I wanted to ask what marks defined facial markings vs undefined ones. I've been following your blog and seeing you mention this, but sometimes it looks like animals that are wolf dogs like one featured in a recent reblog you did (the one on the Yamnuska Sanctuary) do have these defined markings. I'm not trying to undermine you, I'd just like to know what the 'difference' is. Your posts are really interesting and informative :)

No worries at all! Facial markings in wolves and wolfdogs are kind of an interesting topic because it’s one that hasn’t been heavily discussed, even among seasoned phenotypers. But since malamutes and huskies are commonly bred in to wolfdog lines, I feel that it’s important to know that some types of masking are considered dog attributes, while others are accepted as being wolf-like, and others still exist as overlapping wolf/dog traits. The best way to explain the differences is through example.Below is a so-called “wolf” that made headlines in Florida recently after it escaped its enclosure at a roadside zoo following a flood: 

However, the animal is clearly not a wolf, despite having many wolfy attributes, and one of the easiest ways to determine this (aside from the thinly-furred ears) is on account of the stark ‘widow’s peak’ on the pup’s face. Among malamute fanciers, the term for this type of mask pattern is a “cap”, and in purebred malamutes, it looks like this: 

Among pure timber wolves and high-content wolfdogs, these markings do not appear - at least, not with such stark definition. Below is an older animal who is currently phasing, making the V pattern down the brow appear even more prominent than usual: 

However, it’s still obvious that the point of the V blends so nicely in with the rest of the fur on this animal’s muzzle that it’s literally non-existent. This was the closest thing I could find to a true “cap” face mask on a legitimate wolf/HC wolfdog after scouring through endless photos. The phasing of this animal adds to the contrast between the light and dark fur patterns, so this is a pretty extreme case, as well. Even given the best possible chance, the effect is not the same: A pure wolf will not have a defined V or “cap”-style face mask. Other types of masks that are dog traits likewise include clover masks, goggles, white blazes, and just about any other manner of marking that places very pale coloration right next to darker coloration without much fade in the ‘line’ between. 

Eyebrow blazes are likewise a dog trait, and I even recall reading somewhere that certain breeds adapted these markings as a means of communicating easier with humans via facial expression, though as I cannot recall the source of that information, it should be considered unverified. Wolves will not have defined white or tan “dots” over their eyes like dogs, do, though some will have paler markings there that, while not exactly starkly-defined, are still notable, like this: 

Compare this pure wolf’s eyebrow markings to those on a Northern Inuit Dog: 

The definition on the dog’s markings is much more defined, even if it is “similar” to the wolf’s markings. The wolf’s are, nevertheless, much more blended in their appearance.Black muzzles, as seen in German shepherds, are another facial pattern/feature that serves to separate a wolf from a dog. Here is a black-muzzled GSD mix: 

And here is the closest I could find for a pure wolf/HC wolfdog equivalent: 

That particular animal, it should be noted, is still very young, and did eventually phase-out of it’s current pictured coloration. It eventually ended up looking like this: 

So what about the gray area? The overlapping traits? 

There is a certain level of confusion in regards to certain cheek markings among wolves and dogs. Wolves and dogs are, after all, quite closely related from a DNA perspective, so certain traits do indeed overlap. One of those overlapping traits is that wolves can have defined contrast in the markings on their cheeks, like so: 

And pure domestic dogs can display similar colors/markings, as well (although note the defined eyebrow spots on this pup) : 

The definition in the light/dark on a canine’s cheeks, therefore, is considered an overlapping trait. Dogs can have it without any amount of wolf content; and wolves can have it without, in fact, being part dog. On the topic of gray areas, I might as well cover the issue of phasing. Wolves (and some dogs) exhibit a coat change called phasing - usually going from a dark coloration to a lighter one. Wolves that are born black can, after so many years, phase in to a solid white or blue/gray color. The same thing happens among gray and tawny wolves. Phasing can, as seen in the first example about the “cap” above, create more contrast in certain markings as an animal grows ever older. In that regard, you can end up with animals like this: 

None of these animals have dog in them, but the definition on their facial markings is nevertheless much more prominent due to phasing that one would see in a younger animal. What we can learn from all of this is simply that certain defined facial markings are dog traits, while others are overlapping. Low and mid-content wolfdogs can exhibit either type, while high contents and pure wolves will never display defined facial markings that are dog-specific. Hope this helps!