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
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
Researched by: Codex + Grok
Purpose and description
Enable an AI agent to recognise an individual domestic dog, assess its needs and current state, and determine which interactions or care actions are appropriate and authorised.
Domestic dog (Canis familiaris / Canis lupus familiaris): a domesticated canid, derived from the gray wolf, maintained by humans in many breeds and used as companion, working, and livestock-guarding animals.
It can be Observe and identify the dog while preserving uncertainty about identity or ancestry.; Monitor changes in intake, elimination, movement, behaviour and comfort against its own baseline.; Arrange suitable feeding, water, toileting, exercise, enrichment and rest within an established care plan.; Adapt approach, handling and separation to the dog's observed responses and documented restrictions.; Coordinate authorised veterinary assessment, transport or transfer with an identified responsible person.; Pause an interaction and escalate concerns when the dog's condition, distress or uncertain handling limits require human assessment..
Distinguishing features
Establish that the referent is a living or formerly living animal, rather than a toy, image, robot or figurative use of 'dog'.
Assess domestic-dog identity using available history, records and qualified assessment; size, coat and wolf-like appearance alone do not settle dog versus wild canid.
Record suspected or documented wild-canid ancestry explicitly rather than silently treating an uncertain hybrid as an ordinary domestic dog.
Distinguish this individual from similar-looking dogs through corroborating identifiers such as a scanned microchip, documented markings and continuity of custody.
Treat stray or free-ranging status as a circumstance of a possible domestic dog, rather than evidence that it is a different kind of animal.
Scope
+ Domestic-dog identification and continuity of individual identity
+ Life stage, body characteristics and functional abilities
+ Observed health, comfort and welfare state
+ Communication, learned behaviour and context-dependent responses
+ Daily care needs, human dependencies and permitted interactions
- Wolf, coyote and other wild-canid population models
- Breed standards, breeding programmes and pedigree organisations
- Veterinary diseases, medicines and treatment protocols as independent models
- People, households and organisations responsible for the dog
- Kennels, homes, transport equipment and other care infrastructure
- Ownership law, animal-control rules and assistance-animal certification systems
Characteristics
- Domestic-dog identification
- Supported domestic dog; suspected hybrid; unresolved canid identity, with evidence Controls whether this model applies and which identification uncertainties constrain handling.
- Individual identifiers
- Links to microchip observations, photographs, records and distinguishing markings Prevents one dog's history, restrictions or care plan being applied to another.
- Age and life stage
- Known or estimated age with uncertainty; recorded life-stage assessment Supports interpretation of development, activity, learning and care needs.
- Body mass
- kg, with measurement date and method Provides a baseline for monitoring change and selecting suitable handling or equipment.
- Body condition
- Score with named assessment scale, date and assessor Separates nutritional condition from body mass or breed appearance.
- Sex and reproductive status
- Recorded sex; intact, sterilised or unknown; reproductive condition where established Identifies relevant care needs and reproductive-contact constraints.
- Mobility and sensory function
- Observed locomotion, stamina, vision and hearing, with limitations and context Guides accessible environments, approach methods and activity choices.
- Current health and comfort
- Dated observations, deviations from baseline and separately attributed clinical assessments Supports recognition of change and referral without turning observations into diagnoses.
- Response to interaction
- Observed posture, movement, vocalisation, approach or avoidance, with trigger and recovery Guides whether an interaction should continue, change or stop.
- Learned cues and handling tolerance
- Cue or procedure linked to observed response, handler and setting Prevents assumed obedience or tolerance from substituting for demonstrated capability.
- Care dependencies
- Dog-specific feeding, water, toileting, exercise, rest and care requirements linked to providers Makes unmet needs and responsibility gaps visible.
- Custody and action authority
- Current custodian, claimed owner and authorised decision-makers, with evidence and limits Separates physical possession from permission to move, treat or transfer the dog.
Analytical facets
- substance
- living
- origin
- natural
- agency
- autonomous
- mobility
- self-moving
- scale
- not-applicable
- affordances
- observable
Also called
+114
Where this came from
oewn:2024 · CC BY 4.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 11 findings · 21 questions.
Dog identity and history Establish which dog is present and which historical claims can be attached to it.
Similar appearance, uncertain ancestry and incomplete custody records can cause consequential misidentification.
Domestic-dog boundary
Record evidence that the animal falls within the registered dog concept.
Canid identification evidence
Keep domestic-dog identification separate from breed claims, free-ranging status and unresolved hybrid ancestry.
- What evidence supports identifying this animal as a domestic dog? definition
- Is there unresolved wild-canid ancestry or identification evidence that limits applying this model? boundary
Individual continuity
Connect observations and records to the same individual across encounters.
