Genetic relationships: African wild dogs and purebreds of supposed African descent

Press Release 09-147
Of Mutts and Men

Genetic study of African village dogs challenges the ancestral origins of several dog breeds

August 3, 2009

..."They found that most African village dogs are genetically distinct from non-native breed dogs, but share some markers with mixed breed dogs from North America. These results indicate that African village dogs descend from indigenous ancestors related to Basenjis, while Pharaoh hounds and Rhodesian ridgebacks, previously believed to be African in origin, are more closely related to mixed-breed American dogs."

Entire article here: http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115370