Definition: A mammal, Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris, that has been domesticated for thousands of years, of highly variable appearance due to human breeding.

Alright class, settle down and let’s take a look! Today we’re diving into a word – “dogs.” Now, the dictionary gives us a good starting point, doesn't it? Let’s break it down piece by piece. It tells us that "dogs" are mammals, meaning they have fur and give birth to live young - quite a marvelous thing! Specifically, they belong to the species Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris . Don't worry about those big scientific names just yet – think of it as saying “dog” in a special code! And then it says they’ve been with us for ages, thousands and thousands of years. That's a long time to be friends, wouldn’t you agree? But the really interesting part is this: "highly variable appearance." That means dogs come in so many different shapes and sizes! From tiny Chihuahuas to giant Great Danes – it’s quite a sight, isn’t it? We humans have been busy mixing them up with our breeding, creating all those lovely differences. So, in short: A dog is a domesticated mammal - a furry friend that's changed a lot over time thanks to us! Does anyone want to share what they think a dog does ? Don’t be shy now!