* Family: Gray wolves belong to the Canidae family, which includes a wide variety of animals like dogs, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and others.
* Relationship to Dogs: Gray wolves and dogs are closely related, both belonging to the genus *Canis*. This means they share a recent common ancestor. In fact, dogs were originally domesticated from wolves thousands of years ago. This close relationship is why wolves and dogs can interbreed, though their offspring might have some health issues.
Key takeaways:
* Gray wolves are in the Canidae family, just like dogs.
* They are very closely related to dogs, sharing a common ancestor.
* This close relationship is the reason dogs and wolves can interbreed.