Welcome to this website all about dogs.

There are estimated to be around a billion dogs in the world. That’s about 1 for every 8 people! They were the first animal to be domesticated and the first ‘man-made’ species. They’re now the most popular companion animal by a very long way and often referred to as man’s best friend.

As human societies developed and spread across the globe, dogs followed. They adapted to new environments and were selectively bred for specific purposes, leading to the development of distinct types. Today, there are hundreds of recognised dog breeds, ranging from tiny Chihuahuas and Dachshunds to huge Great Danes and Mastiffs, each with its own unique set of physical and behavioural characteristics… but they all retain certain instincts and behaviours that can be traced back to their origins as wolves.

But where did it all start? I’m pretty sure I can’t grab a wolf, give it a snack and expect it to curl up in my living room. So how and why did this happen, and when? Why are dogs such an important and even fundamental part of human lives? And why not bears or foxes? How did we end up with so many different breeds and why do they look so different from each other? And how different are they really?

This website will answer all those questions and more, by looking at wolf and dog evolution, and the development of different breeds and their purposes. We’ll also find out the truth about pedigrees, offer some tips on training and behaviour, and have a quick look at some heroic dogs in fiction and real life.

I hope this website will give you a better understanding of these amazing animals, and that you’ll look at the dogs around you with fresh eyes, because each one of them – from the proudest pedigree to the scruffiest mutt – is a living testament to one of the most extraordinary evolutionary stories on our planet.