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What the sources say

Domestic DogCanis lupus familiaris

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Domestic Dog profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 50 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

Craven, Paterson & Settles 2009

Craven, Paterson & Settles (2009). The fluid dynamics of canine olfaction: unique nasal airflow patterns as an explanation of macrosmia. Journal of The Royal Society Interface.

The page saysSize and genes are the usual explanation for a **Domestic Dog**'s (*Canis lupus familiaris*) sharp nose, but they leave out how air moves through it
The source saysTraditional explanations for canine olfactory acuity, which include large sensory organ size and receptor gene repertoire, overlook the fluid dynamics of odorant transport during sniffing
The page sayshundreds of millions of scent-sensing cells and nasal airflow tuned to carry smells to them
The source saysThe canine nasal cavity contains hundreds of millions of sensory neurons ... a unique nasal airflow pattern develops during sniffing, which is optimized for odorant transport to the olfactory part of the noseNote: 'tuned to carry smells to them' renders 'optimized for odorant transport to the olfactory part of the nose'
The page saysHundreds of millions of scent-sensing cells, and nostrils that each draw a separate air sample, which may help locate where a smell comes from
The source saysThe canine nasal cavity contains hundreds of millions of sensory neurons ... during sniffing, spatially separate odour samples are acquired by each nostril that may be used for bilateral stimulus intensity comparison and odour source localization
The page saysIts nasal cavity holds hundreds of millions of scent-sensing cells in the olfactory epithelium, a lining over the convoluted nasal turbinates at the back of the nose
The source saysThe canine nasal cavity contains hundreds of millions of sensory neurons, located in the olfactory epithelium that lines convoluted nasal turbinates recessed in the rear of the nose
The page saysScientists built a three-dimensional computer model of a dog's nasal passages from MRI scans
The source saysa computational fluid dynamics simulation of airflow in an anatomically accurate three-dimensional model of the canine nasal cavity, reconstructed from high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans
The page sayssniffing draws a separate sample of air into each nostril, which may let a dog compare the smell's strength on each side and locate its source
The source saysduring sniffing, spatially separate odour samples are acquired by each nostril that may be used for bilateral stimulus intensity comparison and odour source localization
The page saysThe airflow pattern inside the nose contrasts sharply with a human's
The source saysa unique nasal airflow pattern develops during sniffing, which is optimized for odorant transport to the olfactory part of the nose. These results contrast sharply with nasal airflow in the human.
The page saysThe researchers propose that a dog's sense of smell may depend largely on that airflow, shaped by a highly developed olfactory recess that humans lack
The source saysWe propose that mammalian olfactory function and acuity may largely depend on odorant transport by nasal airflow patterns resulting from either the presence of a highly developed olfactory recess (in macrosmats such as the canine) or the lack of one (in microsmats including humans)

Source
02

Larson et al. 2012

Larson et al. (2012). Rethinking dog domestication by integrating genetics, archeology, and biogeography. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysThe first animal humans domesticated
The source saysThe dog was the first domesticated animal
The page saysNot Evaluated
The source saysThe dog was the first domesticated animalNote: GBIF's copy of the Red List lists Canis lupus familiaris (domestic dog) as Not Evaluated: a domestic taxon, not a wild population under assessment, as on the alpaca and Clydesdale pages. The quote records only that the dog is domesticated. The prefetch resolved this slug to the grey wolf (Canis lupus, LC 2025); that assessment is a different taxon and is not cited. ADW's dog account shows an 'IUCN Red List: Least Concern' badge that appears to carry the wolf's status over and is not used.
The page saysThe domestic dog was the first animal humans domesticated, though scientists are still not sure when the process began
The source saysThe dog was the first domesticated animal but it remains uncertain when the domestication process began

Source
03

Bergström et al. 2022

Bergström et al. (2022). Grey wolf genomic history reveals a dual ancestry of dogs. Nature.

