I think my dog is a small wolf.... But I'm really not sure!?

Question

My dog was at a shelter that said he is a pure bred Alaskan Malamute... But he doesn't really look like one.

Here are some links:

My dog's face;
http://i16.tinypic.com/2q3vzet.jpg

He's has more hair and he's much more bulky than Alaskan Malamutes I've seen...

He's also has big feet, like a wolf.
Please help me!?

Answer 1

He does appear wolf-like, but does not have wolf eyes. His ears are also larger than a wolf. I think he is perhaps collie and Malamute..Possibly German Shepherd, but I lean toward collie. .
Could just be a throwback..which is a dog that is more like his ancestors than his parents.
Here is a wolf face> http://fohn.net/wolf-pictures-facts/
wolves carry their tails straight, and head low> http://pc-intern.com/upload/photoshop-contest/1/common/wolf/sources/wolf.jpg

Does he bark? Malamutes don't bark the same as other dogs.
Wolves don't bark at all.

Answer 2

He is part malamute, part german shephard. No wolf.

I take care of public campgrounds and see thousands of dogs a year. I love northern breeds and can of course pick out malamute mixes. The first two years I would ask what they are mixed with, now I don't have to. I can tell what Malamutes, Huskies, Samoyeds, Chows, and Akita's are mixed with...90% of the time anyway.

Wolf hybrids are easy. They are enormous. Your dog isn't wolf. The mouth would be wider. The color would be more gray, and the face mask where your dog has tan would be spottled with black.

I have two malamutes, my male has enormous feet.

I also kept a half malamute/ half wolf for a few weeks until I could find it a home. It would go fricking NUTS if left by itself inside. Day one: Broke the window out with it's paw and jumped out where it sat until I got home. Very lovey when I was around, and it stayed in the same room with me all the time. Day two: Shared the room outside that I used for my malamutes when I had visitors over. The dog chewed a hole through the door, then ripped it in half and waited on my porch.
Day three I crated the dog, ripped the crate in half.
Day four, I left it outside with a heavy chain. It was ok, but I could see claw marks all over where it tried to get off the chain.

You would know if you had a wolf hybrid. They don't like being left alone AT ALL!!! They don't like being contained. Severe separation anxiety etc.

There is a 90% chance your dog is malamute/shepard 10% chance malamute/collie, but no on the wolf.

Answer 3

No, this dog is not a wolf. There are lots of dogs out there with a very wolf-like appearance, but they are not wolves or wolf-related. Also, claims made by shelter staff are most of the time, just guesses. Just because they think he looks like a purebred Alaskan malamute doesn't mean he is one. I would say he's a definite mutt, meaning he could be a mixture of breeds or have no breeds at all.

Wolves actually make terrible pets. They are wild animals, and do not like to be domesticated. Pet wolves are known to be difficult to train, disloyal, aggressive, with a high prey drive. Be grateful that your dog isn't a wolf!

By the way, he's a very beautiful dog!

Answer 4

Well, you're right, he doesn't look much like a Malamute. The chances of him being part wolf are very slim. I don't know where in the country you live, but since we have made the wolf population nearly extinct,there just aren't that many available for the possibility. If by chance, your dog is a hybrid, he could at any moment act like a wolf, so you should be very cautious. They are untrainable and driven by the predisposition of the wolf. It's probably a mix, probably not a wolf hybrid.

Answer 5

It's pretty unlikely, and since it's illegal to own wolves or wolf hybrids in most states, I would call him either a Malmute or a Malamute mix. Most dogs that people claim to be wolf hybrids are Shepherd, Malamute, and/or Husky crosses. I agree that he doesn't look like a purebred Malamute, but I would put a lot of money on there being a Husky in his past. They have all the characteristics you describe.

Good Luck!!

Answer 6

he looks like an alaskan malamute to me. they howl mostly and do not bark as much because they howl. siberian huskies do not bark usually, but yes they do howl. so howling is not nescisarily an indication of being part wolf. Alaskan Malamutes are the bulky dogs, not the huskies. huskies weigh on average 80 pounds, malamutes on average about 115-120, much larger than the husky. you could be getting the two mixed up. But, your dog still could be part wolf. I DOES look like a malamute though. also malamutes are much more bulky than wolfs are.

Answer 7

No, your dog is not a wolf. He is far to small and has the main features of a malamute and a german shepherd mix. The shepherd (I have one, 105 pounds) is more closely related to the wolf than your dog is and tends to have feet on the larger side. he also has a slightly longer and thicker muzzle with a larger less petite nose. So your dog is only a mix. But be happy, he is around one 75th of a wolf.

Answer 8

Wolves have smaller, rounder ears. Can not tell from the picture.
If the dog is overly agressive around other dogs and tries to dominate them, that is a clue of wolf like behavior. There are a number of wolf and wolf-dog websites. You might try contracting the one closest to you and let them look at your dog. But be careful, if you have a wolf-dog hybred, many states do not allow them to be immunized against rabies, therefore you can not protect the animal or yourself. You may just want to leave things alone and be happy with your Malamute.

Answer 9

I see what you mean! All dogs are small wolves to a certain extent. Unuaual for him to have lovely brown eyes. I am sure he is a malamute, and that'swhat you must tell the authorities too - unless you are sure his is a wolf (unlikely!) otherwise you wil have to build a special secure compound to keep him

Answer 10

He definitely could be part wolf. People do have wolf hybrids. But he could also just be a very large malamute mix, possibly with german shepherd. That is what he looks like to me. As long as he is a good dog and you love him, i don't think it matters. He certainly is beautiful!! VERY pretty dog.