Dogs are the descendants of wolves and keep many of the same traits as their wild counterparts. When it comes to having a wolf-dog hybrid as a pet, you first and foremost need to make sure it’s legal in the state and area you live in. A wolf-dog hybrid is a breed that is a cross between a wolf and a domestic dog breed. The purebred breeds intentionally crossed with wolves include Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Akitas, German Shepherds, and more.

It’s important to note that mixing a domestic dog breed with a wolf can end with the dog having a wide variety of instincts and temperaments. Even though it’s mated with a domestic dog, you can’t breed all of the wildness out of a wolf-dog breed mix.

If trained and socialized right, the wolf-dog hybrid can make an excellent companion since they are often friendly, playful, and loving. As with any pet mixed with a wild animal, it’s best to be careful when adopting a hybrid. We’ll give you 6 wolf-dog hybrid breeds you might not have known about in the guide below.

The 6 Wolf-Dog Hybrid Breeds

1. German Shepherd Wolf Hybrid

The German Shepherd wolf hybrid, also called the Wolf Shepherd, already resembles a wolf in appearance. This hybrid has pointy ears, a thick coat, a long face, and is quite large. Depending on the age, sex, and genetics, you can expect this breed to reach between 50 and 100 pounds and then top out at between 20 and 26 inches in height when your pet is full grown.

If you socialize and train this breed well, they can get along with other pets in the house. However, it’s still not recommended that you leave the Wolf Shepherd alone with smaller pets, such as rabbits, hamsters, and the like, as it does retain a lot of its prey drive from the wolf parent.

This is an extremely curious breed, so make sure your backyard is secure. You can socialize and train aggressiveness out of this hybrid and curb its desire to roam if you do so when the dog is a puppy.

2. Siberian Husky Wolf Mix

The Siberian Husky wolf mix is also called the Husky Wolf mix. As you might have guessed, this is a crossbreed between a Siberian Husky and a wolf. While this breed is considered quite shy, they also have a strong prey drive and a strong pack drive.

They make loyal, loving pets if they are trained and socialized right when they are puppies. The Husky Wolf has a strong pack mentality, and they show dominance over weaker dogs. This means it might not be best to adopt one of these dogs if you have young children, as these traits can make the dog unpredictable.

It’s also not a good idea to have this breed in the same house with cats or other small animals since they’re likely to treat the animals as prey. The Husky Wolf dog breed is extremely intelligent, so it’s going to need a lot of exercise, both mentally and physically, to be healthy and happy.

3. Akita Wolf Hybrid

The Akita Wolf hybrid is a crossbreed between a wolf and an Akita dog, which means it has a highly predatory and dominant nature. The Akita Wolf is highly intelligent, as most wolf breeds are, and they get bored fast and are always full of energy.

They aren’t easy to train and may be aggressive and challenge their pet parent when it comes to authority. They are also aggressive eaters and tend to be mean to other pets in the household. Because of their aggression, it’s best not to have this breed in a house with children, especially small ones.

4. Labrador Retriever Wolf Dog Breed Mix

The Wolf Labrador Retriever mix is, as it says, a crossbreed of a wolf and a Labrador Retriever. Since these animals have widely varying ways and personalities, it’s hard to determine what you’ll get with this crossbreed. They require extensive training and socialization to keep as pets, but the mix is more popular than other wolf-dog hybrids.

• Might Also Interest You: White Labrador Retriever Dog Breed: Facts, Origin & History (With Pictures)

5. Great Dane Wolf Hybrid

A Great Dane Wolf Hybrid is a large, powerful, yet majestic creature. It has a shaggy tail, semi-pointed ears, and large jaws. Sadly, this dog isn’t the best choice for someone who is a first-time dog owner. Their sheer size and uncertain temperament make them hard to train and control unless you’re a seasoned pet owner.

This breed can be aggressive towards other dogs and wary of strangers. The dog is highly intelligent, but it might not ever fully trust you, and you can never fully trust it. Don’t adopt one of these wolf-dog hybrids unless you can handle the dog and train it properly; even then, you have to be careful with it.

6. Alaskan Malamute Wolf Hybrid

The Alaskan Malamute Wolf hybrid is a cross between a timber wolf and an Alaskan Malamute. It is one of the oldest wolf-dog hybrids; they are playful, loving, sweet, and make great companions. However, this breed can be skittish and has been known to be very stubborn.

The Malamute Wolf has a loud bark and will destroy things if left alone for too many hours at a time. This is another hybrid that it’s best not to leave alone with small children and pets because of its intense prey drive.

Other Wolf-Dog Hybrids

Here are a few other wolf-dog hybrids that there’s not as much information about:

With any of these wolf-dog hybrids, it’s best to watch them around small pets and children.

Conclusion

There are quite a few wolf-dog hybrids to choose from. However, sometimes these dogs can be temperamental and have a high prey drive because of their wolf parents.

If you’re considering purchasing or adopting one of these wolf dogs, or any of the other wolf dog breeds, you need to do your research well. Talk to any breeder you’re considering to see what type of temperament the parents have and make sure never to leave the animals alone with the kids or small pets. While most of these wolf-dog hybrids are sweet, loving, and loyal, they still have the genes of a wolf and need to be watched carefully.

• See also: 10 Dog Breeds Bigger Than Wolves

Featured Image Credit: Kris Dhondt, Pixabay