But if you think a wolf-dog is a great fit for your home, then any one of these wolf dog breeds would make an adorable canine companion. From smaller breeds to larger dogs (without that famous fairytale wolfs bad trait), these wolf-like pups are popular choices for many and have quite the internet presence — although who could blame anyone from spending, say multiple hours, scrolling through adorable photos of baby Siberian Huskies, Tamaskans, and Alaskan Malamutes? We definitely cant. So, go on, take a scroll and find the wolf dog breed for your next stroll around the neighborhood. Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Siberian Huskies really were born to run. The AKC notes that these high-energy dogs need lots and lots of exercise, and they love being social with people and other dogs — so you should plan to spend many afternoons playing fetch.
Tamaskans tend to have a thick coat and straight, bushy tail, making them very wolf-like, according to Dog Breed Info. Tamaskans often are good family dogs, but make sure youre able to spend lots of time with your pup as this breed prefers not to be left alone for long periods of time.
According to AKC, Shikokus hail from Japan, where they were highly valued by the Matagi (Japanese hunters) for their ability to track wild boars. But even if youre not regularly boar-hunting in your neighborhood, this breed can still be a great companion: AKC says they are known to be energetic and very loyal to their owners.
These large, intelligent wolf dogs need lots of room to run and explore. According to the AKC, Czechoslovakian wolfdogs tend to have dominant and independent personalities. That said, theyll make a great adventure buddy next time you go camping, hiking, or biking.
Eight of the Most Wolf-Like Breeds
The eight breeds below all resemble wolves to varying degrees. Some are the product of dog-wolf hybridization, but others are simply dogs who’ve been selectively bred to resemble wolves.
Photo courtesy of 101dogbreeds.com
Kughsas – also known as Amerindian malamutes – are a hybrid breed with an enigmatic history.
Accounts of their precise origin vary from source to source, and none appear especially authoritative. However, they look like big huskies and exhibit the drive, love for running, and stamina that huskies do, but, like many other wolf hybrids, they have quite an independent streak and assertive personalities.
Some report (although without much in the way of citations or documentation) that the breed name came about as a way to get around laws banning wolf hybrids.
The Siberian husky is a familiar and lovely breed, who is well-suited for homes that are prepared to accommodate a heavily shedding, high-energy dog who loves to play, roam, and explore. Not to mention these vocal dogs can be quite noisy when they get in the right mood!
Accordingly, they are great for active families, runners, and bikers (that’s Lance-Armstrong-style bikers, not Jax-Teller-style bikers).
Although not as popular as the husky, the Alaskan malamute is another familiar but ancient dog breed, which you may encounter from time to time. Handsome, fluffy and bigger than the husky, the malamute was also developed as a sled-pulling breed (and for hunting polar bears, of all things).
Malamutes are pretty, lovable, and very trainable when compared with some of the other dogs on this list. Like huskies, they have high energy levels, playful personalities and the ability to coat your entire home in a layer of their fur.
German shepherds possess a distinct wolf-like aesthetic, but some clearly resemble wolves more than others do.
For example, German shepherds with long hair tend to look more like wolves, and the larger, bulkier individuals also project a more wolf-like than the small, lean ones do.
German shepherds are sometimes clad in very wolf-like colors, including lots of gray, white and black, which helps further strengthen the resemblance. Both German shepherds and (less commonly) wild wolves occasionally exhibit jet-black coats, which is also pretty neat.
Like many of the other breeds on this list, German shepherds are shedding machines, but they’re also loving, loyal, bright, and protective, so it is easy to understand their popularity.
Photo courtesy of Pets4homes.co.uk
The Saarloos wolfdog line was initially developed by Dutch breeder Leendert Saarloos in the 1930s. Although they were originally created by crossing European wolves with German shepherds, they have been recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale (the world’s leading international dog registry) as a distinct breed since 1981.
