Dog breeds that look like wolves include the Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, German Shepherd, Tamaskan Dog, Northern Inuit Dog, and Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, often recognized by their pointed ears, thick fur, and wolf-like facial structures, though breeds like the Akita and Shiba Inu are also genetically close. Some, like the Tamaskan, were specifically developed to mimic wolves using breeds such as Huskies, Malamutes, and German Shepherds.
Tamaskan dogs are a dog breed from Finland that have been selectively bred to resemble a wolf or wolfdog. Although their exact origins are uncertain, these mixed breed dogs were primarily arctic breed crosses of Alaskan husky, Alaskan Malamute, Canadian Eskimo dog, German shepherd, Labrador husky, and Siberian husky.
The Tamaskan Dog is a strikingly wolf-like breed that hails from Finland. Bred to resemble wolves, these dogs are a mix of Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, and German Shepherd. Tamaskans are known for their loyalty, intelligence, and friendly demeanor, making them excellent companions for active families.
Wolfdogs, for lack of a better term, are 'mutts': wolf mixed with another breed, or several breeds, of dog. Usually, they are a combination wolf with Siberian husky, Alaskan malamute or German shepherd, but can be mixed with other breeds as well.
A 2016 meta-analysis of 25 genetics studies from 1995 to 2013 found that the northeastern coywolf is 60% western coyote, 30% eastern wolf, and 10% domestic dog. However, this hybrid canid is only now coming into contact with the southern wave of coyote migration into the southern United States.
All dogs are close relatives of wolves—after all, domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) descend from gray wolves (C. lupus). Yet, several breeds, including the Shiba Inu, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Chow Chow, remain genetically closer to wolves than others.
In truth, a coywolf is much more likely to be afraid of you than you are of it. This fact means that these hybrids are not typically dangerous. However, it is still very important to exercise caution if you do come across one.
Dog breeds that look like wolves
Wolfdogs have been growing in popularity in recent years and many people might like the idea of owning one but do not know what they are getting into. Wolfdogs are usually created by breeding a wolf with a German Shepherd, Husky or similar breed of domestic dog.
The "heartbreak breed" refers primarily to the Great Dane, nicknamed this due to their affectionate nature combined with a relatively short lifespan (around 7-10 years) and susceptibility to serious heart conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), making losing them particularly difficult for their devoted owners. Other giant breeds like Irish Wolfhounds, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and Saint Bernards also face significant health challenges, including cancer and heart disease, often earning them similar sentiments from owners.
Wolfdogs are the result of people intentionally breeding them. Today, they typically come to be when a wolfdog is bred with another wolfdog or dog, and doesn't usually involve a pure wolf parent. They are usually bred by backyard breeders as exotic pets in order to make a profit.
Irish Wolfhound
They're also the tallest dog breed, with males easily standing over 32 inches tall. Males can also weigh up to 180 pounds, nearly twice the size of the average wolf. As you might imagine, these dogs can be a lot to handle. They are also pretty active but prone to joint and bone issues.
The Saarloos Wolfdog (Dutch: Saarlooswolfhond, German: Saarlooswolfhund) is a wolfdog breed originating from the Netherlands by the crossing of a German Shepherd with a Siberian grey wolf in 1935. The offspring were then further crossed with German Shepherds.
The 14 Most Dangerous Dog Breeds
The primary dog breed used by U.S. Navy SEALs is the Belgian Malinois, prized for its agility, intelligence, and trainability, often working alongside handlers in high-stakes missions like the Osama bin Laden raid. Dutch Shepherds are also used, while Labrador Retrievers are common in other military roles, though Malinois are preferred for special ops due to their compact size for air/sea insertion.
A huge majority of the livestock guardian breeds like Kangals, working bred Tibetan Mastiffs, Central Asian Shepherd Dogs, etc. would be more than capable as protection, often specifically against wolves, is what they are bred and still used for.
It's the Shih Tzu! If that surprises you, Huskies, Malamute, and Samoyeds are part of the Nordic spitz group that, as a whole, shares the most wolf DNA, but the Shih Tzu is the individual breed that does.
The Shih Tzu shares more DNA with wolves than most other breeds. The only breed group with more shared wolf DNA is the Nordic spitz group (Huskies, Samoyeds, and Malamutes). The breed almost went extinct in the early 1900s. All Shih Tzus around today are descendants of a group of 13 Shih Tzus and 1 Pekingese.
African wild dogs, also known as painted dogs, might look like hyenas or even small wolves, but they are a completely different species. Scientifically known as Lycaon pictus, with Lycaon meaning 'wolf', and pictus meaning 'painted', these fascinating creatures belong to a different genus than our domesticated dogs.
Wolf Predator: Grizzly Bear
As apex predators, grizzly bears can take on almost anything that comes their way, if they have to. Grizzly bears are fierce apex predators that can weigh over 600 pounds! Adult males usually weigh between 400 to 600 pounds, and adult females way between 250 to 350 pounds.
The coyote is typically smaller than the gray wolf, but has longer ears and a relatively larger braincase, as well as a thinner frame, face, and muzzle. The scent glands are smaller than the gray wolf's, but are the same color. Its fur color variation is much less varied than that of a wolf.