Origin of the domestic dog or the result of natural introgression as the dog expanded across Eurasia. In 2018, a study found a small amount of dog ancestry in 62% of Eurasian wolf specimens looked at, that hybridization had occurred across a wide number of timescales and not just recently, however in contrast there was almost no admixture detected in the North American specimens. There was introgression of the male dog into the wolf, but also one hybrid detected which was the result of a male wolf crossed with a female dog. Wolves have maintained their phenotype differences from the dog, which indicates low-frequency hybridization.
Origin of the domestic dog a direct ancestor). The data from this study indicated a European origin for dogs that was estimated at 18,800–32,100 years ago based on the genetic relationship of 78% of the sampled dogs with ancient canid specimens found in Europe. The data supports the hypothesis that dog domestication preceded the emergence of agriculture and was initiated close to the Last Glacial Maximum when hunter-gatherers preyed on megafauna. The study found that three ancient Belgium canids (the 36,000 YBP "Goyet dog" cataloged as "Canis" species, along with Belgium 30,000 YBP and 26,000 years YBP cataloged as "Canis lupus") formed an ancient clade