Stamps with the theme Dogs

Dogs were domesticated by man from grey wolves about 15,000 years ago. In breeding circles, a male canine is referred to as a dog, while a female is called a bitch. Offspring are, in general, called pups or puppies. Dogs perform many roles for people, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and military, companionship, and, more recently, aiding handicapped individuals.

Their impact on human society has given them the nickname "Man's best friend" in the western world. In 2001, there were an estimated 400 million dogs in the worldwide.