Different timber wolves have different colourings. My arctic timberwolf was solid white – but he was the only one in his litter – the others were all dark. My FIL’s is a tri-colour. Like I said, the pie-eyes is what makes me wonder what all was in his mother’s line. I’ve never seen a wolf with pie-eyes that didn’t have something else in it.
The Mackenzie wolves I have seen have tended to be black or have a lot of black compared to other timber wolves. There is a typical picture of wolves that you always see in pictures, but wolves, like any other animal, can vary greatly in personality, colouring, etc. Regardless of what he may or may not be mixed with (and I honestly have no reason to doubt his lineage, I’ve met his parents), he’s a sweet, smart, loving little guy.
As for scientifically distinguishing a wolf from a domestic dog, yeh, I could have him DNA tested, but again – why? We love him regardless. There is no way to distinguish a (well-socialised) wolf from a domesticated dog visually – I had a German Shepherd when I was little that everyone thought was a wolf because of his colouring, go figure.
Thanks for all the compliments, though. I am off to snuggle up with the beasts to watch cartoons.
I recall a few years ago hearing that biologists had decided to stop classifying wolves and dogs as separate species. There is just too much overlapping between the two groups, apparently. So I presume that the only way to answer whether any given wolfish-looking tame canine is a dog or a wolf would be to compare its DNA with samples from known wild wolf populations, and with domestic dog populations–and even that would only tell you which it was more closely related to.
Pretty much. I will note that there are things that every wolf I have met does but only a handful of dogs do, and vice versa. Of course, I haven’t had much chance to observe wild wolves, I have known several wolves that lived with people.
He looks great, but if I catch him drinking out of my swimming pool as the coyotes around here do, he will get a spankie.
What language is his name? American Indian?
His name is Cherokee – it means “Little Brother.”
Coyotes are funny – we have them out this way, but I honestly think they’re scared of my minions…er, I mean the barn cats 
Aaawwww what a beautiful little beastie (**DLux **melts into goo).
You’re a lucky person, to get to share your life with wolves and they with you.