Dog Skull

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Chinese Crested Boxer German Shepherd


Greenland	Greyhound

Under domestication, the evolution of the wolf C. lupus into a new "species" - the domestic dog C. familiaris, has resulted in subtle changes to the skull. Because of the immense variability of both species, it is not always possible to identify skulls with confidence.
Tooth Size. Domestic dogs have smaller teeth than similar sized wolves (see below). Measurements of sections of the tooth rows are sometimes used to separate them.
Wolf (top) and German Shepherd Dog upper teeth compared. It is a pity the wolf canine is missing, the diameter of the alveolus is 16.7mm, compared to 12.6mm for the GSD.
Frontal Bones. Wolves (and African Hunting Dogs) have inflated frontal bones, probably due to the importance of facial expression in these highly social species. Domestic dogs have inherited this trait strongly (see below, and Fox), which is useful in separating them from many wild canids.
Coyote (foreground) and Greyhound skulls compared, to show the developement of the frontal bone in domesticated canids.
(not to scale)

Under domestication, the evolution of the wolf C. lupus into a new "species" - the domestic dog C. familiaris, has resulted in subtle changes to the skull. Because of the immense variability of both species, it is not always possible to identify skulls with confidence. Tooth Size. Domestic dogs have smaller teeth than similar sized wolves (see below). Measurements of sections of the tooth rows are sometimes used to separate them.
	Wolf (top) and German Shepherd Dog upper teeth compared. It is a pity the wolf canine is missing, the diameter of the alveolus is 16.7mm, compared to 12.6mm for the GSD.
Frontal Bones. Wolves (and African Hunting Dogs) have inflated frontal bones, probably due to the importance of facial expression in these highly social species. Domestic dogs have inherited this trait strongly (see below, and Fox), which is useful in separating them from many wild canids.
	Coyote (foreground) and Greyhound skulls compared, to show the developement of the frontal bone in domesticated canids. (not to scale)