Dog vs. Canine — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 4, 2024
Dog refers to a domesticated animal known for companionship, whereas canine encompasses both domestic dogs and their wild relatives like wolves.
Difference Between Dog and Canine
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A dog is a member of the species Canis lupus familiaris, often kept as a pet or for work; whereas canine refers broadly to any member of the family Canidae, which includes dogs, wolves, foxes, and others.
Dogs are known for their role as companions and helpers to humans, featuring in various capacities such as service animals and pets; on the other hand, the term "canine" can describe both domesticated and wild species, emphasizing the biological family rather than the specific domesticated role.
In everyday usage, "dog" specifically denotes the domestic animal familiar to most people; whereas "canine" is often used in scientific and veterinary contexts to refer to anatomical features or behaviors characteristic of this animal group.
Dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of years to emphasize traits like sociability and obedience; meanwhile, the broader category of canines retains a wide array of traits and behaviors reflective of their diverse environments and evolutionary histories.
Cultural perceptions of dogs are generally positive, viewing them as loyal and friendly; in contrast, canines as a group can be perceived in varied ways depending on the species, with wolves often seen as symbols of wilderness and foxes as cunning.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A domesticated animal of the species Canis lupus familiaris.
A member of the family Canidae, including dogs, wolves, foxes, and others.
Context of Use
Domestic settings, companionship.
Scientific, includes both domestic and wild species.
Typical Behavior
Sociable, trainable, obedient.
Ranges from domestic to wild, with behaviors varying widely.
Relationship with Humans
Often pets or working animals, close human interaction.
Includes both domesticated pets and wild animals, less interaction.
Compare with Definitions
Dog
A member of the Canidae family specifically bred for companionship.
Her dog knows several tricks.
Canine
Wild or domestic species including wolves and foxes.
Canines play diverse roles in ecosystems worldwide.
Dog
Informal: A term used to describe someone unattractive or undesirable.
He felt like a dog after the way he behaved at the party.
Canine
Any member of the biological family Canidae.
Canines vary greatly in size and behavior.
Dog
An animal that barks and wags its tail.
The dog barked loudly when the mailman arrived.
Canine
Pertaining to the teeth particularly pointed ones like those of dogs.
The vet checked the dog's canine teeth.
Dog
A pet often used in roles like herding, guarding, or aiding the disabled.
The farm's dog helps in managing the sheep.
Canine
Used to describe animal behavior typical to dogs and their relatives.
The wolf exhibited typical canine behavior.
Dog
The domestic dog (Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. The dog derived from an ancient, extinct wolf, and the modern grey wolf is the dog's nearest living relative.
Canine
Relating to or resembling a dog or dogs.
The fossil shows canine characteristics.
Dog
A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris syn. Canis lupus subsp. familiaris) occurring as a wide variety of breeds, many of which are traditionally used for hunting, herding, drawing sleds, and other tasks, and are kept as pets.
Canine
Of, relating to, or characteristic of the canids.
Dog
Any of various carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, such as the dingo.
Canine
Of, relating to, or being one of the pointed conical teeth located between the incisors and the first bicuspids.
Dog
A male animal of the family Canidae, especially of a fox or a domesticated breed.
Canine
An animal of the family Canidae, especially a dog.
Dog
Any of various other animals, such as the prairie dog.
Canine
One of the pointed, conical teeth located between the incisors and the first bicuspids. Also called cuspid.
Dog
A person
You won, you lucky dog.
Canine
Of, or pertaining to, a dog or dogs.
Dog
A person regarded as contemptible
You stole my watch, you dog.
Canine
Dog-like.
Dog
A person regarded as unattractive or uninteresting.
Canine
(anatomy) Of or pertaining to mammalian teeth which are cuspids or fangs.
Dog
Something of inferior or low quality
"The President had read the speech to some of his friends and they told him it was a dog" (John P. Roche).
Canine
Of an appetite: depraved or inordinate; used to describe eating disorders.
