Dog Breeds that Resemble their Wolves Ancestors

Most people know, wolves are the ancestor of all dog breeds from a toy poodle to a great dane. Although they are beautiful and come with a great status, they are not meant to be pets, they are meant to be wild animals.

You can have your own wolf-like dog at home. Prepare to fall in love with breeds that still a lot like their ancestors.

Czechoslovakian Vlack (CSV)

This breed began as an experiment crossing a German Shepherd with a Carpathian wolf during the 1950s. CSV’s are the best qualities of a wolf with the characteristics of a domestic dog. They were popular as border patrol dogs in the beginning, but their intelligent and independent nature made them excellent for other work as well. They enjoy herding, search and rescue, and everything in-between

Shikoku

These are also called Kochi-ken. Shikoku’s are a Japanese dog whose wolf-like appearance is smaller than some of the other dogs. These dogs were bred for hunting wild boar in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture in Japan. They’re enthusiastic and persistent, and their endurance makes them perfect for tracking even in harsh environments.

Siberian Husky

These pups are most famously known for looking like wolves. They’re hard-working and high energy, and have a history of pulling sleds at great speeds and distances. They have more recently been known as mischievous yet clever companies who say and shed a lot.

German Shepherd

This dog gained its fame as a working dog in a sheep pasture, however they now excel as police and military dogs. They’re guardian dogs yet gentle pets with the grace and poise of their ancestors

Swedish Vallhund

These tiny dogs started out herding livestock and riding the prows of longships, but now they’re in backyards and on couches. Although they are so tiny, their coat and face resembles that of their ancestors. They’re like Wolf-Corgi’s, they have a lot of energy and enthusiasm but are cheerful and easy to train.

Swedish Lapphund

These dogs are one of the oldest in existence. They stood by as hunting dogs, herding dogs, and beloved companions. These dogs faced potential extinction around the mid-20th century, but survived, although they are very rare. These dogs are clever, energetic, and playful. They’re eager to please and naturally hard-working, but can be independent and stubborn at times.

Samoyed

Although small, these bear a striking resemblance to Arctic Wolves. They’re unbothered by the cold no matter how extreme. These pups began pulling sleds and herding reindeer. Samoyeds are social, intelligent, and have a soft spot for mischief.

No matter the breed that captures your heart, any of these dogs are going to bring some wolf qualities into your home. The next time your dog chases a squirrel or howls, take a moment to appreciate their wild ancestry.