I'm thinking about getting a dog, large-ish, but not huge, and that would be a good breed for a relatively hot Texas climate. Recommendations?
The domestic dog is a member of genus canis
So you're saying I should get a dog who's good at taxonomic classification? So like a biologist dog? What dogs have big brains?
Dog form part of the wolf like canids
I don't think wolves would make good pets. They seem intimidating.
the dog was first species
Hey yeah, a dog was the first species to go up in space, you're right! What was that dog's name? Do you know?
Their long association with humans has led dogs to be unique 
Unique in the sense that their response to verbal cues and commands is representative of intelligent thought? Kinda wish I were talking to a dog right now then...
New research seems to show that dogs have mutations