At one time I thought they were.but now I don't think so simpl because every culture in the world has had dogs from the beginning of time .and hybrid dog x wolf can't reproduce so they say ,just like a mule horse donkey cross they can breed but can't reproduce ..lion x tiger = liger .the liger can't reproduce .i do think the wolf ,dog ,coyote ,fox are all related .but yet maybe the dog came from the wild dogs of Africa .