A recent study reveals that most modern dog breeds carry small amounts of wolf ancestry from interbreeding events occurring thousands of years after dogs were initially domesticated over 20,000 years ago. By analyzing genomes from nearly 2,700 dogs and wolves, researchers found that wolf DNA entered dog populations around 2,600 years ago, with most breeds having between 0-5% wolf ancestry, though some breeds like Czechoslovakian and Saarloos wolfdogs have much higher levels due to intentional crossbreeding. This wolf genetic influence may contribute to certain physical traits and behaviors, such as size and personality differences among breeds.
The study also showed that all “village dogs,” which live around humans but are not pets, contain wolf DNA, particularly in genes linked to olfactory receptors, possibly aiding their survival in challenging environments. Additionally, breeds with higher wolf ancestry tend to exhibit traits like suspicion of strangers and independence, while those with less wolf DNA are often described as friendly and easy to train. These findings challenge previous assumptions that dogs must have minimal wolf DNA to be considered true dogs, suggesting that dog genomes can tolerate and incorporate wolf genes while maintaining their distinct domestic characteristics.
