Did dogs originate from wolves

Wolves and domestic dogs are both from the genus Canis which is why we call them canines. Both wolves and domestic dogs share the family name Canidae with foxes, but foxes are not canines.

The experts in the field have called both wolves and dogs canines because they believe that they are very closely related and therefore believe that they both share a recent ancestor in the evolutionary process.

To say that one species has evolved from the other is not scientifically correct as both the species have evolved to survive in the environment that they live in. However they do both share the same ancestor.

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The Domestic dog is actually comprised of a large number of breeds. Humans have taken different canines that used to live in different regions around the world and controlled the breeding process to enhance certain characteristics that are deemed useful for one reason or another - the best known example is the border collie which is used extensively world wide for sheep herding. The breeds are still used for many other practical purposes today, but mostly the breeds are kept as family dogs.

Some domestic dogs show characteristics of wolves, but mostly domestic dogs are far more passive. Wolves still have the "I am wild" gene active in them and it is not advisable to try domesticate a wolf.