10 Dog Breeds People Mistake for Wolves
Is your fascination with wolves out of this world, so much so that you’ve ever thought of settling for a dog that has a striking resemblance to a wolf? You’re not alone.
Wolves exude strength, allure, and of course, beauty, so it’s hard not to fall in love with them. While it’s impossible to have them as household pets because they belong to the wild, the good thing is that there are several dog breeds that look like wolves to choose from.
Dogs (species Canis familiaris) share a common ancestry with wolves (species Canis lupus); they both descended from a now-extinct wolf lineage. Plus, dogs and wolves are genetically related, as they share over 99% of DNA.
Given all these similarities, you may be wondering: why is that some dogs don’t look anywhere close to their wolf ancestors? Well, the answer lies with selective breeding. Dogs that look like wolves are the outcome of years of selective breeding practices — practices that mainly focused on enhancing their physical traits to give them a wolfish appearance… you know, the thick, double-coated hair, erect, triangular-shaped ears, bushy tails, wedge-shaped heads, and extended muzzles, almost like the wolves.
With that in mind, here are the top 10 dogs that look just like wolves you’ll desperately want to own:
1. Alaskan Malamute
- Height: 25 inches (males) and 23 inches (females)
- Temperament: Affectionate, playful, friendly, and confident
- Life Expectancy: 10-14 years
Almost everyone will agree that looking at an Alaskan Malamute is pretty much watching a wolf come to life; their resemblance to wolves is unbelievable.
Originally bred as arctic sled dogs due to their strength and endurance, Alaskan Malamutes were first kept by the Mahlemut tribe in Northwest Alaska, hence their name “Malamute.” Besides helping the Mahlemiut people pull sleds full of supplies over long distances amidst harsh weather conditions, Alaskan Malamutes also made amazing hunting companions.
Today, these ancient, wolf-looking dogs are cherished for their outgoing, affectionate personalities and ability to get along wonderfully with adults and children alike.
2. Saarloos Wolf dog
- Height: 25.5- 29.5 inches (male), 23-5 – 27.5 inches (female)
- Temperament: Independent, lively, energetic
- Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
We can’t talk about medium and big dogs that look like wolves without mentioning Saarloos wolf dog.
This breed — also called the Saarloos Wolfhound — was developed by a popular Dutch breeder, Leendert Saarloos, in the Netherlands, after cross-breeding the German Shepherd with the European Wolf. Leendert was keen on creating a hardy working dog with more enhanced qualities than the ordinary German Shepherd.
Saarloos Wolf dogs are known for their lively personalities and friendliness toward their families. They are, however, very wary of strangers. In addition, these wolfdogs need a firm owner since they can be quite independent-minded.
3. Tamaskan Dog
- Height: 25-29 inches (males) and 24-27.9 inches (females)
- Temperament: Outgoing, friendly, alert, and active
- Life expectancy: 14-15 years
The Tamaskan dog traces its roots to Finland, where it was first developed by crossing a few select wolf-like breeds, including the Siberian Husky and Alaskan Malamute. This selective breeding practice aimed to develop a dog with features that undeniably resemble the wolf while still possessing the ideal qualities of a fantastic canine companion. The word “Tamaskan” is derived from the North American native language and it loosely translates to “mighty wolf.”
Thanks to their wolf-like appearance, Tamaskan dogs have, over the years, appeared in various movies where they are featured as wolves. A popular example is the Broadway production movie, The Crucible, where a Tamaskan dog named Luchta played the role of a wolf.
Besides their stunning looks, Tamaskans are also known for their intelligence, friendliness, and overall good temperament, which makes them get along with kids and other pets.
4. Siberian Husky
- Height: 21-23.5 inches (male), 20-22 inches (female)
- Temperament: Friendly, strong-willed, and playful
- Life Expectancy: 12-14 years
It’s hard to think of popular dog breeds that look like wolves without the Siberian Husky coming to mind. Siberian Huskies trace their roots to northeastern Asia, specifically Siberia, where they were kept by the nomadic Chukchi tribe to pull sleds and hunt reindeer. The Siberian Husky was also used for search and rescue work during World War II.
The popularity of Siberian Huskies as exceptional sled dog racers soared in the 1920s when a diphtheria epidemic broke out in the Alaskan city of Nome. A team of Huskies found fame during this time when they raced more than 300 miles to deliver antitoxin serum to the afflicted city in order to help save lives.
The Siberian Husky’s jaw-dropping resemblance to the wolf has seen this breed feature in popular TV shows, the most popular being Game of Thrones.
Siberian Huskies are people-friendly dogs who enjoy human companionship more than anything. For these reasons, they are highly susceptible to separation anxiety. These stunning dogs do well in households with kids and dogs but can be quite a nuisance to small pets because of their strong prey drive. Siberian Huskies are also famous for their stubborn streak, which many may find frustrating.