One of the breeds that is most distantly related to other domestic dogs, and likely the most wolf-like breed in the world, Saarloos wolfdogs not only have a wolf-like build, their facial expressions are said to closely mimic those of wolves.
These dogs are said to be loving and smart, but, like most other wolf-hybrids, not particularly interested in pleasing their non-fur parent.
Hailing from ancient Japan, the Shikoku dog breed has been around for a very long time and physically resembles the Akita more than a wolf. Fun fact, though: Both breeds are considered wolf dogs! The Shikoku is known to be good with families and young children, affectionate, and usually compatible with other dogs.
Also known as the Alaskan Malamute, the Kugsha is massive and also… mysterious. Not much information is even known about Malamutes and different theories abound about their origins. Most likely though, based on their looks, theyre very similar to Huskies and as such, they share the Huskies high intelligence, love for exercise, and even their meticulous work ethic.
A mix between the German Shepherd, Malamute, and Siberian Husky, the Utonagan has been historically bred as a sleddog. Known for their strength and high energy levels, these pups need a lot of exercise and of course, a lot of space to do it.
“Wolves and dogs are interfertile, meaning they can breed and produce viable offspring,” according to Wolf.org. “In other words, wolves can interbreed with dogs, and their offspring are capable of producing offspring themselves. Although hybrids can occur naturally in the wild, they are rare because the territorial nature of wolves leads them to protect their home ranges from intruding canines such as dogs, coyotes, and other wolves.”
The Saarloos Wolfdog is one of the more wolf-dominant hybrid dog breeds. While its temperament can display both gentle, German Shepherd-like behaviors as well as a more instinctual, wolf side, owning a Saarloos is best for adult dog owners (AKA no kids) with a lot of experience. After all, the Saarloos came to be by the cross-breeding of the German Shepherd with the Eurasian Grey Wolf, making it one of the most similar breeds to wolves in terms of DNA.
Wolfdogs! Why are they better than domestic dogs?
Dogs and wild wolves share over 99 percent of their DNA. But thousands of years of selective breeding means domestic dogs suit being family companions. That doesn’t mean majestic wolves or hybrid wolfdogs, like White Fang in the famous Jack London novel, don’t continue to hold a fascination for many. And their allure has grown even more with the introduction of the dire wolves in Game of Thrones, one of the most popular TV shows of all time.
Fan attachment to Ghost, Nymeria, and their ill-fated littermates meant a surge in demand for controversial wolfdogs. Consequently, there’s been a sad spike in irresponsible, unscrupulous breeding and hard-to-care-for hybrids ending up in wolfdog sanctuaries.
And the Game of Thrones effect also saw more Huskies and other Northern breeds end up in shelters because of impulse buying. After all, these dogs are usually super smart and high-energy, with an independence of spirit and drive to work—not ideal candidates for traditional first-time dog owners and their lifestyles.
But, if you’ve done a ton of research, can offer bags of exercise and appropriate enrichment, and don’t mind your furnishings getting covered in shedding fur, you might be able to offer one of these wolf-like dog breeds a loving and fitting home.
Developed as a companion-sized version of the Alaskan Husky in the seventies, this Foundation Stock Service (FSS) breed comes in toy, miniature, and standard sizes. This little wolf look-alike might be compact, but Alaskan Klee Kai have big personalities. Inquisitive, intelligent, and energetic, they form strong bonds with their families but are often aloof and wary of strangers. Known for being more trainable than Huskies, you should still be ready for the wolf-like woo these spitz-type dogs emit when excited.
It’s no surprise this ancient basal breed reminds some people of their lupine forebears. Resembling their smaller Husky cousins, Alaskan Malamutes commonly have thick, gray-white, wolf-colored coats. Mals are dignified, devoted, heavy-duty dogs made indispensable because of their ability to pull heavy sleds over long distances in harsh arctic conditions. Playful, biddable, and affectionate, these family favorites still need plenty of socialization and gentle coaching—an unruly lump of a Mal (weighing about as much as a Gray Wolf) won’t be easy to handle.