Dog
An investment that produces a low return or a loss.
Canine
Any member of Caninae, the only living subfamily of Canidae.
Dog
Dogs(Slang) The feet.
Canine
(formal) Any of certain extant canids regarded as similar to the dog or wolf (including coyotes, jackals, etc.) but distinguished from the vulpines, which are regarded as fox-like.
Dog
See andiron.
Canine
In heterodont mammals, the pointy tooth between the incisors and the premolars; a cuspid.
Dog
(Slang) A hot dog; a wiener.
Canine
(poker slang) A king and a nine as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em due to phonetic similarity.
Dog
Any of various hooked or U-shaped metallic devices used for gripping or holding heavy objects.
Canine
Of or pertaining to the family Canidæ, or dogs and wolves; having the nature or qualities of a dog; like that or those of a dog.
Dog
(Astronomy) A sundog.
Canine
Of or pertaining to the pointed tooth on each side the incisors.
Dog
Totally; completely. Often used in combination
Dog-tired.
Canine
A canine tooth.
Dog
To track or trail persistently
"A stranger then is still dogging us" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Canine
One of the four pointed conical teeth (two in each jaw) located between the incisors and the premolars
Dog
To hold or fasten with a mechanical device
"Watertight doors and hatches were dropped into place and dogged down to give the ship full watertight integrity" (Tom Clancy).
Canine
Any of various fissiped mammals with nonretractile claws and typically long muzzles
Dog
To be persistently or inescapably associated with
Questions about his youthful indiscretions dogged him throughout his career.
Canine
Of or relating to a pointed conical tooth
Dog
To be recurrently or persistently in the mind; haunt
Despair dogged him in his final years.
Canine
Of or relating to or characteristic of members of the family Canidae
Dog
A mammal of the family Canidae:
Dog
The species Canis familiaris (sometimes designated Canis lupus familiaris), domesticated for thousands of years and of highly variable appearance because of human breeding.
The dog barked all night long.
Dog
Any member of the family Canidae, including domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, and their relatives extant and extinct; canid.
Dog
A male dog, wolf, or fox, as opposed to a bitch or vixen.
Dog
The meat of this animal, eaten as food:
Did you know that in South Korea, they eat dog?
Dog
A person:
Dog
A dull, unattractive girl or woman.
She’s a real dog.
Dog
(slang) A man, guy, chap.
You lucky dog!
Dog
(derogatory) Someone who is cowardly, worthless, or morally reprehensible.
Come back and fight, you dogs!
You dirty dog.
Dog
A mechanical device or support:
Dog
Any of various mechanical devices for holding, gripping, or fastening something, particularly with a tooth-like projection.
Dog
A click or pallet adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel, to restrain the back action.
Dog
A metal support for logs in a fireplace.
The dogs were too hot to touch.
Dog
(cartomancy) The eighteenth Lenormand card.
Dog
A hot dog: a frankfurter, wiener, or similar sausage; or a sandwich made from this.
Dog
Underdog.
Dog
Foot.
Dog
(Cockney rhyming slang) (from "dog and bone") Phone or mobile phone.
Dog
One of the cones used to divide up a racetrack when training horses.
Dog
(informal) Something that performs poorly.
That modification turned his Dodge hemi into a dog.
Dog
(film) A flop; a film that performs poorly at the box office.
Dog
(transitive) To pursue with the intent to catch.
Dog
(transitive) To follow in an annoying or harassing way.
The woman cursed him so that trouble would dog his every step.
Dog
To fasten a hatch securely.
It is very important to dog down these hatches.
Dog
To intentionally restrict one's productivity as employee; to work at the slowest rate that goes unpunished.
A surprise inspection of the night shift found that some workers were dogging it.
Dog
(transitive) To criticize.
Dog
To divide (a watch) with a comrade.
Dog
(slang) Of inferior quality; dogshit.
Dog
A quadruped of the genus Canis, esp. the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).
