10 Dog Breeds that Resemble Wolves

Wolves are the mystical creatures dwelling on Earth. Their beauty is so captivating that one may love to have one as a pet. But, their wild, erratic, and predatory nature make it hard to tame them.

Fortunately, there are many dog breeds that closely resemble wolves. This is because wolves are the ultimate ancestors of every dog breed. Even the smaller breeds, like Chihuahua, also find their roots among the majestic wolves, like Canis lupus. Unlike their ancestors, these wolfdogs have stable personalities that make them wonderful family pets.

Alaskan Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes resemble wolves a lot in their exquisiteness and strength. They belong to the Husky family, but, are fluffier, heavier, and taller than Huskies. These dogs stand 25 inches tall and weigh up to 45kg. They’re known for their amazing freighting abilities.

Malamutes are very intelligent and loyal canines who love the company of their people. However, they can be surprisingly resourceful and independent because they were bred to survive in harsh conditions. Despite the strength they possess, these family dogs have a playful nature and love to stay around children.

Canadian Eskimo

A Canadian Eskimo, also known as Qimmiq and Canadian husky, is smart, energetic, strong, tough, and extremely loyal. These large dogs can weigh up to 66-95 pounds. For this reason, they require a lot of space and training to be tamed. Therefore, only people with the necessary resources can keep them.

Canadian Eskimos were first bred by the Thule people in the Arctic nearly 4,000 years ago. They were trained to pull sleds and hunt and are natural survivors of cold weather. In contrast to that, they are NOT very resistant to heat and are prone to heat-strokes. They’re aggressive by instinct and have fairly high prey drives.

Czechoslovakian Vlcak

These dogs resemble wolves a lot in their profile. In fact, these dogs were crossbred from German Shepherds and Carpathian wolves. The goal was to create a breed with the strength and stamina of a wolf and the temperament and intelligence of the German Shepherd.

These canines have played a great role in the military as border patrol dogs. Naturally, they have a work loving and independent nature and enjoy everything, ranging from herding to search and rescue. They’re very social and develop strong bonds with their families.

German Shepherd

German Shepherd is one of the world’s most popular dog breeds. These large dogs stand at up to 26 inches tall and weigh in at up to 90 pounds. They’re renowned for their hardworking and loyal nature.

Similarly, these canines are ranked as the third most intelligent breed. German Shepherds are really good detectives and are specially trained by police and military. They always need a task to perform because of their energetic and keen to learn personality. They’re supreme guardians and gentle family pets with all the grace and poise of their wolf ancestors. 

Kugsha

Also known as Amerindian Malamutes, these canines resemble wolves more closely than any other dog breed. In addition to their physical appearance, the nature of Kugshas is also very familiar to that of wolves. These wolf hybrids are born travelers and can carry loads over a long distance.

Due to their dominant and independent nature, Kugshas are ONLY recommended for experienced owners. Although they are very loyal, these dogs are not good for families with small children (ultimate predatory nature).

Northern Inuit Dog

This dog was first bred in the United Kingdom by mixing several dog breeds. Some of the most notable ones include the German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, and Siberian Husky. The Northern Inuit Dog is a beautiful canine, with a long, slim body, short coat, and striking yellow eyes. These large pups can weigh more than 100 pounds and can grow up to 30 inches tall.

Even though they are generally very calm, Northern Inuits feel anxious when separated. Despite their stubborn and dominating nature, they can become excellent family pets through proper training.

Saarloos

The name of these canines come from Leendert Saarloos. He was the Dutch breeder who bred these dogs for the first time in the 1930s. He crossbred European wolf with German shepherd to come up with this breed.

Saarloos look a lot like wolves due to their similar expressions and head structure. These energetic pups have abundant stamina and need an ample amount of exercise to stay happy. Consequently, they need a very experienced owner to take care of their physical and mental needs.

Samoyed

These Russian dogs derive their name from the Samoyedic peoples of Siberia. Thanks to their beautiful thick double coat and ‘Sammy smile’, they’re one of the most gorgeous dogs on Earth. The smile becomes even more prominent due to the contrast between the white coat and black lips.

Samoyeds are great family dogs who love everyone and develop strong bonds with their owners. They are very lively and love to accompany you on hiking and tracking trips. Unfortunately, they are prone to several health problems, such as hip dysplasia, diabetes, and kidney disease.

Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies are one of the most famous dogs that resemble wolves. Their compact bodies, sparkling eyes, and upright ears clearly reflect an image of their wolf ancestors. They are amazing sled pullers and the heroic story of Balto is the proof of their might.

Balto is one of the well-known huskies of all time who carried the life-saving diphtheria serum to Nome. In this record-breaking journey, he covered the distance of more than 500 miles in just 5 days. Huskies are canine socialites who love to be around adults, children, and other pets. However, they do need a lot of training to be tamed because of their independent nature.

Tamaskan

These wolfdogs were bred (in 2006) by combing Malamutes and Huskies. They originate from Finland and were primarily developed as working dogs. Tamaskans are intelligent, agile, and strong. They love to face physical challenges and always look for a job to do.

Although an adult Tamaskan can weigh up to 90 pounds, this dog breed is known to be sociable. These canines are still quite rare with less than 1,000 registered around the world.