Wolfdogs, Domestic Dogs and Wolfdog Hybrids · Kinship

Skip to main content

Change a pet's life. Become a foster parent!

Wolfdogs vs. Domestic Dogs

What you need to know about the differences between the two.

by Julie Zeilinger
July 21, 2025
Woman petting her pet wolf dog outside.
Kosamtu / iStock

Most dog lovers are aware that the domestic dogs we know and love today are descended from wolves. But many don’t realize that a mix of the two species exists today: wolfdogs. Wolfdogs are the result of domestic dogs mating with any one of the four wolf subspecies: gray, Eastern, red, or Ethiopian (though the gray wolf mix is the most common). 

However, wolfdogs occur less often in the wild than they do in captivity; most of that breed today are intentionally bred as exotic pets, according to the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. 

Get 20% off 
PrettyLitter, just for our kin

Save on the litter with color-changing tech that helps you better care for your cat.

What’s more, most wolfdogs today are not pure hybrids — or the result of a wolf breeding with a domesticated dog — but are the product of breeding two wolfdogs. Therefore, per the organization Wolfdog Awareness, a wolfdog is any canine who “contains some amount of wolf content and some amount of dog content.” 

Key differences between wolves, dogs, and wolfdog hybrids

Wolves, dogs, and wolfdogs all belong to the dog family (Canidae). However, domestic dogs and wolves belong to different subspecies. Domestic dogs are known as the subspecies Canis familiaris, and there are many subspecies of wolves, including the Gray wolf (Canis lupus) and eastern wolf (Canis lycaon). Wol-fdogs — the result of wolves breeding with dogs — are known as “Canis lupus x Canis lupus familiaris.”

Wolves

Although there are a number of different types of wolves, they all tend to display physical characteristics, such as a sloping forehead and head that is longer than a domesticated dog’s; short, rounded, furry ears; a narrow chest; legs longer than domesticated dogs’ with outward turned wrists; and large and long feet and toes. 

In terms of behavior, wolves are highly social animals; they live in packs (among which there are distinct hierarchies) and have multiple forms of communication, including facial expressions and tail positions, scenting behaviors, and vocalization.

However, wolves are more social among themselves than they are with humans; in fact, they generally avoid humans. Attacks on humans by wild wolves are rare; between 2002 and 2020, researchers found 26 fatal attacks of wolves on humans around the entire world — and 14 of those were due to rabies. 

Dogs

Dogs physically vary quite a bit based on breed but, overall, are smaller than wolves. But a few dog breeds can match or even surpass the average gray wolf, which is considered the largest wolf species. While gray wolves can typically reach heights of between 26 and 32 inches and weigh up to 150 pounds, Great Danes, for example, can reach 32 inches in height and weigh up to 175 pounds. 

Dog behavior varies quite a bit between dogs of different breeds and even among dogs of the same breed. However, most domesticated dogs form deep bonds with humans and are notably attentive and responsive to human behavior. This makes sense, given that dogs are widely considered the oldest domesticated animals.

Wolfdogs 

Wolfdogs are classified as ”low,” “mid,” or “high” content depending on the amount of wolf content present in the animal. A low-content wolfdog is generally less than 50 percent wolf and is likely to display few wolf-like characteristics. A mid-content wolfdog is around 50 percent to 74 percent wolf, and may display more wolf characteristics than dog characteristics. High-content wolfdogs can be up to 99 percent wolf and, therefore, are very similar to pure wolves. 

It’s important, though, to note that it’s very difficult to definitively determine the true wolf content of a wolfdog. There is no breed registry for wolfdogs and genetic testing is unavailable to most people beyond wildlife management services and law-enforcement agencies (and is not 100 percent accurate even when used). 

A wolfdog’s content, therefore, is largely based on phenotyping, or an expert’s evaluation of the dog’s physical and behavioral characteristics. For example, low- and mid-content wolfdogs tend to have large pointy ears and defined markings, whereas high-content wolf dogs do not. Wolfdogs with higher-wolf content tend to be more fearful of humans, have higher prey drives and energy, and are more territorial, destructive, and independent of humans than domesticated dogs. 

Most wolfdogs typically weigh between 70 and 100 pounds and have similar life spans to domesticated dogs, typically living between 12 and 15 years. 

wolfdogs vs. dogs chart
Kinship Creative

Common wolfdog hybrid breeds

Most wolfdogs today are the result of two wolfdogs bred together in captivity; few wolfdogs occur in the wild, as the result of the natural crossbreeding of a wolf and a domesticated dog. Historically, the domesticated dog breeds most commonly bred with wolves to produce a wolfdog were those already most like wolves. According to the World Animal Foundation, Spitz breeds share the most DNA with wolves. This includes Huskies, Malamutes, Samoyeds, and, perhaps surprisingly, Shih Tzus. 

There are also a number of dog breeds that have roots in the crossbreeding of wolves and dogs. For example, the Sarloos Wolfdog was the result of a Dutch breeder crossing a German Shepherd with a European Wolf; the United Kennel Club r ecognized the breed in 2006. The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (or Czechoslovakian Vlciak) was the product of a German Shepherd and Carpathian gray wolf and is recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). 

Wolfdog temperament and behavior

Due to the genetic variations among individual wolfdogs, it’s hard to predict an individual wolfdog’s temperament. However, there are some common behavioral traits wolfdogs may inherit from their wolf ancestors, including: 

  • Curiosity: Wolves are territorial and, as such, like to explore their environments. This may result in wolfdogs being more tempted to explore their environments than domesticated dogs. They may do so in destructive ways, such as biting or clawing through furniture in domestic settings. 

  • Drive to roam: Wolves are defensive of their territory, and wolfdogs may inherit the need to guard all the space they consider their turf, rather than stay in one place. 

  • Predatory instinct: Wolves are wild animals, and, as such, have a drive to prey on smaller animals. Wolfdogs may inherit this trait, making them dangerous around other pets and even small children in a home setting. 

Especially without proper socialization, wolfdogs may become unpredictable, and they are typically not trainable the way domesticated dogs are. Wolfdogs also have the potential to be dangerous in terms of public health, as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not approve of the rabies vaccination for wolfdogs.

Do wolfdogs make good pets?

The general consensus is that wolfdogs do not typically make good pets. Wolfdog parents must install very high fences (typically, eight feet high) as well as guards dug along the base of their enclosures to prevent them from escaping. Wolfdogs also tend to be wary of strangers, which makes leaving them with anyone other than the humans with whom they’re familiar difficult. 

Many wolfdog parents realize this too late and end up surrendering their wolfdogs to sanctuaries — many of which are currently struggling with capacity and resources.

What’s more, as of 2025, having a wolfdog as a pet is illegal in 13 states. Three states — Delaware, Indiana, and Virginia — require permits for wolfdog ownership, while others legally allow wolfdog ownership but impose regulations, such as those surrounding specific cage requirements. 

References






Julie Zeilinger with her dog, Baloo

Julie Zeilinger

Julie Zeilinger is a writer and editor whose writing has been published in Marie Claire, Forbes, Vox, HuffPost, and other publications. She is also the author of two books: College 101: A Girl’s Guide to Freshman Year (2014) and A Little F’d Up: Why Feminism Is Not a Dirty Word (2012). She has a two-year-old Bichpoo named Baloo and is a foster mom to dogs via Badass Animal Rescue.

Related articles