Corroborated dog record
Attach identifiers and history with their sources, dates and conflicts.
- Which scanned identifier, markings or custody evidence links this dog to its existing record? provenance
- Which age, breed, origin or previous-care claims remain estimates or conflict with other records? provenance
Canine body and function Describe the dog's development, physical condition and practical abilities.
Dogs differ substantially in size, development and function, so care cannot be inferred from the category alone.
Development and body condition
Record the dog's life stage, body measurements and reproductive state.
Physical care baseline
Maintain dated observations needed to interpret growth, weight change and stage-specific care.
- What are the dog's current mass and body-condition score, and how were they measured? measurement
- What evidence establishes its age, developmental stage and reproductive status? provenance
Movement and sensory access
Describe how the dog navigates its environment and detects people, cues and obstacles.
Functional abilities and limits
Record demonstrated movement and sensory abilities without assuming them from breed or age.
- How does the dog manage walking, rising, stairs and ordinary activity compared with its baseline? measurement
- Which adaptations to surfaces, routes, cues or assistance does its observed function require? action
Dog health and welfare Track comfort, health changes and the evidence governing care escalation.
The agent needs to notice changes in a dog that cannot verbally report symptoms while avoiding unsupported diagnoses.
Daily health observations
Compare bodily and behavioural observations with the dog's usual state.
Changes from usual state
Record onset, duration and context of changes in eating, drinking, elimination, breathing, movement or rest.
- What has changed in the dog's intake, elimination, breathing, activity or sleep, and when did it begin? measurement
- Which observations suggest discomfort or distress, and who observed them? provenance
Clinical care and escalation
Link the dog to established clinical assessments and instructions.
Verified care instructions
Distinguish clinical records and prescribed care from unverified reports or agent inference.
- Which current conditions, preventive-care records, allergies and treatment instructions are supported by attributable records? provenance
- What dog-specific instructions govern contacting a veterinarian or changing the current activity when concerns arise? action
Canine communication and interaction Represent observable responses to people, animals, handling and surroundings.
Safe interaction depends on context and the individual dog's responses rather than a fixed friendly or aggressive label.
Signals and triggers
Record what the dog does before, during and after a relevant encounter.
Contextual response pattern
Describe approach, avoidance, body posture, vocalisation and recovery with their immediate circumstances.
- What does the dog do when approached, touched or encountered near food, resting places or other animals? measurement
- Which triggers, distances and opportunities to retreat are associated with changes in its response? measurement
Learning and handling
Record demonstrated cues, reinforcement preferences and tolerance of care procedures.
Demonstrated interaction capabilities
Tie expected responses to the handler, setting and conditions in which they were observed.
- Which cues and procedures, such as recall, leash attachment or paw inspection, has the dog demonstrated with this handler and setting? provenance
- What observed response requires pausing, increasing distance or obtaining qualified handling support? action
Dog care and responsibility Connect daily needs and movement decisions to suitable conditions and accountable people.
A domestic dog's welfare depends on reliable care provision and clear authority over consequential actions.
Daily care and environment
Represent the dog's routine and whether its present surroundings support it.
Individual care fit
Relate feeding, water, toileting, activity, enrichment and rest to this dog's established needs and responses.
- What daily care plan applies to this dog, and which needs have or have not been met? measurement
- What changes to supervision, containment, shelter or separation are needed before the next planned activity? action
Custody and permitted actions
Record who is responsible and what evidence authorises handling, movement or care.
Accountable dog decisions
Keep current custody, ownership claims and delegated permissions distinct, including uncertainty for a found dog.
- Who currently has custody, who may authorise care or transfer, and what evidence supports those roles? provenance
- What permissions, destination arrangements and dog-specific handling conditions must be satisfied before transport, treatment or transfer? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- companion / pet dog
- working dog (herding, guarding, detection, assistance)
- sporting / hunting dog
- sighthound
- scent hound
- livestock guardian dog
- feral / free-ranging dog
- breed-standard show dog
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of dog this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- What evidence standard and referral process should settle domestic-dog versus wild-canid hybrid inclusion when ancestry is uncertain?
- Which validated body-condition, pain and welfare assessment methods should the model reference, and who is qualified to apply each?
- How should age, body form, clinical condition and individual history determine suitable care baselines without relying on unsupported breed generalisations?
- What observation history is sufficient to carry a behavioural expectation across handlers or settings, and when should it expire?
- Which jurisdiction-specific authority rules and emergency-care procedures must be linked for owned, found, relinquished or disputed-custody dogs?