About Wolfs & Dogs

Man's best friend enjoys a long tenure as a faithful companion. Conversely, the wolf remains elusive and an occasional threat to man. The domesticated dog is the domesticated version of the gray wolf, and both dogs and wolves belong to the genus Canis lupus. Given the physical similarities between wolves and dogs, it's obvious the two are intertwined. There are, however, a multitude of traits that separate the two species from each other.

  1. Origins

    • According to "Dog Behavior: The Genetic Basis," the first domesticated dogs were probably orphaned wolf cubs taken in by humans. Over time, these orphaned cubs would breed with each other, creating a strong lineage of wolf-dogs for humans. Another possibility is that wolves were attracted to the food and refuge left by humans at campsites. The more sociable and friendlier wolves were able to pass those traits on and eventually spawned a more obedient race of dog. There is notable interactivity between wolves and humans, such as the Inuit people using them to pull sleds, hunt and perform other chores. When agriculture became another dominant source of food, however, hunting became less of a priority and may have been a factor in the further domestication of wolves.

    DNA

    • According to a study conducted by the University of California, research has shown that wolves are the clear ancestor to the domesticated dog. The gene pool is incredibly similar, however, and the multitude of varied traits exhibited by dogs suggests that interbreeding between dogs and wolves continued after the distinct separation.

      Furthermore, extensive research by Bridgett Von Hold at the University of California has pointed at a possible ancestral wolf in the Middle East. The most recent distinct separation in the gene pool suggests that dogs and wolves separated less than 16,000 years ago. This could be due in part to "artificial selection," in which humans would have only bred wolves that exhibited traits favorable to the human lifestyle.

    Physical Differences

    • Due to the domestication process, there is a wide variety of physical differences between dog and wolf. Dogs are considerably smaller in size and possess great variation in fur coloration. Their teeth have shrunk as well, along with their jaw. Typical wolf behavior, such as regurgitating food for the young, has since been phased out in dog behavior. James Serpell's book, "The Domestic Dog; Its Evolution, Behavior and Interactions with People" even goes as far as to suggest that the brain size of the common dog has shrunk as well.

    Social Structure

    • While dogs are typically associated with a master, wolves tend to instead travel in packs. The head of the pack is considered the alpha male, who achieves this rank through fighting and dominance. Typically, wolf packs are similar to a nuclear family; a mated pair must retain dominance as the younger wolves come through the ranks. Dogs are bred based off of specific traits and are given a partner at the master's behest.

      There are a handful of other, more obvious distinctions between dogs and wolves. Wolves eat smaller vermin and mammals, while domesticated dogs are fed by their masters. In packs, wolves may even attack larger deer or caribou. With the advent of "show dogs," these traits are slowly being phased out. Many species, however, still demonstrate territorial hostility.