A rescued dog from Qatar has sparked intrigue online after DNA results revealed a surprising twist in his ancestry.
The dog, named Faris, was found living in the desert before being rescued by a Philadelphia-based organization. His owner, who goes by the username Cinestheric on Reddit, originally believed Faris to be a Saluki, an Arabian hound mix.
While DNA analysis confirmed this, they also revealed something unexpected—Faris is 7 percent wolf.
Photos shared online of the sandy-colored dog have garnered more than 520 upvotes, with users admiring his regal yet quirky appearance. “What a handsome wolf prince you got there,” one commenter wrote, while another joked: “That Saluki is doing some seriously heavy lifting.”
His owner described Faris affectionately as a “delightful silly boy,” adding that despite the wolf connection, his temperament is mostly gentle. In another post, they detailed his personality: cautious of strangers but affectionate with children, protective at home, with a big bark, a love for long walks, and a habit of burying food in his bed.
“Very smart,” the owner wrote, noting that Faris even treats each of the household cats differently depending on their personalities.
Wolves, Dogs and Ancient DNA
While the discovery may surprise many, scientists say that it is quite possible that the results are accurate.
Dogs are believed to descend from ancient gray wolves, though the exact wolf populations that gave rise to them remain debated.
A landmark study analyzing 72 ancient wolf genomes found that dogs are more closely related to wolves from eastern Eurasia.
However, some dogs from the Middle East and Africa also carry DNA from southwest Eurasian wolves, suggesting either multiple domestication events or genetic mixing with local wolf populations.
How Accurate Are Dog DNA Tests?
The revelation also raises questions about the reliability of consumer DNA tests for pets.
According to Zion Market Research, the global dog DNA testing market is booming—expected to reach $723 million by 2030, growing at a rate of about 15.1 percent annually.
Yet, not all results can be taken at face value. A 2023 CBC News report found inconsistencies when consumer watchdog Marketplace sent DNA samples from two mixed-breed dogs, one purebred, and one human to four popular testing companies—Wisdom Panel, Embark, Accu-metrics, and DNA My Dog.
Nearly all the results came back different, despite each company advertising near-100 percent accuracy.
Faris’ owner acknowledged this uncertainty in the comments, joking: “[The company] is making his genetics more exciting than they probably are and he’s just a cool Qatari guy!”
Whether or not the wolf DNA is entirely accurate, Faris’ story has captivated online audiences. “I love him! He’s definitely a unique cutie!” one fan commented. Another summed up the collective sentiment: “What a special boy.”
For his owner, however, the appeal goes far beyond novelty. As they put it simply: “I love him.”
Newsweek reached out to u/Cinestheric for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
Reference
Bergström, A., Stanton, D. W. G., Taron, U. H., Frantz, L., Sinding, M.-H. S., Ersmark, E., Pfrengle, S., Cassatt-Johnstone, M., Lebrasseur, O., Girdland-Flink, L., Fernandes, D. M., Ollivier, M., Speidel, L., Gopalakrishnan, S., Westbury, M. V., Ramos-Madrigal, J., Feuerborn, T. R., Reiter, E., Gretzinger, J., … Skoglund, P. (2022). Grey wolf genomic history reveals a dual ancestry of dogs. Nature, 607(7918), 313–320. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04824-9
