Wolfdogs found in the United States are typically a cross of Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) and domestic dog breeds like German Shepherd Dogs and Siberian Huskies. These wolf hybrids are referred to simply as “Wolfdogs” but official “Wolf Dog breeds” also exist and have distinguishing names. 

When categorizing Wolf Dogs, DNA testing is only one part of a larger picture. Experts and Wolfdog sanctuaries use a combination of ancestry, physical traits, and behavioral traits to sort Wolfdogs into one of four categories. 

Meet 5 Wolf Dogs From Instagram

Some wolf-dog hybrids are almost indistinguishable from wild wolves, which contributes to the appeal for many Wolfdog owners. 

1. Faelen & Maeve

Faelen (right) and Maeve (left) are two Wolfdogs living at Mission:Wolf sanctuary in Colorado. 

Faelen is now 5, and his biography says that he was previously owned by a family and that “as a puppy and young adult, Faelen was a very calm and easygoing Wolfdog.” However, “upon maturity, he became markedly more intense, shy, and selective about human company” and came to live at Mission:Wolf. 

Maeve is 3, was owned by the same family, and came to Mission:Wolf in 2023 with Faelen. Maeve has a more laid-back personality, and her biography says that she “has always been a very outgoing, confident, and adventurous Wolfdog.” 

2. Archer

Archer was a high-content Wolfdog hybrid with timber wolf (gray wolf) and Alaskan Malamute parentage. Both of Archer’s parents were Wolfdogs, and neither was full Malamute or full wolf. Unfortunately, Archer passed away in 2021 at age five, but he had an amazing life with humans who made his life rich and joyful. 

3. Wayla

Wayla is a beautiful five-year-old low-content Wolfdog living at Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in Alberta, Canada. Miss Wayla is described as confident, but she doesn’t like to be pet or handled. She will come up to give staff a sniff, and she is always on the hunt for treats, but she wouldn’t make a good pet despite her low wolf content.

4. Tiberius

If you were wondering whether Wolfdogs are big, just look at Tiberius! He’s being held by a full-grown adult and he almost completely covers her body with his. Tiberius is a mid-content Wolfdog with a DNA-test confirmed 68.5% wolf content, though W.O.L.F. Sanctuary (a Colorado Wolfdog sanctuary) warns that “not all DNA tests or Laboratories are equally accurate.” Tiberius gets to live the ideal Wolfdog life in rural Oregon with other Wolfdogs and Shepskies. 

5. Antoine

Antoine (right) is a seven-year-old low-content Wolfdog who lives at Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary in New Mexico. Antoine was owned by two separate families, and finally came to Wild Spirit after it became clear that re-homing him wouldn’t be the solution. Antoine was unpredictable, particularly on leash, and would even lash out to try to bite his humans. 

Luckily, Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary knew exactly what Antoine needed to be happy and confident, and they describe him as a “sweet and social boy” who has not shown any signs of aggression towards humans since settling into his new home. Here you can see him with another low-content Wolfdog at the sanctuary named Thistle (left). 

Who Should Own a Wolf Dog? Challenges & Considerations

Owning a Wolfdog is different from owning a traditional domestic dog breed. Even the most “intense” breed of dog won’t prepare you fully for Wolfdog ownership, and most Wolfdogs who need to be re-homed or sent to sanctuaries come from underprepared pet owners. Some experts say that domestic dogs are to wolves what puppies are to adult dogs, which illustrates why so many Wolfdog owners are baffled by the intensity of their hybrid companions. 

Most people should not own a Wolfdog. Wolfdogs are not inherently dangerous, but their behavior can be more unpredictable than domesticated dogs, and a strong independent mindset combined with innate survival instincts makes Wolfdogs tough to redirect. Wolfdogs are also fairly solitary, enjoying only one or two companions, and may be fearful or avoidant of new people, things and experiences. Socializing with a Wolfdog isn’t easy, and can trigger reactivity. 