5. Alaskan Klee Kai
- Height: 12-17 inches
- Temperament: Intelligent, playful, alert and active
- Life Expectancy: 13-16 years
Nicknamed miniature Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Klee Kais are among the popular small dogs that look like wolves. Just as their name suggests, Alaskan Klee Kai originated from Alaska, where they were kept by the ancient tribes in Alaska. They helped pull sleds, served as hunting companions, and acted as early warning alerts for impending dangers such as wild animals.
In the Athabaskan language, the words “Klee Kai” loosely translate to “little dog” in English, which is befitting for the Alaskan Klee Kai’s compact size and courageous nature.
Unlike their cousins (Huskies), Alaskan Klee Kais are highly trainable and make good watchdogs because of their constant vigilance and reservation for unfamiliar faces. These dogs are also pretty intelligent and thus enjoy fun mental stimulation challenges.
6. Canadian Eskimo Dog (Canadian Inuit Dog)
- Height: 27.5 inches
- Temperament: Affectionate, loyal, energetic, independent
- Life Expectancy:12-15 years
Native to Canada’s Arctic region, Canadian Eskimo Dogs are one of Canada’s most ancient dog breeds recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club. These Iconic dogs were originally kept by the Inuit people of the Arctic region to hunt polar bears and sniff out seal blow holes in ice.
Canadian Eskimo dogs are admired for their overall wolfish appearance, which is, in fact, their most notable physical trait.
The Canadian Eskimo is an intelligent dog that’s super friendly to people they’re familiar with. However, since these dogs have a strong pack mentality, they have a tendency to challenge their owners. If you’re thinking of getting a Canadian Eskimo dog, it’s important to establish yourself as the pack leader early on in your relationship to ensure they know their place.
7. Norwegian Elkhound
- Height: 20.5 inches (males), 19.5 inches (females)
- Temperament: Friendly, independent-minded, and confident
- Life Expectnacy:12-15 years
Native to Norway, the Norwegian Elkhound was originally kept for hunting. Interestingly, Norwegian Elkhounds derived their name from their primary job, which was to hunt Elks in the woods.
Besides their impressive hunting skills, these dogs are admired for their wolflike looks. With its pointed triangular ears, thick coat, mane-like neck, and bushy tail, one can easily mistake the Norwegian Elkhound dog for a wolf. In fact, the black Norwegian Elkhound is among the most common black dogs that look like wolves (black wolves).
Norwegian Elkhounds are loved for their friendly, outgoing nature and devotion toward their families. These gorgeous dogs also tend to be quite gentle, playful, and tolerant, making them ideal companions for children. While they are intelligent and have a strong eagerness to please, Norwegian Elkhounds need early socialization and training because of their stubborn nature.
8. Shikoku
- Average Height: 17–22 inches
- Temperament: Lively, alert, energetic
- Life Expectancy: 10-12 years
Also called Kochi-ken, the Shikoku is a Japanese dog breed originating from the Shikoku island. Shikokus—currently quite rare in the United States — were historically kept as hunting dogs. This breed is considered significant to Japan’s national culture and is held in high regard by native Japanese people.
Shikokus were admired for their prowess in navigating rugged mountainous regions while hunting wild boars. To date, these dogs are labeled skilled hunters. The Shikoku’s distinctive wolfish appearance is the first many notice when they come across this dog.
Shikokus are loved for their easygoing disposition and are known to be quite suspicious of strangers. Not to mention, Shikokus aren’t the easiest dogs to train because of their stubborn streak. For this reason, they’re best suited for an assertive, patient owner.
9. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog
- Height: 25.5 inches (males), 23.5 inches (females)
- Temperament: Devoted, active, intelligent
- Life Expectancy: 12-16 years
Originating from Czechoslovakia, the Czechoslovakian Wolf dog was developed in the 1950s following a biological experiment involving crossbreeding a German Shepherd with a Carpathian wolf. The idea of this experiment was to create a superior border patrol guard dog that would have the exceptional senses and stamina of a wolf and still be reared as a domestic dog.
Also known as the Czechoslovakian Vlcak, the Czechoslovakian Wolf dog looks almost like the Carpathian wolf. These dogs are highly energetic, intelligent, and courageous. Their alert, protective nature also makes them incredible guard dogs. Although Czechoslovakian Wolf dogs make loyal, devoted companions, they aren’t ideal for first-time dog owners due to their strong-willed personalities.
10. Swedish Vallhund
- Height: 11.25-13.75 inches (males), 11.5-12.75 inches (females)
- Temperament: Energetic, vigilant, friendly
- Life Expectancy: 12-15 years
Considered Sweden’s national dog breed, the Swedish Vallhund — sometimes called the Swedish cattle dog or Swedish Viking dog— is native to Sweden, just as its name implies.
These ancient dogs were historically kept to herd and watch over cattle and sheep. Swedish Vallhunds have earned the nickname “wolf Corgis” because of their adorably short legs, like those of the Corgi, and their overall wolf-like appearance.
Because of their herding background, the Swedish Vallhund is inherently alert and thus makes an amazing watchdog. They are also playful, high-energy dogs, which means they thrive best in an active household.
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