The term "domestic dog" refers to a type of canine that has been selectively bred and domesticated over thousands of years by humans. These animals are typically kept as pets, provide companionship, and have been trained for various purposes such as hunting, herding or guarding. Domestic dogs belong to the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, which is a subspecies of Canis lupus (the gray wolf). They differ from their wild counterparts in terms of behavior, physical appearance, and size due to selective breeding by humans for specific traits.