Just when we think we know the origin of dogs, a new study comes along to cast doubt on it. Debate remains as to whether dogs arose in Asia or Europe, and it’s likely to remain an open question until the next study comes along. What doesn’t seem to be in dispute is the fact nearly all DNA studies of dogs have concluded that Arctic dog breeds stand apart from other modern breeds. An extensive genomic investigation conducted by UCLA researchers found that Alaskan malamutes,  American Eskimo dogs and Siberian huskies are highly divergent from other breeds, and that means that these breeds evolved on a slightly different
path than modern dogs.  What does remain unclear is if a breed like the Husky – considered an ancient breed – was among the first types of dog. Researchers Skoglund, Dalén, and colleagues compared the DNA of the Taymyr wolf with 48 dog breeds and found that Greenland sledge dogs and Siberians shared more ancestry with the Taymyr wolf than did any other breed. This might mean that these two breeds grew out of the split between dogs and wolves, but it could also be less consequential, particularly if those breeds bred with descendants of the Taymyr wolf. ‘Guess we’ll have to wait for the next study to come out.

Siberian Huskies by LA Shepard/thedoglover
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