Many of the challenges of Wolfdog ownership have nothing to do with the personality or temperament of the Wolfdog itself, but the logistics of keeping one safely. Many veterinarians refuse to treat Wolfdogs, and finding one that will can be expensive. Similarly, feeding a Wolfdog can be very expensive, and their diet consists primarily of raw meat and bone. Containing a Wolfdog while still giving them ample space to exercise is yet another challenge, especially since Wolfdogs are notorious escape artists. Want to go on vacation? Good luck finding a kennel or doggy hotel to keep your Wolfdog for the weekend. 

All things considered, Wolfdogs don’t make good pets for people who like social, easy-going family dogs. Before searching for Wolf Dog puppies for sale in your area, be sure you are fully educated on Wolfdog ownership and laws regarding these animals in your area. Unfortunately, reports suggest that around 90% of Wolfdogs are euthanized by age two due to irresponsible ownership.

Is It Legal To Own a Wolfdog In The United States? 

It is not legal to own a Wolfdog in every state, and states that allow Wolfdog ownership typically have strict regulations for their care and keeping. In states where possessing a wolf dog mix is illegal, penalties may include fines, confiscation of the animal, and even euthanasia. Some states restrict private ownership but allow sanctuaries and licensed rehabilitators to keep Wolfdogs. 

Consult this guide to state regulations on Wolfdogs and be sure to reach out to your local government for more specific regional information. 

Varieties of Wild Wolf Hybrid Dog Breeds

There are several types of wolf dogs with unique names, established breeding standards, and easily traceable heritage. The ubiquitous Wolfdog most people know has no official name, and is not registered with the American Kennel Club or any kennel clubs for that matter. Because Wolfdogs have a high non-domestic dog genetic content, they cannot be registered as an official breed of dog. 

Let’s take a closer look at the most well-known wolf dog breeds starting with the generic Wolfdog. 

Wolfdog

The name “Wolfdog” is used to refer to a dog with both gray wolf (Canis lupus) and domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) parentage. Wolfdogs can be a hybrid of a different wolf species or subspecies, but the most common wolf variety is the gray wolf, also known as the timber wolf.

Typically weighing in between 70–120 pounds, Wolfdogs are large, and those whose domestic dog parents were working dogs tend to be the largest and most common. Most Wolfdogs are some combination of wolf, German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, and/or Siberian Husky, though other mixes also exist. 

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

Czech Wolf Dogs—also called Czechoslovakian Vlciak—are a one of several standardized wolf hybrid dog breeds. Developed during a 1958 experiment, Czechoslovakian Wolf Dogs come from a line of German Shepherds that were bred to Eurasian wolves (Canis lupus lupus), a subspecies of the gray wolf. It is estimated that today’s Czech Wolfdogs are 6.25% pure wolf and 93.75% German Shepherd, but their wolf content could be as high as 30%. 

Significantly smaller than Wolfdogs, Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs stand 23–26 inches tall and weigh 44–57 pounds.  

Saarloos Wolfdog

Developed in 1935 by Dutch zoologist Leendert Saarloos, the Saarloos Wolfdog is a cross of German Shepherd and Eurasian wolf, similar to the Czech Wolfdog. The same study that claims Czech Wolfdogs could be as much as 30% Eurasian wolf found that Saarloos Wolfdogs possess 18–33% wolf ancestry.

Standing around 24–30 inches tall and weighing up to 100 pounds, Saarloos Wolfdogs are larger than Czech Wolfdogs but smaller than the ubiquitous Wolfdog with more recent wild wolf ancestry.  

5 Domestic Dog Breeds That Look Like Wolves

You don’t have to own an actual wild wolf to own a dog that looks like a wolf! Here are five dog breeds that look like wolves but have zero wolf content. These dogs are all double coated and have wolf-like coloring that makes them look so much like wolves that some unethical breeders will even miss-advertise these breeds as wolfdog hybrids. 

