For thousands of years, humans have selectively bred dogs to fulfill specific roles, ranging from guarding and hunting to herding and companionship. This deliberate shaping of traits has resulted in ...

It seems the diversity of domestic dogs first began developing thousands of years before humans started intensely shaping modern breeds in the 19th century—challenging what we thought about canine ...

Dogs sit beside us every day, and that closeness feels familiar. Over time, that familiarity can hide quiet changes happening under the surface. One of those changes appears inside the skull, where ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. From their wolf ancestors to today’s sweet, loyal ...

A new scientific review tackles an age-old question: could dogs ever learn to talk? While barking out full sentences might sound like science fiction, researchers are taking a closer look at the ...

“Poop is central to the story of how dogs came into our lives," write Duke University dog researchers Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods in their wonderful new book, Survival of the Friendliest: ...

For decades, scientists have studied animals living in or near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to see how increased levels of radiation affect their health, growth, and evolution. A study analyzed ...

The crude view of evolution is often stark—a struggle for life in the wilderness, dominated by the strong, the cunning, the fierce, or the exquisitely camouflaged. And yet, who thrives today? Dogs.