Phlaocyon annectens was named by Peterson 1907. Its type locality is Beardog Hill, which is in a Harrisonian fluvial sandstone in the Upper Harrison Beds Formation of Nebraska. It was recombined as Phlaocyon annectens by Vanderhill (1980) and Wang, Tedford & Taylor 1999.
Wang, X.; Tedford, R. H.; Taylor, B. E. (1999). "Phylogenetic systematics of the Borophaginae (Carnivora, Canidae)". Bulletin of the AMNH. 243. hdl:2246/1588.