The dog or domestic dog (Canis familiaris[4][5]) is a domesticated descendant of the ancient, extinct wolf which is characterised by an upturning tail.
It belongs to the genus Canis.
The dog is derived from an ancient, extinct wolf,[6][7] and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative.[8] The dog was the first species to be domesticated,[9][8] by hunterβgatherers over 15,000 years ago,[7] before the development of agriculture.[1]
