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From: sbishop@desire.wright.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets,sci.bio
Subject: Re: What is a species?
Message-ID: <379.25d19344@desire.wright.edu>
Date: 8 Feb 90 20:41:56 GMT
References: <2495@leah.Albany.Edu> <1990Feb8.100425.16932@newcastle.ac.uk>
Distribution: rec.pets sci.bio
Lines: 44

In article <1990Feb8.100425.16932@newcastle.ac.uk>, J.M.Spencer@newcastle.ac.uk (J.M. Spencer) writes:
> In article <2495@leah.Albany.Edu> gmr044@leah.Albany.Edu (Gregg Recer) writes:
>>
>>
>>In article  <2285@uwm.edu>  debbie@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Debbie Forest)
>>writes:
>>
>>
>>>yes, all dogs are the same species.  but why then aren't wolves in the
>>>species too, since dogs and wolves can breed.
> I believe that the domestic dog is a *sub-species*.  (Correct me
> if I'm wrong).
>>
>>
>>I don't know from what wild species domestic dogs were derived, but
>>even if it wasn't wolves dogs might still be able to breed with wolves
>>and produce viable offspring.  
> It *was* the wolf.
>>However, those offspring would then be
>>infertile.  This same kind of mating barrier occurs in the
>>horse/donkey/mule system. 
> I'm not convinced that a dog-wolf cross *would* be infertile.  Do
> you have any references?  I saw an ITV documentary regarding Italian 
> feral dogs interbreeding with wolves, and as I recall, their 
> concern was that hybrids *were* fertile.  What is the inheritance
> hierarchy of the horse and mule (I don't know?).  Is one inherited
> from the other, as with wolves and dogs.  
Just to clarify my earlier posting, I had several wolf/dog crosses.  I started
out with a female that was 3/4 wolf.  She was the product of a wolf who was
mated to his half-wolf daughter.  I subsequently bred her back to her father
once and to her brother once.  The resulting puppies were healthy and strong;
showed the characteristics of the wolf but some of the personality of the dog.
Wolf/dog crosses are NOT infertile.  Both of the Alaskian sled dog breed such
as Siberian Husky and Malamute are heavy with wolf breeding.  However, I do not
recommend the wolf/dog cross for everyone.  They are often very shy/timid
animals and can be extremely dependent on their master.  My female would not
eat unless I fed her.  She would tolerate my husband but her world revolved
around me.  I took her for obedience training to help with the shyness and the
instructor was strongly impressed by her personality and charm.  Wolf Lady
would sit quietly watching all the other dogs in the class misbehaving, with a
dignified duchess watching the peons attitude.  Was very funny to watch her! 

Sue Bishop
SBISHOP@desire.wright.edu