If you have watched the popular series Game of Thrones, you must be familiar with wolf dog breeds.Sadly, unlike the Stark family, you can not have wild wolves as pets. Wolf like dog breeds, including the famous Siberian huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Inuit Dogs, or German Shepherd canine breeds, can be your choice then!As much as you like wolves, they are, after all, wild, intimidating animals. So you can get yourself dogs that look like wolves. In contrast to myths, many wolf like dog breeds are good family pets, owing to their affectionate and loyal nature. For instance, an Alaskan Malamute is an excellent working dog, while an American Alsatian is a gentle giant with its doting nature. Wolves are actually the ancestors of domestic canines, which were domesticated by humans many years ago. As for why a human would domesticate a wolf-like breed, it is yet to be discovered.Dogs that look like wolves, like German shepherds or Inuit dogs or Huskies, are hybrid species. This means that they share a past where wolves and canines were interbred to create a hybrid. The wolf content in these canines varies, where some species like Malamutes have no wolf content at all, while Shiba Inu or Akita Inu have high content. Yet, even with zero wolf content, Malamutes and Huskies share distinct markings like that of a wolf! Interesting right? So, if you are looking forward to welcoming a wolf like canine buddy to your home, you should know your options. Read on to find more.You can also find some amazing facts about dogs that look like german shepherds and dogs that look like huskies.List Of Dogs That Look Like WolvesWolf like dogs include almost 18 different species, which have german shepherd, Alaskan malamute, Siberian husky, northern Inuit, saarloos wolfdog, and so on.Many wolf like dogs become the perfect companion for humans, unlike the common notion of them being dangerous. In this list, we have some very popular fur breeds that are wolf like in many ways.Siberian husky: Siberian husky is one of the oldest dog breeds, believed to have originated in the cold climates of Siberia, as made quite clear by its name. Siberian huskies became famous overtime for being sled dog breeds. Today, Siberian huskies are found all along North America and are one such dog breed known for their high energy levels. Siberian huskies love the attention of people around them and are pretty vocal in the absence of attention. These dogs are incredibly playful and mix well with the people around them. A Siberian husky is athletic with piercing blue eyes, responds well to grooming, and has wolf like prey drives.Alaskan malamute: Alaskan malamute is another popular breed of dog that looks like a wolf. Often, pet lovers denote this gorgeous breed as ‘mals’ were originally bred as sled dogs. They are much like wolves in their body, markings their distinct long coat. They are often compared to huskies and are almost double if compared to size. In contrast to their wild appearance, these fluffy dogs are very affectionate, adventurous, cuddly, and intelligent. Yes, we say cuddly, but do not underestimate malamutes for this characteristic. Malamutes are perhaps one of the most challenging dogs to train! This dog breed often undergoes separation anxiety if left alone for very long times.Northern Inuit: Northern Inuit dog is one breed that results from an attempt to evolve a wolfish animal with a dog’s persona. You probably already know this dog if you are a fan of Game of Thrones! Yes, we are talking about the Lady of the Stark family. A Northern Inuit is often confused with one of its parent breeds, the Malamutes, which are affectionate and playful dogs. Unfortunately, these breeds are often seen to go through separation anxiety, which is linked with their destructive attitude.German shepherd: A German shepherd is a wolf-like dog, which is perhaps one of the most popular dog breed choices in North American countries. The protective instinct of German shepherds are powerful, and their long coat makes them quite the doppelganger of wolves. This dog breed has a unique look, with a wildish face that looks much like a wolf. Their wolfish appearance and characteristics like loyalty and trainability have helped them make their way to becoming a popular choice of police dogs.Saarloos wolfdog: A Saarloos wolfdog is a mix between a Eurasian grey wolf and a German Shepherd, hence their resemblance to wolves. These furry animals, in most cases, sport a grey coat which is perhaps one of the essential characteristics that make them similar to a wolf. Their fur can also be black, tan, or even red. These fur animals are pretty proud and intelligent, and at the same time, devoted to their owners. Owing to their wolf DNA, these canines have retained some of their wild characteristics and like to be around other breed members.Utonagan: Utonagans come on the list of new breed dogs with high energy and sociable nature. Utonagans are known for their gentle and affectionate nature and are excellent working dogs. These dogs sport a gorgeous black, grey, or white coat, and with their extreme energy levels, they require regular exercise. So if you want to get a Utonagan, you will need ample open space for it to run around!Kugsha: Amerindian Malamute, which also goes by the name Kugsha, is a breed that has a distinct appearance like a wolf. Kugshas are very intelligent, playful, and curious balls of fur and one of the rarest wolf hybrids. They have a muscular and well-developed body with, pointy muzzle along a long tail. If you observe their mannerisms, you will get the vibe of a wolf and not your regular pup, making them quite challenging to train. However, with a dense and brittle coat that ranges in color from brown, white, fawn, or black, a Kugsha can be an excellent working dog.Tamaskan: Tamaskans are high-energy dogs, which are a rare breed from the Northern Inuits. These athletic dogs have a rich coat that varies in color from red, black, or white. From their large body proportion to movement, everything might remind you of a wolf. With a double coat, thick bush-like tail, and amber or yellow eyes, Tamaskans are a beauty to lay your eyes on.Swedish Vallhund: Among the most miniature dog breeds with a wolfish appearance is the very popular Swedish Vallhund which compensates its short stature with its high enthusiasm. Apart from the face of this cute pup, the coat is another factor that will remind you of wolves. This canine is very cheerful and also goes by the name of ‘Viking Dog.’ Although it started as a herding dog, today, these pups have made their way into households with their easy trainability and loving nature.Shikoku: Shikoku is a petite canine that is known for its wolf-like appearance. It is a Japanese breed, which was originally bred for boar hunting. They have an enthusiastic nature, packed with agility, loyalty, and a cautious attitude. The black sesame or red sesame coat of a Shikoku, along with the markings all along its body, will remind you of wolves. These canines are also similar to wolves in their prey drives, which they have carried with them to date. They are good domestic pups but require lots of training, play sessions, and exercises, or they might get bored quickly.Samoyed: Samoyed comes next in this list of wolves resembling dog breeds, large in size but playful and cuddly in nature. The beauty of a Samoyed lies in its thick double-layered coat, which is snowy white. These furry animals have short pointy ears, a thick tail curled over their back, and apart from their looks, their mannerisms are in sync with that of wolves. Their thick coat and ears have a stark resemblance with Arctic wolves. With origins lying in Siberia and Russia, Samoyeds are usually accustomed to the cold weather.Pomsky: Pomskies are quite the ‘mini wolves’ owing to their black or white coat and face. It is a small canine breed with an adorable face and silky furry body. Pomskies get their charming look from Siberian huskies and have a double-layered thick coat. Although black, white, and grey are the most common colors for Pomskies, but on rare occasions, you can also spot a red or blue one. These pups are known for their high levels of energy and adaptability to modern life.Akita Inu: Akita Inu, a Japanese canine breed, takes the next place in this list of wolf resembling dog breeds. Apart from their facial resemblance, they also have other connections with wolves. With respect to DNA analysis, this breed is one of the four canine species with the closest ties to wolves! These pups have a dense coat and can be distinguished from other wolfish canines due to their broad head and curled tail. This breed is intelligent, alert, bold, and curious.Shiba Inu: If you are a fan of dog memes, you are already familiar with this canine. As per DNA studies, Shiba Inu is another breed close to the wolf family, particularly the extinct grey wolf. It is a small-sized breed of hunting canines with a fearless, alert and confident persona. This Japanese breed has orange to cream-colored coats with white markings all over, which is why they are considered the look-alikes of wolves.Alaskan Nobles: Alaskan nobles are a new breed of dog species, which have a distinct resemblance to wolves in terms of their large size and thick dark black coat. They are known for their loyalty towards their owners and can be social with the children. Did you know that an Alaskan noble is a unique breed with an uncanny resemblance to a wolf but has no wolf lineage?American Alsatian: American Alsatian is a canine initially bred to be the exact carbon copy of the extinct gray wolf. It is a canine with a muscular body, long muzzles, and a large head. In addition, they have small pointed ears which always stick up and a black nose. This breed’s most common coat color is silver sable, which is another reason that makes them a perfect splitting image of wolves. Apart from their stunning looks, these dogs are known for their friendly and gentle temperament, making them ideal lap dogs.The Connection Between Wolf And DogCanis lupus, or a wolf, is the early ancestor of Canis familiaris, a dog who later bred together to create hybrids.The first-ever species to be domesticated in history are dogs, which have descended directly from wolves. Various dog breeds mixed with wolves have created wolf resembling dogs, like the Alaskan Malamute dogs, Tamaskans, Siberian huskies, Eskimo dogs of Canada, the Northern Inuit dog, and so on. These pups are bred to look like wolves, and their mannerisms are also quite similar to that of their wild ancestors. Almost 40 000 years ago, approximately before the Last Glacial age, an extinct wolf species led to the evolution of canines and grey wolves. At present, these grey wolves have gone extinct, and the modern wolves do not have any direct lineage to your furry buddy. There is hardly any agreement to this time period from the scientists, but one thing that they can surely agree on is the lineage. This has been proven time and again by DNA results. To be specific, the location of evolution has been pinpointed to Northern Hemisphere, Alaska, Saudi Arabia, and Siberia. But if you are searching how the wolves, which are independent, evolved into obedient dogs, that is a mystery to date. The same is the mystery with the reason as to why humans decided to domesticate these animals.Are wolf dogs aggressive?Certain wolf dog species are reported to be aggressive in exceptional circumstances, while many such species are playful and social. It all comes down to their training and tendency to socialize.Most wolf like dog breeds can get aggressive if they are not made social from an early age. Wolf-like pups, like German shepherds or the northern Inuit dog species, are non-aggressive, but some species like the Tamaskans or Alaskan nobles have been reported to be aggressive. German shepherds are very