The page saysIts wild ancestor is the grey wolf, the first species to give rise to a domestic population
The source saysThe grey wolf (Canis lupus) was the first species to give rise to a domestic population ... the wolf progenitors of the present-day dog lineage

Source
04

Kaminski et al. 2019

Kaminski et al. (2019). Evolution of facial muscle anatomy in dogs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The page saysDomestication reshaped more than behavior
The source saysDomestication shaped wolves into dogs and transformed both their behavior and their anatomy
The page saysDissections of six dogs and four wolves
The source saysgray wolves (Canis lupus, n = 4) and domestic dogs (Canis familiaris, n = 6)
The page saysa muscle called the levator anguli oculi medialis was routinely present in the dogs, while in the wolves it was typically only scant fibers
The source saysWhile the levator anguli oculi medialis muscle (LAOM) was routinely present in dogs, in the gray wolves, it was typically represented only by scant muscle fibers
The page saysThe muscle raises the inner eyebrow intensely
The source saysthe levator anguli oculi medialis, a muscle responsible for raising the inner eyebrow intensely
The page saysFilmed as a stranger approached, 27 shelter dogs
The source saysin 27 dogs (C. familiaris) and nine wolves (C. lupus). The dogs came from several shelters across the United Kingdom and were observed by a stranger who approached their kennel and filmed their behavior
The page saysnine wolves from wolf parks
The source saysThe wolves came from two different wolf parks where they lived in groups and were filmed by a stranger individually
The page saysmade that movement more often and more intensely than
The source saysdogs produce the eyebrow movement significantly more often and with higher intensity than wolves do
The page saysthe researchers suggest human preference selected for these "puppy dog eyes"
The source saysWe hypothesize that dogs with expressive eyebrows had a selection advantage and that “puppy dog eyes” are the result of selection based on humans’ preferences
The page saysEye contact seems to raise oxytocin in both the dog and the person
The source saysmutual gaze between dogs and humans seems to trigger an increase of oxytocin in both species
The page sayssetting up a feedback loop like the one between human mothers and infants
The source saysmutual gaze seems to lead to an oxytocin feedback loop analogous to the one that exists between human mothers and infantsNote: continues the sentence 'Eye contact seems to raise oxytocin...', so the source's 'seems' governs this clause too
The page saysThat loop appears between dogs and humans but not between wolves and humans, which researchers say means domestication must have played an important role in it
The source saysthis cross-species oxytocin loop can be found in dogs and humans, but not between dogs’ closest living relative (the wolf) and humans, selection processes during domestication must have played an important roleNote: 'means ... must have played an important role' follows the source's own 'As this ... loop can be found ..., selection processes ... must have played an important role'
The page saysdogs raise their inner eyebrows with a muscle wolves barely have
The source saysWhile the levator anguli oculi medialis muscle (LAOM) was routinely present in dogs, in the gray wolves, it was typically represented only by scant muscle fibersNote: vibe.reason, settled in #913; the muscle's action is the 'raising the inner eyebrow intensely' claim
The page saysresearchers suggest human preference selected for these "puppy dog eyes"
The source saysWe hypothesize that dogs with expressive eyebrows had a selection advantage and that “puppy dog eyes” are the result of selection based on humans’ preferencesNote: vibe.reason, settled in #913

Source
05

Hart et al. 2013

Hart et al. (2013). Dogs are sensitive to small variations of the Earth's magnetic field. Frontiers in Zoology.

The page saysOff the leash in open fields
The source saysfreely moving dogs (i.e., not on the leash) in “open field”
The page saysdogs in one study preferred to line up north-south to go to the bathroom, but only while Earth's magnetic field was calm
The source saysDogs preferred to excrete with the body being aligned along the North–South axis under calm MF conditions. This directional behavior was abolished under unstable MF.Note: 'but only while ... calm' renders the two sentences: the preference held under calm MF conditions and was abolished under unstable MF
The page saysA 2013 study concluded they do
The source saysmagnetic sensitivity was proved in dogsNote: 2013 is the paper's publication year (Frontiers in Zoology 10:80, 2013), as listed in the reference
The page saysScientists measured which way 70 dogs of 37 breeds faced during 1,893 bowel movements and 5,582 urinations over two years
The source saysWe measured the direction of the body axis in 70 dogs of 37 breeds during defecation (1,893 observations) and urination (5,582 observations) over a two-year period
The page saysWhen the magnetic field was calm, the dogs preferred to point their bodies along the north-south axis, and that preference vanished when the field was unstable
The source saysDogs preferred to excrete with the body being aligned along the North–South axis under calm MF conditions. This directional behavior was abolished under unstable MF.
The page saysThe best predictor of that switch was how fast the field's declination, its compass direction, was changing during the walk
The source saysRelative declination and intensity changes of the MF during the respective dog walks were calculated from daily magnetograms ... The best predictor of the behavioral switch was the rate of change in declination, i.e., polar orientation of the MFNote: 'its compass direction' glosses 'polar orientation'

Source
06

Teng et al. 2022

Teng et al. (2022). Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom. Scientific Reports.

