Dogs, or CanIs lupus familiaris to give them their scientific name, are an incredibly diverse species of animal. Within the genus you’ll find an amazing array of body shapes, sizes, 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 common knowledge that all domestic dogs evolved from wolves, and although selective breeding has changed the appearance of dogs in myriad ways, the basic anatomy of the wolf is still present in modern dogs.

Like the wolf, a dog has;

* A skeletal structure designed for running and jumping.

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

* Powerful back legs giving them a burst of speed off the mark, and excellent leaping ability.

* Small, tight feet, with fused wrist bones allowing them to quickly change direction, even when running at speed.

* 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 razor-sharp teeth specialized for catching and killing prey.

More Interesting Facts About A Dog’s Anatomy

Through selective breeding, human have changed the appearance of dogs in myriad ways. But some interesting recent research suggests that many of the changes may actually have occurred naturally.

Despite the many variants in coat colors, all dog coats except black are a variant of yellow. Black coats are down to a mutation of the beta defensin gene.

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.

A dog’s jaw contains 42 specialized teeth – 6 pairs of sharp incisors for cutting, two pairs of large canines, or fangs, for killing their prey, plus premolars and molars for crushing and grinding their food.

A dog has three eyelids in either eye, a top and bottom eyelid plus a third lid that can be swept across the cornea to remove debris and acts as a kind 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.

A dog that is startled, stressed or anxious may raise its hackles (the hair along the neck and spine). This is made possible by tiny muscles that are attached to each hair shaft where it emerges from the skin.

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 are one of the most successful species on earth, and much of this is down to their supreme adaptability, and an anatomy that is perfectly suited to their environment.

If you want to learn more about dog training, dog care, dog health and other interesting dog information check out dogsanddogtraining.com