social bees, however, lifetime reproduction is among the lowest of all insects, as it is not uncommon for females of such species to produce fewer than 25 offspring

General Information

Despite their painful sting and the typical attitude of insects as annoying or disgusting pests, humans hold bees in high regard. This is most likely due to their usefulness towards man, their social nature, as well as their diligence. Although a bee sting can be deadly to some, bees are generally regarded as non-agressive insects if left alone. The phrase 'busy as a bee' . reflects their gentle, hard-working nature

about dogs

dogs

A dog is a mammal in the order Carnivora. Dogs were domesticated from wolves as recently as 15,000 years ago. New evidence suggests that dogs

. were first domesticated in East Asia, possibly China

Over time, the dog has developed into hundreds of breeds with a great

. degree of variation

Dogs, like humans, are highly social animals and this similarity in their overall behavioural pattern accounts for their trainability, playfulnes and

.ability to fit into human households and social situations

This similarity has earned dogs a unique position in the realm of

. interspecies relationships

The loyalty and devotion that dogs demonstrate as part of their natural instincts as pack animals closely mimics the human idea of love and friendship, leading many dog owners to view their pets as full-fledged

. family members

The common name for the domestic dog is 'Canis familiaris', a species of the dog family 'Canidae'. The dog is generally considered the 'first'

. domesticated animal

Dogs can differ in appearance, function, temperament and size. Some small dogs can weigh as little as 1.5 pounds, whereas some larger dogs

. can weigh as much as 200 pounds

Depending on the country, there are about 138 officially recognised dog

. breeds

Dogs fill a variety of roles in human society and are often trained as working dogs. For dogs that do not have traditional jobs, a wide range of

. dog sports provide the opportunity to exhibit their natural skills

It is estimated that for more than 12,000 years the dog has lived with humans as a hunting

. companion, protector and friend

A dog is one of the most popular pets in the worldand has been referred to as 'mans best friend'.Whether you are poor or rich, a dog will be faithful and loyal to

. you and love you to bits

A pet dog will fit easily into family life and environment, they of course need caring for as any other pet - feeding, grooming, bathing and when ill, will need a visit to the vets. Dogs thrive on affection and will happily wag its tail when showered with love and attention. Dogs will also sit and

. sulk if they get told off for doing something wrong

A well-mannered dog must be trained properly and with patience and perciverence. You must never mistreat a dog at any time as not only is it very wrong to mistreat any animal, but some will bite in their own

. defense

Larger dogs need considerably more exercise over a larger area than medium sized or small dogs. You can take them out into the countryside or to your local park or recreation ground. Here, they can run about and

. play games and get the exercise they need to keep them fit and healthy

Dogs can be taught how to do things. Throw a small branch, stick or frizzbee and you can teach

your dog to go fetch and bring the item back to

.you

Dogs have nearly 220 million smell-sensitive cells over an area about the size of a pocket handkerchief (compared to 5 million over an area the size of a postage stamp for humans). Some breeds have been selectively bred

. for excellence in detecting scents

What information a dog actually detects when he is scenting is not perfectly understood. Although once a matter of debate, it now seems to be well established that dogs can distinguish two different types of scents when trailing an air scent from some person or thing that has recently passed by, as well as a ground scent that remainsdetectable for a much

. longer period