The Canidae family is a biological family of dog-like carnivorans and an individual member of this family is called a canid.

There are three sub-families found within the canid family, two of which are extinct: sub-family Borophaginae and sub-family Hesperocyoninae. The third sub-family is the extant Caninae.

The Caninae are known as canines, and include domestic dingoes, dogs, foxes, jackals, wolves, and other extant and extinct species.

Canids vary in size from the 2-metre-long (6.6 ft) gray wolf to the 24-centimetre-long (9.4 in) fennec fox. The body forms of canids are similar, typically having long muzzles, upright ears, teeth adapted for cracking bones and slicing flesh, long legs, and bushy tails.

They are mostly social animals, living together in family units or small groups and behaving cooperatively. Typically, only the dominant pair in a group breeds, and a litter of young are reared annually in an underground den. Canids communicate by scent signals and vocalizations.

Canids are found on all continents except Antarctica, having arrived independently or accompanied human beings over extended periods of time.

One canid species, the domestic dog (Canis familaris), entered into a partnership with humans long ago and today remains one of the most widely kept domestic animals.