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Wolf-Dog Hybrid Test
Introduction
Wolf-dog hybrids have been produced by crossing wolves, with wolf-like dog breeds such as Siberian Husky, German Shepherd, and Alaskan Malamute. Occasionally natural wolf-dog hybrids occur, usually when a female dog in estrus strays and is mated by a wild male wolf. Most states ban wolf-dog hybrids as pets, due to the unpredictable temperament of these canids. It has been estimated that there are upwards of 300,000 wolf-dog hybrids in the US.
Based on unpublished research by the Forensics unit of The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, the VGL offers a test that detects alleles (variants) of genetic markers that occur in wolves, but not dogs. This test will allow owners to verify the status of animals that may or may not have wolf ancestry.*
Please allow 5-10 business days for results.
* Because of their close genetic relationship, dogs and wolves share some alleles in the markers used for this test. Although our test is powerful to detect hybridization, absence of wolf-specific alleles is not a guarantee that there is no wolf ancestry.