Dog - A Man's Best Friend - Reshma Majithia

Although no one knows exactly when dogs were domesticated, archaeologists do know that many cultures around the globe began treating dogs like members of the tribe around 14,000 years ago. This fraternization with dogs was so profound that in many ancient cemeteries dogs have been discovered buried in the same graves as humans.

This link between man and beast is most poignantly rendered in Jean M. Auel's novel, The Valley of Horses, in which she gives us a fictional account of the possible beginnings of our relationship with the wolves that would later become our canine companions.

No other species of animal displays so much diversity. There are over 400 breeds of dogs, in every shape and size, not to mention cross-breeds. But despite so much variation, all domestic dogs are part of the same family, Canis familiaris, proven by DNA analysis to be descendants of Canis lupus, the wolf.

Dogs are gregarious animals. They take direction, naturally follow a social hierarchy, and easily accept humans as part of their pack. One problem in evaluating animal intelligence lies in validating a basis for evaluation. Regardless of how the scientific community decides to define intelligence in dogs, no one who has ever spent time watching a police dog or guide dog would doubt their astute reasoning faculties.

It is in the nature of dogs to be industrious and to try to please their pack-mates. These innate traits of pliability and congeniality make dogs easily adaptable to human society.

Dog lovers will have no problem telling you why the dog is considered man's best friend. Their allegiance induces such feelings of kinship as you would have for your closest family or friend, their stoicism teaches you how to take any situation in your stride and their natural exuberance helps to alleviate any boredom or isolation that you may feel. All the love that you share, a dog will give you back ten-fold.