Chihuahuas' 'Small but Mighty' Reputation Linked to Coyote Ancestry

4:02 PM ETDeveloping

Science Desk

In Short: Chihuahuas, known for their bold and independent nature, have a genetic link to wild coyotes, according to recent genetic research.

Chihuahuas, known as 'small but mighty,' have a genetic connection to wild coyotes, according to new genetic research. This finding helps explain why these small dogs exhibit traits similar to their larger, wild cousins, such as boldness and agility.

The research, published in a recent study, reveals that chihuahuas and xolos, another ancient Mexican breed, share a small percentage of their DNA with pre-contact dogs, those that lived in the Americas before Europeans arrived. This suggests that European and pre-Columbian dogs were mixing around 1700.

Coyote genes may have been introduced into the ancestors of the chihuahua accidentally, highlighting the incredible diversity of domestic dogs and their varied histories. The chihuahua breed originated in Mexico but is now a popular canine companion worldwide.

Wild coyotes and wolves have been found to hybridise naturally, especially in areas where 'wolf-like' behavioural traits are beneficial. This genetic mixing could have contributed to the chihuahua's unique traits, including their small size and big personalities.

Coyotes are untamed and territorial, while chihuahuas are known for their bold, independent, and agile nature. The presence of coyote genes in chihuahuas, among the most popular dogs in the UK and the US, underscores the breed's small but mighty reputation.

What's confirmed

Chihuahuas are known as ‘small but mighty’, and the findings could partly tell us why Chihuahuas are known as ‘small but mighty’, and the findings could partly tell us why It turns out that one of the smallest dog breeds, the chihuahua, is part wild coyote, according to recently published genetic research.
However, previous research showed that the chihuahua and xolo preserve a small amount of ancestry – 4% in the chihuahua and 3% in the xolo – from pre-contact dogs, those that lived in the Americas before Europeans arrived.
Genetic analysis of the xolo in the recent study suggests that European and pre-Columbian dogs were mixing around 1700.
Researchers previously found evidence of coyote ancestry in DNA from the remains of ancient domestic dogs from the Americas.
Wild coyotes and wolves have been found to hybridise naturally, especially in geographical areas where “wolf-like” behavioural traits are beneficial.
The chihuahua breed originated in Mexico but is now a popular canine companion worldwide.
Coyote genes may have been introduced into ancestors of the chihuahua accidentally.
Coyotes are a wild canine species, slightly smaller than the grey wolf and native to North America.

What's still developing

Novais is a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Physiscs at Lund University in Sweden.
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Daniel Geschwind, a professor of human genetics, neurology, and psychiatry at UCLA who was not involved with the study.

Sources

Independent link