Mutton, an Indigenous woolly dog, died in 1859 − new analysis confirms precolonial lineage of this extinct breed, once kept for their wool

Mutton, an Indigenous woolly dog, died in 1859 − new analysis confirms precolonial lineage of this extinct breed, once kept for their wool.

• Indigenous Coast Salish women traditionally wove blankets using woolly dogs' fur, a breed specifically bred for their fleece, which declined in the 19th century due to colonialism and repressive government policies.

• Mutton, the last confirmed woolly dog specimen, lived in the 19th century and his DNA analysis revealed a long history of selective breeding and isolation from other dog lineages, with evidence of European settler-introduced genes.

• The study of Mutton's genetic sequencing and reconstruction of his appearance sheds light on the importance of preserving Indigenous traditions, with hopes of reviving the woolly dog breed through selective breeding and care in the future.