1. Alaskan Malamute

Quick Facts: 

• Height: 23–25 inches
• Weight: 75–85 pounds
• Lifespan: 10–14 years
• Breed Group: Working group
• Country of Origin: United States, Alaska

2. Kunming Dog

Quick Facts: 

• Height: 23–30 inches
• Weight: 66–84 pounds
• Lifespan: 12–14 years
• Breed Group: Working group
• Country of Origin: China

4. Siberian Husky

Quick Facts: 

• Height: 20–23.5 inches
• Weight: 35–60 pounds
• Lifespan: 12–14 years
• Breed Group: Working group
• Region of Origin: Siberia

5. Swedish Vallhund

Quick Facts: 

• Height: 11.5–13.75 inches
• Weight: 20–35 pounds
• Lifespan: 12–15 years
• Breed Group: Herding group
• Country of Origin: Sweden

6. Tamaskan

Quick Facts: 

• Height: 24–33 inches
• Weight: 55–95 pounds
• Lifespan: 12–15 years
• Breed Group: Working group
• Country of Origin: Finland

Wolf Dog FAQ

Learn more about Wolfdogs with answers to the most common question about these canid hybrids!

Collaborating with associate cynologist Major Frantisek Rosik—affectionately nicknamed “Dedo” or “granddad” by fellow dog enthusiasts—Hartl conducted a breeding experiment to create a “superior border guard dog that has the hearing, scenting, sight, weather resistance and endurance of the wolf.” ^[1] 

Hartl and Rosik used forty German Shepherds for their experiments and cross-bred them with four carefully chosen Carpathian wolves named Brita, Argo, Sarik, and Lejdy. 

The crossing of a German Shepherd dog with a Carpathian wolf produces viable offspring because Carpathian wolves (Canis lupus lupus)—also called Eurasian wolves—and domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are both subspecies of the Gray wolf (Canis lupus). 

The first few generations of Czech Vlcak dogs were high and mid-content wolf dogs and Hartl and Rosik were lauded for the success of their experiment. By 1989, the CSV dogs were given provisional recognition by the Federation Cynologique Internationale—the largest international federation of kennel clubs—and gained fans worldwide who were keen to help further the breed. 

So what about today’s Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs? Do they still have wolf DNA in their genome, or are they fully domesticated dogs? 

Are Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs Genetically Part Wolf? 

Organizations like the Czechoslovakian Vlciak Club of America hold firm to the claim that Czech Wolfdogs are “not wolf hybrids,” but DNA tests and genetic studies tell a different story. 

This study on the genomic makeup of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog from BMC Genomics identified “wolf components” of around 25% or more “in the genome of the [12 unrelated] CDWs.” While there is no doubt that Czech Wolfdogs carry wolf DNA, “the key wolf-like genes [identified in the study] were mainly related to body size and shape traits, which could explain the overall morphological similarity of CWDs with wolves.” 

Other studies confirm that while Czech Wolfdogs have wolf DNA, they retain a higher proportion of domestic canine DNA in their genome overall. 

So, yes, Czech Wolfdogs have wolf ancestors and many have detectable wolf DNA, but they aren’t as “wolfy” as the Wolfdogs we most commonly see in North America, which typically have very recent wolf ancestry. While Czech Wolfdogs are a relatively recent mix of German Shepherds and Carpathian wolves, the purposeful backcrossing has helped to make Czech Wolfdogs more genetically similar to domestic canines. 

Meet 5 Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs From Instagram

Are you itching to meet some Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs? Get ready, I’m about to introduce you to a handful! One of the coolest things about Czech Wolfdogs is how well-documented their breeding history has been. Almost all Czech Wolfdogs can be found listed on an official wolfdog database that features ancestry, genetic details, and even dog show rankings for each dog. 

1. Branka

Branka is a Czech Wolfdog with a hiking hyper-fixation who lives with her human, a Dalmatian sibling (pictured above), and even a cat! Bred by the vom Kaskadewolf kennel in Germany, Branka has a theoretical wolfblood percentage of 28% and is the direct descendent of the first Eurasian wolf crossed with a German Shepherd, Brita. 

