Is the Native American Indian Dog (NAID) a Wolfdog?

Short Answer: No. The NAID is not a wolfdog.

Despite widespread confusion online, the Native American Indian Dog (NAID) is not a wolfdog. While some early foundation dogs included low-content wolfdogs—often under 25%—modern, preservation-bred NAIDs should test negative for any recent wolf ancestry.

Unfortunately, many people researching the breed encounter misleading or outright false information. That’s why this article exists—to give you the clearest, most accurate understanding of the NAID, its genetics, its origins, and why the confusion persists.

Why the Confusion Exists

If you Google “Is the NAID a wolfdog?” you’ll likely get conflicting answers. That’s because three completely different breeds—NAID, NorthAID, and AID—are often mistaken for each other.

Here’s how they actually differ:

While the NorthAID was developed to maintain wolf content and aesthetics, the NAID was not. The original intent of the NAID was to foster the characteristics of a primitive, versatile working dog—not to hybridize with wolves. Responsible NAID breeders today follow that intention closely and do not introduce recent wolf content.

Was Wolf Content Ever Used in NAID Foundations?

Yes—but it’s important to clarify that these were low-content wolfdogs, used decades ago during the breed’s formative stages. Since then, legitimate NAID lines have undergone generations of selection and refinement. In modern preservation lines, recent wolf ancestry should no longer be detectable.

If a NAID does test positive for wolf DNA today, it is likely due to:

• A breeder introducing new wolf content (outside the original program)
• Crosses with wolfdog breeds like Tamaskans or Saarloos Wolfdogs
• Using misleading genetic tests that do not properly distinguish between dog and wolf ancestry

How to Know If Your NAID Is Truly Wolf-Free

Here’s what you should look for when verifying the legitimacy of a NAID:

• UC Davis Canid Hybrid Test
  This test screens for recent gray wolf ancestry, and is the scientific gold standard for wolfdog verification.
• Ancestry Know Your Pet DNA Testing
  This test recognizes the NAID as a distinct breed identity when properly preserved. No wolf DNA appears when the dog is correctly bred.
• Full Pedigrees from a Registry (NAIDPP)
  The NAID Preservation Project registry dates back to 2002 and includes nearly 1,000 dogs with tracked lineage, COI scores, and verified ancestry.

What’s Fueling the Misinformation About the NAID?

As interest in the Native American Indian Dog grows, so too does the amount of misinformation circulating online. One of the most prominent sources of confusion is a large Facebook group claiming to be the “official” network for the breed. While it may appear authoritative due to its name and number of members, the group has a history of promoting inaccurate and misleading narratives—particularly the claim that NAIDs are wolfdogs or should be treated as such. This deliberate distortion is harming the breed.

This narrative not only misrepresents the actual genetics and temperament of the NAID, but it can also have serious legal implications in states where ownership of wolfdogs is restricted or banned. The spread of this kind of misinformation puts families and dogs at risk and undermines the work of breeders and preservationists who are committed to responsible, transparent practices.

We encourage prospective owners and researchers to approach such online groups with caution. Ask for peer-reviewed DNA test results, verified ancestry data, and concrete evidence rather than relying on speculation, anecdote, or sensationalism.

The Legal Consequences of This Misinformation

Many of the people involved in spreading this narrative live in states where wolfdogs are outright illegal…yet they are promoting the idea that NAIDs are wolfdogs—putting puppy buyers at risk of legal penalties, confiscation, or worse. The folks who are saying this are even placing a burden of risk upon their own dogs!

The Genetics Debate: Embark vs UC Davis

Another reason this myth persists is a lack of genetic literacy.

Many breeders rely solely on Embark DNA tests, which often report 5–30% gray wolf DNA in NAIDs. But here’s the problem: Embark is not a hybrid or wolfdog test. It uses algorithmic population matches that often misread ancient dog traits as wolf markers. It’s what’s known as a “direct-to-consumer” test, and is not a proper DNA examination. What’s more, it’s a test geared toward domestic dogs and not wild canids, and therefore, lacks most of the proper markers for defining dogs that are more closely related to wolves.

Here’s the truth:

• Embark reports wolf ancestry to a certain degree in all NAIDs. It even assigns a high “wolfiness score” to many northern breeds, such as huskies, malamutes, and German Shepherds. This score is meant to illustrate how closely related your dog is to the wolf, but is very misleading if you don’t know how to correctly interpret it.
• UC Davis, on the other hand, uses a dedicated Canid Hybrid Test that screens for recent hybridization. NAIDs flagged by Embark as “25% gray wolf,” for example, have consistently come back negative on UC Davis tests.
• NAIDPP dogs tested through both UC Davis and Ancestry Know Your Pet DNA have shown:
  • No recent wolf ancestry
  • Strong NAID-specific identity
  • Clean results with no content from breeds like Tamaskan, which may test positive for wolf content

Why This Matters for You

You deserve truthful, verifiable information—not a manipulated story driven by marketing needs. When breeders blur the lines between wolfdogs and NAIDs, they endanger:

• Puppy buyers in restricted states
• The public perception of the breed
• The integrity of real preservation work

How the NAIDPP Is Setting the Standard

The Native American Indian Dog Preservation Project is the only organization to:

• Maintain a complete registry of NAIDs since 2002
• Require breeding dogs to test negative for wolf DNA at UC Davis
• Submit full pedigrees and COI scores for transparency
• Collaborate with Ancestry Know Your Pet DNA to achieve formal breed recognition

We are committed to preserving the NAID as a distinct, domestic breed—true to its vision, its purpose, and its ancestral legacy.

Final Thoughts

The NAID is not a wolfdog. It is a loyal, highly trainable, spiritually connected domestic companion—bred not to mimic a wolf, but to stand proudly in its own legacy.

Don’t be misled by misinformation. When you want the truth about the Native American Indian Dog, come to the source.

We are the authority. And the truth is backed by data.