11 Dogs That Look Like Wolves
Originally bred to haul heavy freight over long distances, the Alaskan Malamute is a big and powerful dog, weighing up to 45 kg. Despite its strength, the breed is very friendly. Its friendliness and lack of barking make it a popular choice for pet owners. The Malamute is a very intelligent and loyal dog, but because it was bred to survive in harsh conditions, it is also incredibly resourceful and independent.
The Malamute may not be a great fit for families that have other pets, particularly small ones since the breed does have a fairly developed prey drive.
Physically, the dog has a two-inch-long, thick double coat and facial markings like a wolf. This breed comes in various colours like shades of gray and white, sable and white, black and red.
Siberian Huskies are known for their distinctive thickly furred double coat, erect triangle-shaped ears, and distinctive color markings. They are medium-sized dogs, weighing up to 27-28 kg. They have facial markings that are very similar to wolves. Their color comes in a variety of shades like black and white, red and white, brown, gray and white, silver, wolf-gray, sable and white, red-orange with black tips, and dark gray.
Huskies are a very loyal, intelligent, and sturdy working breed. They were originally bred by the Chukchi Tribe in Siberia to haul heavy loads.
They are a very energetic and active dog that shares many of the same behavioral and temperamental characteristics of their wolf ancestors. For instance, they typically howl rather than bark, are known for being escape artists, and feel a powerful need to belong to a “pack.” As such, they often crave the companionship of other dogs and people.
Though the ASPCA lists them as good with children and as good family dogs, Huskies do have special exercise needs. They have a lot of energy and can turn destructive if they dont get enough exercise. Because of their tendency to escape, the ASPCA also recommends having a fence in your backyard.
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is a relatively new breed, a hybrid between German Shepherds and Carpathian wolves. The goal was to create a breed with the strength and stamina of a wolf with the temperament and intelligence of the German Shepherd.
The breeds build and hair very closely resemble that of wolves. Its distinguished by its amber eyes, and erect triangle-shaped ears. Its thick fur ranges in color from yellow- to silver-grey.
Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs are very social and develop strong bonds with their families. While good with other pets, you will need to watch them when encountering strange animals. As such, its really important to socialize the dog.
Kugsha, or Amerindian Malamutes, are native to the United States and are wolf hybrids.
They are very strong, larger and longer than Siberian Huskies but not like Alaskan Malamute. They are born travellers. Their long legs and strong body make them well-suited to carrying heavy loads across long distances.
Because theyre only recently domesticated, they are very independent with lots of spirit. While Kugshas are very loyal and develop strong relationships with their owners, they are not a good dog for families with small children due to their predatory nature. Also, they need a lot of exercise and can get destructive if they do not get enough physical activity.
Samoyeds are Russian breed of dog they get their name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. They are strong, well-built and broad-headed. They are very lively and good companions. One of their distinguishing characteristics is the “Sammy smile,” which very noticeable because of the contrast between its white coat and black lips.
Samoyeds are calm, devoted, very friendly and pleasant dogs and love everyone. Their colours are, white and shades of white with long and thick fur. They were bred to hunt. They love hiking, tracking and keeping their owners warm by sleeping on top of them at night.
They are great family dogs and are very good with children and are very playful.
Unfortunately, Samoyeds have a number of congenital health problems including hip dysplasia, diabetes, and kidney disease.
Tamaskans are a very new breed, recognized by the American Kennel Club only in 2013. They were bred to look like wolves, with a thick coat that comes in red-grey, wolf-grey, and black-grey. Because theyre so new, theyre quite rare. There are only 600 certified Tamaskans in the world. However, they are growing in popularity.
Tamaskans are good family dogs and particularly good with children. Theyre very smart, easily trainable and highly social, so they shouldnt be left alone for long periods of time. They also require quite a bit of exercise and can turn destructive if they dont get enough physical stimulation.
Also known as Qimmiq, Canadian Husky, and Canadian Inuit Dogs, this breed is a working dog that used to pull sleds and hunt. They are large dogs, weighing up to 66 and 95 pounds (30 to 43 kilograms). The breed is currently endangered, with only 300 registered purebreds in 2008.
These dogs are smart, energetic, strong, tough, and very loyal. However, they are not great fits for families with other small dogs, because they have fairly high prey drives. They also do best in cold weather and are prone to heat stroke.
They also require an enormous amount of exercise, often much more than the typical owner can give. So think carefully before getting one.
The Northern Inuit dog is an unrecognized crossbred dog, developed in the U.K. with the intent of creating a domesticated working dog that looks like a wolf. This dog originates from crosses between German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, and Inuit dogs. This dog has a medium build and its shape and coloring very much resembles that of a wolf.
The Northern Inuit Dog is not for an inexperienced owner. Theyre very smart, but also stubborn and difficult to train. They also tend toward having separation anxiety, but training at a young age can take care of that. They are also better fits for families with more than one dog.
Utonagans were bred in England with the aim of producing a wolf-like dog. They are a mix of three dogs-the Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, and Siberian Husky.
