The chihuahua, one of the smallest dog breeds in the world, has wild coyote DNA. This discovery may help explain the fame this breed has of being "small but brave". The breed originated in Mexico and is today a popular canine companion worldwide.
The coyote genes may have entered the chihuahua's ancestors in two possible ways: by accident or through deliberate attempts to crossbreed the two animals, perhaps many generations ago. This information was shared by Jacqueline Boyd, a professor at Nottingham Trent University, in an article published in The Conversation.
Coyotes are a species of canid native to North America, and the possibility of crossbreeding between coyotes and ancestors of chihuahuas raises interesting questions about the genetic history of this Mexican breed. The mixing of DNA may have contributed to the distinct behavioral characteristics that make chihuahuas known for their courage disproportionate to their size.