Dog
A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch.
What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?
Dog
A fellow; - used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly dog; a lazy dog.
Dog
One of the two constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis Major contains the Dog Star (Sirius).
Dog
An iron for holding wood in a fireplace; a firedog; an andiron.
Dog
A grappling iron, with a claw or claws, for fastening into wood or other heavy articles, for the purpose of raising or moving them.
Dog
An ugly or crude person, especially an ugly woman.
Dog
A hot dog.
Dog
To hunt or track like a hound; to follow insidiously or indefatigably; to chase with a dog or dogs; to worry, as if by dogs; to hound with importunity.
I have been pursued, dogged, and waylaid.
Your sins will dog you, pursue you.
Eager ill-bred petitioners, who do not so properly supplicate as hunt the person whom they address to, dogging him from place to place, till they even extort an answer to their rude requests.
Dog
A member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds;
The dog barked all night
Dog
A dull unattractive unpleasant girl or woman;
She got a reputation as a frump
She's a real dog
Dog
Informal term for a man;
You lucky dog
Dog
Someone who is morally reprehensible;
You dirty dog
Dog
A smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked; often served on a bread roll
Dog
A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
Dog
Metal supports for logs in a fireplace;
The andirons were too hot to touch
Dog
Go after with the intent to catch;
The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
The dog chased the rabbit
Common Curiosities
What are the typical characteristics of a dog?
Dogs are known for being loyal, trainable, and sociable, often serving as companions or working animals.
What is the origin of domestic dogs?
Domestic dogs are believed to have been domesticated from wolves at least 15,000 years ago, possibly as far back as 40,000 years.
Can you name some types of canines other than dogs?
Besides domestic dogs, the canine family includes wolves, foxes, jackals, and coyotes.
How are canines important to the ecosystem?
Canines play crucial roles in their ecosystems, often as predators that help maintain the balance of populations among other species.
Are there specific behaviors that differentiate dogs from other canines?
Dogs often exhibit behaviors that reflect their domestication, like barking at the door, which are less common in wild canines who exhibit more survival-oriented behaviors.
What legal protections do dogs have that other canines might not?
Dogs typically have legal protections as pets or working animals, which differ significantly from the protections (or lack thereof) for wild canines, depending on conservation status.
What are the common habitats of canines?
Domestic dogs live in a variety of human environments, whereas other canines inhabit diverse natural settings from forests and grasslands to deserts and arctic regions.
How does socialization differ between dogs and wild canines?
Dogs are socialized with humans and other animals from a young age, making them generally more adaptable to diverse social environments, unlike wild canines that may be more isolated or pack-oriented.
Do all canines make good pets?
Not all canines are suitable as pets; while domestic dogs are bred for such roles, wild canines like wolves and foxes are not typically domesticable.
Why are canines studied in wildlife research?
Canines are studied for their ecological roles, behaviors, and how they adapt to changing environments, providing insights that can aid in conservation efforts.
What are some health concerns common among all canines?
Common health concerns for canines include dental issues, heart disease, and joint problems, although the specifics can vary widely between domestic dogs and their wild relatives.
What role do dogs and other canines play in folklore and mythology?
Both dogs and other canines like wolves and foxes play significant roles in folklore and mythology, often embodying traits like loyalty, cunning, or as spiritual guides.
How do the diets of dogs and other canines compare?
While domestic dogs have diets that can be quite varied (including specially formulated dog food), wild canines typically eat a diet of primarily meat based on hunting or scavenging.
How have dogs been used in human societies historically?
Historically, dogs have been used for hunting, guarding, and herding, and as companions, roles that are embedded in many cultural traditions around the world.
Can canines interbreed, and what are the implications?
Some canines can interbreed, such as dogs and wolves, creating hybrids; these practices can have ecological and genetic implications, often discouraged by conservationists.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Intelligence vs. Cognition
Next Comparison
Mean vs. SelfishAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
