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If I told you a recent study<\/a> showed that a majority of modern dog species have wolf DNA, you\u2019d probably mutter something along the lines of \u201cshocker: fork found in kitchen\u201d. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Except that the research, published in <\/a>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (<\/a>PNAS),<\/a> found that just two-thirds of modern dogs have detectable wolf DNA \u2013 and it is likely not an ancient remnant from their wilder ancestor, from which they separated tens of thousands of years ago.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Instead, it seems that the gene may have come from more recent interbreeding between dogs and wolves.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In fact, the study reads, \u201cAncient [dog] genomes from the Roman era… show no evidence of wolf ancestry… nor has wolf ancestry been detected in ancient dogs in the Arctic or the pre-colonial America\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Still, study co-author Logan Kistler<\/a>, a curator of archaeobotany and archaeogenomics at the National Museum of Natural History, told AFP <\/a>this doesn\u2019t mean \u201cwolves are coming into your house and mixing it up with your pet dog\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In a statement, the study\u2019s lead author, Audrey Lin, said: \u201cModern dogs, especially pet dogs, can seem so removed from wolves, which are often demonised. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cBut there are some characteristics that may have come from wolves that we greatly value in dogs today and that we choose to keep in their lineage.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Some characteristics often linked to high-wolf DNA breeds, the study reads, include: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n While lower-wolf DNA breeds were more associated with being: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Traits like obedience, intelligence, being good with children, dedication, calmness, and cheerfulness seemed evenly distributed among both groups. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n This study stressed, though, that these associations, which came from kennel clubs, could not definitely be linked to wolf genes themselves. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n This research found that Czechoslovakian and Saarloos wolfdogs have the most detectable wolf DNA (up to 40%). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The great Anglo-French tricolour hound had an impressively high percentage for a \u201cbreed\u201d dog \u2013 4.7-5.7% \u2013 while Shiloh shepherds have 2.7%.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Tamaskan, bred in the UK in the \u201980s, has 3.7% wolf ancestry. Even chihuahuas have 0.2%, which, Lin joked, likely \u201cmakes sense\u201d to their owners.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Surprisingly, bigger breeds like St Bernards have zero wolf DNA. The same goes for the Neapolitan mastiff and bullmastiff. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In general, detectable wolf ancestry is higher for bigger dogs and dogs bred for certain jobs, like Arctic sled dogs, \u201cpariah\u201d dogs, and hunting dogs. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n But on average, terriers, gundogs, and scent hounds have lower wolf DNA.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n As Kistler shared in a statement: \u201cDogs are our buddies, but apparently wolves have been a big part of shaping them into the companions we know and love today.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat are some \u201cwolfish\u201d dog traits?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Which dog breeds are the most and least \u2018wolfish\u2019?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n