"modern wolves are not dogs' direct ancestors"

I listened to that report on NPR. Interesting.
My thinking is that the wolves evolved into domesticated animals hanging around humans at first eating leftover carcasses then eventually as the got friendlier and closer,
Our scraps. Including fish parts, offal, rancid cooked food, whatever humans threw out.

You can also argue that might have not been the healthiest diet.

Although no pesticides, GMO or chemical preservatives.