The page saysA UK study of 30,563 dogs that died between 2016 and 2020 put life expectancy at birth at 11.23 years
The source saysAmong 30,563 dogs that died between 1st January 2016 and 31st July 2020, life expectancy at age 0 was 11.23
The page saysamong the breeds studied, the Jack Russell Terrier had the longest at 12.72 years and the French Bulldog the shortest at 4.53
The source saysJack Russell Terrier (12.72 years; 95% CI: 12.53–12.90) and French Bulldog (4.53 years; 95% CI: 4.14–5.01) had the longest and shortest life expectancy at age 0, respectively
The page saysBreed changed that a lot
The source saysLife tables varied widely between breeds.

Source
07

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

Canis familiaris. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysAnAge, a longevity database, puts the maximum dog lifespan at 27 years
The source saysthe maximum longevity of dogs is currently 27 years
The page saysAn Australian cattle dog named Bluey was reported to have lived 29.5 years, but AnAge calls that record unverified
The source saysThere are anecdotal reports of dogs living around 30 years, including one Australian cattle dog named "Bluey" living 29.5 years. These records are unverified

Source
08

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Canis lupus familiaris (dog). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysAlongside people worldwide, in cities, suburbs and farmland
The source saysDomestic dogs are found in association with humans worldwide and in a wide variety of habitats ... urban urban suburban suburban agricultural agricultural
The page saysfrom tundra to rainforest
The source saystundra tundra taiga taiga desert or dune desert or dune savanna or grassland savanna or grassland chaparral chaparral forest forest rainforest rainforestNote: ADW's Terrestrial Biomes list, first and last-but-one entries
The page saysOmnivore: birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, eggs, carrion, insects, seeds, grains, nuts and fruit
The source saysPrimary Diet omnivore omnivore Animal Foods birds mammals amphibians reptiles fish eggs carrion carrion insects terrestrial non-insect arthropods Plant Foods seeds, grains, and nuts fruitNote: ADW's Food Habits list, shortened (amphibians and non-insect arthropods left out for length)
The page saysSelective breeding has produced dogs weighing anywhere from under 1 kilogram to 70 kilograms
The source saysThey have been selectively bred for millenia for various behaviors, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes ... Range mass <1 to 70 kg
The page saysDogs are omnivores: their diet includes birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish and eggs
The source saysPrimary Diet omnivore omnivore Animal Foods birds mammals amphibians reptiles fish eggs
The page saysalong with seeds, grains, nuts and fruit
The source saysseeds, grains, and nuts fruit
The page saysThey live alongside people worldwide
The source saysfound in association with humans worldwide
The page saysin cities, suburbs and farmland
The source saysurban urban suburban suburban agricultural agriculturalNote: ADW's Other Habitat Features list, each entry doubled on the page
The page saysacross habitats from tundra and desert to forest and rainforest
The source saystundra tundra taiga taiga desert or dune desert or dune savanna or grassland savanna or grassland chaparral chaparral forest forest rainforest rainforestNote: ADW's Terrestrial Biomes list, each entry doubled on the page
The page saysDogs have been bred for thousands of years for behavior, senses and physical traits, which gave them a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes
The source saysDomestic dogs come in a bewildering variety of shapes and sizes. They have been selectively bred for millenia for various behaviors, sensory capabilities, and physical attributesNote: 'thousands of years' renders 'millenia'
The page saysPeople bred collies and shepherds to herd, pointers and hounds to hunt, small terriers to catch rats, mastiffs and chows to guard, Newfoundlands and poodles to work fishing nets, huskies and St. Bernards to pull loads, and some breeds, like the Pekingese, simply to sit in a lap and keep it warm
The source saysbred for herding livestock (collies, sheperds, etc.), different kinds of hunting (pointers, hounds, etc.), catching rats (small terriers), guarding (mastiffs, chows), helping fishermen with nets (Newfoundlands, poodles), pulling loads (huskies, St. Bernard's), guarding carriages and horsemen (dalmatians), and as companion dogs. Some kinds were even bred simply as lap warmers (Pekingese)
The page saysThe result is a range in mass from under 1 kilogram to 70 kilograms
The source saysRange mass <1 to 70 kg
The page saysdangerLevel: Deadly
The source saysIn addition, domestic dogs are responsible for attacks on adults and children, sometimes resulting in death.Note: #913: tiers are capabilities; Deadly is 'Capable of killing a human'
The page saystags: omnivore
The source saysPrimary Diet omnivoreNote: #913: replaces carnivore; the page's diet line already says omnivore

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.