New Research Reveals Most Dog Breeds Contain Wolf DNA: What This Means for Your Pet

Nov 25, 2025 07:04 am CST

Recent scientific research has discovered that approximately two-thirds of all modern dog breeds contain detectable wolf DNA, challenging previous assumptions about canine evolution. This surprising finding suggests that domesticated dogs and wild wolves have interbred within the past few thousand years, potentially influencing modern dogs' size, sensory abilities, and personality traits. Even small breeds like Chihuahuas carry wolf genetic material, while certain breeds such as Czechoslovakian and Saarloos wolfdogs contain up to 40% wolf ancestry. The comprehensive study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides new insights into how wolves and dogs have shared genetic material throughout domestication history.