guarding of their owners by nature. But they are found to be aggressive with strangers, especially if they are not trained early and adequately. Being very much territorial in nature, a German shepherd will also turn aggressive if you approach him while he is eating or his food in general. The same is the case with Alaskan nobles. While they are playful, curious, and loyal, Alaskan nobles suffer from a destructive attitude when left alone for a long time and get aggressive towards their owners, children, and strangers. Aggressive behavior is also noted among the Tamaskans. This breed can get very aggressive when mature and resorts to destructive acts. However, if trained from an early age and exposed to socialization, Tamaskans can be very affectionate and playful.A Siberian husky, which was earlier a sled dog, is another wolf-dog that has a non-aggressive nature. This dog species are loyal, playful, and even mischievous to a certain degree, but aggression? Hardly any owners claim so. But if you have a husky pup trying to bite you, the reason is not aggression but instinct. These huskies are hunting doggies and harnessing the skills they bite. This only requires some proper training to be resolved. Another non-aggressive species is the Saarloos wolfdog, which is actually shy by nature. These dogs take their time to overcome their wild instincts, but they socialize well with both humans and other dogs once they do so. While they have very much retained their wolfish mannerisms, Kugshas is one breed that is docile and non-aggressive. They are shy but respond well to training and socialization, which is one of the primary reasons they are extremely good companion dogs.Are wolf dogs good family pets?Wolf hybrids or wolf dogs are a common sight in numerous families, and they are good family pets. German shepherds, Siberian huskies, Pomsky are considered to be more popular domestic dogs among all wolf like dog breeds.If you have a German shepherd, you already know what a good family dog he is. This breed is naturally defensive of its owner, a fantastic guard dog, and are great companions. You can raise a German shepherd along with your child, which further nurtures its ability to socialize. German shepherds respond well to a modern living style in apartments, but ideally, you should have ample space for it to train as well. They belong to the category of working dogs and need exercise. Siberian huskies are another member of the family of wolf like dogs, which are great family dogs. These fur balls are playful, quirky, and curious, as well as loyal and independent. These huskies are also very social and will mix well with other pups in your home. You need not worry about your furry pet if you have children, as huskies mix well with children. Being highly energetic, huskies require lots of training and running. So if you are planning to be a husky parent, you will probably have to spend a lot of time playing fetch with your buddy. The mini wolves or Pomskies are another breed that is a perfect family pet. These adorable pups are energetic in character and require training from an early age. But they can be stubborn as well, which is the reason that their master must be calm. For amateur trainers, a Pomsky can be a problematic canine to start with. However, as they are very adaptable to modern life, Pomskies can be an excellent choice for apartment lives.Another amazing domestic dog with a wolfish resemblance is the Shikoku dog. This breed will not top the list for being kid-friendly, but it is otherwise social with adults. Shikoku can also adjust well with modern living styles, and their fierce loyalty towards master as well as intelligence is one of the key factors for its popularity as a pet. These dogs are not the ones for novice trainers and have high requirements for proper training as well as exercises. Finally, the list of wolf resembling family dogs will not be complete without Alaskan Malamutes. If you are in for training and housing a tough breed, then malamutes are the ones you should be looking for. These canines are beautiful to look at, but appearances can be deceptive. An Alaskan Malamute is known for its stubborn nature and a strong sense of leadership, which makes training it quite a challenge. Although these furry breeds suffer from separation anxiety, malamutes are very friendly with children.Did You Know?Now that you are familiar with the different canines that resemble wolves in their mannerism and appearance, here are some interesting facts about the various popular breeds.A german shepherd, a dog that looks like a wolf, is known for its versatility. These canines can be all-rounders, whether it is dog sport events like rallies or working as a service dog.Alaskan Malamutes took part as a working canine in both world wars, thanks to their amazing stamina and strength!Siberian huskies are survivors, in the literal sense. These canines can go for long runs with a minuscule amount of food. All they have to do is regulate their metabolic functions.Have you heard the name Deutscher Shaferhund? No? Well, it is the name that the Germans used to call German Shepherds. These canines also go by the name Alsatian, especially in Ireland or England.The temperament of a Pomsky is entirely dependent on the persona of its parent canines. They can be intelligent, playful, enthusiastic, and even stubborn or unpredictable.Own a husky? Well, keep an eye on him. Huskies are quite the escape artists and can dig under your fence or run away from your leash. Just for fun!Samoyeds, which were once companions to the Siberian people, can sing! Actually, their howls are so musical that you might think they are singing!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for dog breeds that look like wolves, then why not take a look at dogs that look like pit bulls or Siberian husky facts?
If you have watched the popular series Game of Thrones, you must be familiar with wolf dog breeds.