Like all the double-coated breeds on this list, you’ll need a good vacuum and de-shedding brush for heavy molting Mals.
Of all the dogs on this list, the Czechoslovakian Vlcak (CSV) shares the closest resemblance to their wolf relatives. This FSS breed was originally bred in the 1950s by crossing a German Shepherd with a Carpathian Wolf. These working dogs, who patrolled borders with the Czech military, love having a job to do.
Despite being smart, loyal to a fault, and athletic, they don’t make good pets for average first-time dog owners. Independent, aloof with outsiders, and with a short attention span, they need oodles of exercise and enrichment to keep them happy and out of trouble.
Traditionally reindeer herders for the Sami, also known as Lapp, people from Lapland, the Finnish Lapphund could be mistaken for a silky-coated susi (wolf in Finnish). Like wolves, they’re clever, courageous, cordial, and calm. Popular pets in their home country, they crave closeness with their family and excel in herding trials and other dog sports.
The German Shepherd Dog might not look quite as much like Canis lupis as some of the Nordic spitz-types on this list, but you can certainly see some wolf-like aspects in this all-purpose worker’s appearance. And it’s no surprise it was a GSD they crossed with a wolf to create the first Czech Vlcak. As one of the top 10 most popular breeds in the United States year after year, with the right training, socialization, and exercise, this steady, smart, and stouthearted dog makes a wonderful family pet and guardian.
Broader and boxier than a wolf, the Norwegian Elkhound is another ancient Nordic spitz breed that looks a little wolfish. Sailing and hunting with the Vikings, they went on to herd sheep and guard rural Norwegian farms. These days, their natural stamina and dependability make them ideal eager herding competitors but watch out for their high prey drive and independent streak. Their dense, silver-gray coat adds to their wolf-like appearance, and, like their wild counterparts, they’re wary of strangers but unmistakably loyal and loving to those in their trusted circle.
Another sled dog with a thick coat, enduring stamina, smarts, and a strong social side, the Samoyed could be mistaken for a fluffy, white-coated wolf from afar. The Sammies’ famous smile might be a practical breed trait designed to prevent drool from turning to icicles on their face, but it fits in with their happy, friendly disposition and love of being in the center of their pack. This social side is why Sammies suit best being part of a family they can be with most of the day to prevent separation anxiety from rearing its head.
If you ask people what dog reminds them most of a wolf, the Siberian Husky is a routine response. The most well-known and beloved of all the spitz breeds, their speed, stamina, and svelte lines made them popular sled racers when they came to North American shores in the early 20th century. These days, they’re also desirable family pets with fun, cheeky, outgoing characters. But, if you can’t put enough effort into exercise and education, a Husky, with its roaming, pack-life wolf traits, won’t be the pet for you. They’re well-suited to active families that can be with them most of the day and who don’t mind copious amounts of fur on their furniture and the occasional whining.
A low-slung breed that merges the stumpy-like appearance of a cute Pembroke Welsh Corgi with wolf-like features, the Swedish Vallhund is still used as an adaptable, all-purpose farm dog in its home country. Sharing the independent but loyal traits of many Spitz breeds, they have a peppy, cheery disposition. While they still need a decent amount of exercise and enrichment, they aren’t as high-energy as some breeds on this list. But, because of their cattle herding background, get ready to work on harnessing their instinct to chase.
A newer FSS breed with an ancient history, the Yakutian Laika was a multipurpose working dog used to pull sleds, herd reindeer, and hunt for the people in the Yakutia region of Russian Siberia. This rare dog looks a bit like a cross between a Collie, a fluffy spitz breed, and a wolf with its wedge-shaped, pointed head. These days, they’re known as devoted and gentle family members with bags of energy. Although naturally wary and sensitive, they warm up quickly to those they trust. Like wolves, they might love to chase potential prey, but they’re smart and eager to please, so it’s something you can work on preventing.
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