While not bred for any particular task, Utonagans are easily trainable and can be taught to do any number of tasks. They are very friendly and intelligent dogs and tend to get along well with people, including children. They are also fairly energetic and require significant exercise—at least a daily walk or job. That said, be careful about exercising them in the heat: this breed does best in colder weather.
They are not recommended for apartment dwellers and do best in houses with a high-fenced yard.
The German Shepherd Dogs are one of worlds most recognized and popular breeds. They are also known as Alsatians in Great Britain and parts of Europe. They are the second most popular breed in the United States and the fourth most popular in the U.K.
They are bred especially for their intelligence and are ranked as the third most intelligent breed. Their intelligence makes German Shepherds excellent working dogs and they are often employed as police, guard, and search-and-rescue dogs.
They are very energetic, eager to learn, and very much need a job or task to perform. Otherwise they get bored and can become destructive. If not adequately socialized, they can become over-protective of their family. They are a bit aloof socially, but very loyal to their owners.
Dutch breeder Leendert Saarloos started cross-breeding a German Shepherd Dog male to a female European Wolf, to get better working dogs. The Saarloos Wolfhound is strong and energetic and has a powerful neck, broad head, and long legs. The Dutch Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1975.
It has wolf-like expressions, as well as a wolf-like head. This dog is not recommended for apartment life. It has lot of stamina and needs a lot of daily exercise. It’s a strong-willed dog and needs a very experienced owner capable of providing it the necessary exercise and discipline.
Dog breeds that look like wolves
The striking looks of Siberian Huskies have made them one of the most recognisable canines out there. Their stunning eyes, compact bodies and upright ears remind us of their wolf ancestors, but their playful and friendly personality helps them make fast friends with anyone.
Siberian Huskies are athletic, full of energy and love to have a job to do. Thats no surprise considering they used to be reliable sleigh dogs. So before taking a Husky home, make sure you have a solid plan for daily exercise, fun games and brain-teasing challenges to keep them occupied.
Another strong-headed dog that looks like a wolf, the Alaskan Malamute is just as handsome as the Husky. Bigger and slightly fluffier, Alaskans will also know their way around a sled. But if you dont have one, they will be happy to spend their energy doing plenty of running, hiking and exploring all the world has to offer. Their double coat might seem an unstoppable fur machine, but these wolf dogs are such friendly and joyful pets that you will quickly forgive them for the extra house work.
Their muscular build makes them very strong. After all, Alaskan Malamutes were bred to pull heavy weights for long distances. Keep this in mind when you walk them on a leash or they will end up pulling you along instead of the other way around.
The German Shepherd is a natural hero. Intelligent and loyal, German Shepherds love to be on a mission. From search-and-rescue jobs to guide and assistance tasks, no challenge is too big for their many talents.
This ever-popular dog looks like a wolf, but behaves like the best canine friend youll ever have. Their protective nature will match up well with families and theyre great dogs for older children. As long as there is plenty of action around, they will be the exuberant canine reminding you just why you love dogs so much. But if there isnt much for them to do, they will easily turn to mischief, so make sure youve always got games and challenges for them to do.
This dog looks like a wolf but sports the size of a Corgi. With a great personality to match their dual looks, you will get the best of both worlds. The Swedish Vallhunds herding background makes them an intelligent dog thats always on the lookout, announcing guests well before they even have a chance to reach for the doorbell. They are also lively and playful wolf dogs, looking for hugs wherever they can get them.
They are high-energy dogs constantly running around and barking up a storm, which is why you need to be an active owner to thoroughly enjoy their charm. But many Swedish Vallhund owners will tell you there is plenty of fun to be had with this dog. They are game masters and veritable canine comics that will put their playful side on full display whenever you need a smile on your face.
The Sammie should be the standard for white fluffiness in wolf dogs. Their beautiful thick double coat requires extra grooming but its so worth it. Samoyed dogs will love everyone, from family to random strangers.
Although this disqualifies them for guard dog jobs, they are quite vocal in showing their love and very affectionate, which makes them great family pets. They are the intelligent type with a mind of their own and might start to re-arrange the backyard if left alone too much.
If you decide to bring home a baby Samoyed, make sure you start training with a firm but gentle hand, have a good grooming brush handy and solid fencing in place. But most of all, be prepared for that famous Sammie smile to melt your heart every day.
If you love wolves, there are many dog breeds with similar looks but much better suited personalities for a lifetime spent around people and other pets. Explore even more fun and loving dog breeds with our dog breed library, or use our dog breed selector to find the perfect dog for you.
How do different cultures view wolves?
Cultures around the world have many different views when it comes to the meaning of wolves. In fact, Native American cultures have long seen the wolf as both a powerful animal and a source of inspiration. The Ojibwe believed that a wolfman spirit made the Great Plains for them and for the other animals, too. Also, the Hopi honor a wolf katsina, a spiritual being who serves as a guardian for sacred dancers. These are but a handful of the many views about wolves held by cultures around the world.