Nearly two-thirds of modern dog breeds—about 64%—carry detectable wolf DNA, U.S. scientists announced in a study published on Monday. This corresponds to at least 264 modern breeds carrying some wolf DNA from interbreeding events that occurred thousands of years ago. Most dogs have some wolf DNA, scientists say. These … – CBS News

The research, led by authors at the American Museum of Natural History, traces post‑domestication interbreeding between dogs and wolves within the last few thousand years and finds that wolf ancestry is present across a wide range of breeds.

Lead study author Audrey Lin of the American Museum of Natural History said, “Prior to this study, the leading science seemed to suggest that in order for a dog to be a dog, there can’t be very much wolf DNA present, if any.” This new perspective sheds light on the complex history of dog breeds and their connections to their wild ancestors.

The study highlights large contrasts between breeds. Two recognized wolf‑dog breeds, the Czechoslovakian wolfdog and the Saarloos wolfdog, had the highest levels of wolf ancestry, with studies reporting roughly 23 to 40 percent wolf ancestry. In contrast, a Great Anglo‑French (Grand Anglo‑Francais) Tricolore hound carried roughly 4.7-5.7 percent wolf DNA, while even a chihuahua carried about 0.2 percent. This broad spectrum of wolf ancestry across many breeds indicates that dog genomes can tolerate measurable amounts of wolf DNA while retaining distinctive domestic traits.

“Wolves are coming into your house and mixing it up with your pet dog,” said Logan Kistler, a curator affiliated with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, using blunt language to describe the genetic signal the study detected. The interbreeding between dogs and wolves can produce wolf‑dog hybrids whose physical and behavioral traits are highly variable, often combining wild instincts with domesticated tendencies.

The researchers stress that detectable wolf ancestry does not mean recent or ongoing hybridization is common for most pets. Dogs and wolves can produce offspring together, but interbreeding is thought to be rare, the study notes. For those curious about their dog’s ancestry, owners can utilize commercial canine DNA tests to learn more about their dog’s genetic background.

The team connected varying levels of wolf ancestry to breed types. As Kistler observed, “Arctic sled dogs, pariah breeds, and hunting dogs have the greatest wolf ancestry, while on average, terriers, gundogs, and scent hounds have the least.” Those patterns suggest past interbreeding events influenced traits such as body size and scent ability in some breed groups.

The findings build on genomic comparisons across modern breeds and other canids and were summarized for the public by outlets including CBS News. The study places the admixture after initial dog domestication and within a more recent timeframe in the animals’ genetic history.

Audrey Lin added a conversational note about the study’s reach into familiar pets: “This completely makes sense to anyone who owns a chihuahua.” This connection becomes even clearer in light of the nuanced genetic landscape of our canine companions.

Beyond the highest and lowest examples, the work documents a broad spectrum of wolf ancestry across many breeds and suggests that dog genomes can tolerate measurable amounts of wolf DNA while retaining the physical and behavioral traits associated with domestic dogs.

The American Museum of Natural History led the research and collaborated with colleagues whose affiliations include the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, where Kistler is a curator.

The study was published on Monday and presents genetic analysis that traces admixture events occurring within the past several thousand years.

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