Showing posts with label wolves. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wolves. Show all posts

3 Dog Breeds that Look Just Like Wolves

Saturday, March 22, 2014

I have always wanted a dog that looks like a wolf.  Not a wolf-hybrid (because wild animals belong in the wild and not in human homes), but a fully-domesticated breed that simply looks the part.  Wouldn't you know it, such breeds exist and are becoming more prevalent by the year!  Here are three gorgeous potentials I've discovered:

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Saarloos Wolfhound 
Dutch breeder Leendert Saarloos invented this breed in 1935 when he crossed a German Shepherd with a female European Wolf from the Rotterdam Zoo.  They need a lot of exercise and the ability to run around on a daily basis.  Their "pack instinct" means they'll always try to stick with you, and hate being left alone.  This also means they are protective of their owners and shy around strangers.  And one last odd trait - they tend to like women more than men!


Tamaskan
This sleddog breed originated in Finland.  Though they have no recent wolf ancestry (instead it's related to Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes), they are a highly intelligent, athletic breed.  They are friendly and great with families.  They are loyal to their owners and hate being left alone.  They were bred to pull sleds, but unlike huskies it doesn't take too much training to get them to stop pulling on the leash and to return when called.


Czechoslovakian Vlcak
This is my favorite of the three.  It's a relatively new breed that goes back to a 1955 experiment where German Shepherds were bred with Carpathian wolves.  The result?  A breed that has the temperament, loyalty, and trainability of a German Shepherd, but looks like a wolf!  Originally engineered to be used in military Special Ops, they have garnered more recent attention as search and rescue, herding, tracking, and hunting dogs.  In 1982 they were officially recognized as a breed in Czechoslovakia.

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