10 Ways to Find Out If Your Dog is Part Wolf

1. Size

Usually, wolves are larger than humans, including dogs that look “wolfy” like huskies and malamutes. Male wolves vary in size and weight, but they usually range from 66 to 180 lbs. While huskies and malamutes weigh about 60 to 95 lbs at their heaviest. So if your pup weighs as much or as much as you do, they may have a wolf in them.

2. Paws

Wolves paws are considerably larger than any typical breed of dogs. If the paws of your pups are as large as or larger than your palm, they might be part wolf.

3. Eyes

Wolves have NO blue eyes, even when they’re puppies. At about 6 weeks, they will eventually turn into an amber-like or brown color. Nevertheless, because they are more dog than wolf, some low content wolfdogs that retain the blue color for their entire lives. But if your dog has yellow eyes, there is a good chance that there will be a touch of wolf.

4. Ears

The ears of the wolf are not flat. Their ears are tight and rigid. To help them stay warm in very cold temperatures, a wolf’s ears are thick and fuzzy. Wolfdogs are almost always going to be very close to the ears of a true wolf. If your dog has thick fuzzy ears that do not easily flop or fold, it may be something that is passed down from an ancestor of a wolf.

5. Legs

Typically, wolves and wolfdogs are more “leggy” than dogs. Their legs are going to be longer and leaner than a standard dog and tied to a narrow chest, perfect for running!

6. Snout

Over the years, wolves have adapted to hunt large prey for food and therefore need a larger, wider snout to do so. One of the first things you notice in a wolfdog will most likely be the long and wide snout.

7. Nose

The noses of the wolves are black, 100% black, no pink or lighter. On the other hand, Wolfdogs, while chances are high that they will all be black as well, in some sections they may have a lighter color. For lower content wolfdogs, lighter coloring will be more popular, but it is still impossible.

8. Bark

Wolves, that’s not the bark. We do have the ability, at least not necessarily, but seldom do and instead choose to howl. Nevertheless, sometimes wolfdogs may still bark, but not nearly as much as a normal dog.

9. Coat

The color or pattern of fur that wolves and wolf dogs have is called agouti, common among many mammals that are undomesticated. This means that each hair is actually 2 colors.

10. Puppies

Once a year, wolves and most wolf dogs go to bed. Whether during the winter or early spring. Wolves usually match between January and March, the mother usually carries the pups for 2 months before they give birth. So if between March and May your pup was born, they might be a wolf dog!

These are all great ways to distinguish a wolf dog from a regular dog, but getting a DNA test done is the only way to know for sure.

How many of these traits your dog has? Let us know in the comments below. As always, Howl to the Moon and Reach for the Stars!

Written by James Miranda