2. Dakota

Wondering what Czechoslovakian Wolfdog puppies look like? Check out Dakota when she was just an itty-bitty pup! Dakota is a year old now, and it’s amazing how much she has grown up. 

3. Celeste & Björk

Celeste and Björk were both bred at Amyfield’s Kennel in Sweden, where they still reside! Both Celeste and Björk are 28.5% theoretical wolfblood Czech Wolfdogs, and they’re excellent sled dogs who love to run with their humans being pulled behind in the winter months. 

4. Merlin

Bred by the od Úhoště kennel in the Czech Republic, Merlin is a 28.3% wolfblood Czech Wolfdog and a direct descendent of Brita, the first Eurasian wolf used in the experiments that created the Czech Wolfdog. 

Czechoslovakian Vlcak Dog Basic Info

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is also called the Czechoslovakian Vlcak (Československý vlčák in Czech) or the Czechoslovakian Vlciak (Československý vlčiak in Slovak.) A highly standardized wolfdog breed, the Czech Vlcak is recognized as a national breed in the Czech Republic alongside the Cesky Terrier and several other interesting breeds. 

Like other Wolfdogs, the Czech Vlcak’s aesthetics are often the focus of potential owners, but let me warn you that these dogs are not for inexperienced or first-time owners. Although the Czech Wolfdog has been standardized and would at most be considered low-content wolfdogs, their behavioral and care needs are very different from the average domestic dog. 

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Temperament

The very first Czechoslovakian Wolfdog breeders aimed to enhance the qualities of the dog most commonly used for border patrol: the German Shepherd. Intelligent and active, the Czech Wolfdogs need more daily exercise and mental stimulation than most other dog breeds. 

Favored by people who enjoy canine sports like trail work or outdoor enthusiasts who like to bike, run, or hike long-distance, Czech Wolfdogs are impossible to tire out with a basic walk around the block or a trip to the dog park. During endurance tests, Czech Wolfdogs outperform most other dogs, and some have even run upwards of 80–100 km (50–62 miles) in just eight hours. Czech Wolfdogs are superior runners, and the Czechoslovakian Vlcak Club of America describes them as “tenacious canterers!”

Loyal and curious, Czech Vlcak dogs make excellent search and rescue dogs and are frequently used as multi-purpose working dogs in Europe. Though they can excel in obedience, Czech Wolfdogs can be easily distracted by their senses and high prey drive. Considered hard to train and skittish, Czech Wolfdogs have little of the human-focused biddability of most domestic dogs. Czech Wolfdogs need an experienced handler who can keep them on task and knows how to channel their high stamina and endurance into healthy avenues. 

“Stubborn isn’t really the way I’d describe [Czech Wolfdogs]. They are independent thinkers and extremely intelligent, [and] they need sufficient motivation and a level of trust in their handlers to want to perform at all,” says a Czech Wolfdog owner, sharing his experience with the breed in a comment on Reddit. “[Czech Wolfdogs] grow bored of repetition very quickly…they’re smart and catch on quickly and they’re athletic and love to be involved, but it has to be fun for them to make it [worthwhile]. [Czech Wolfdogs] can also be somewhat defensive and sensitive, and usually do not take well to aversive methods, especially compared to other working breeds.”

Some Czech Wolfdogs can be dog-selective, and many are same-sex aggressive once they hit maturity, so a home with no other dogs or a dog of the opposite sex is best. Not recommended for homes with small animals or very young children, Czech Wolfdogs in homes with respectful older children and adults who create firm boundaries can become fearless and courageous protectors. Still, this breed is unlikely to behave like your average companion animal. 

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Size

Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs are medium dogs standing 25–23.5 inches tall and weighing in at 44–57+ pounds. 

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog Health

Czech Wolfdog breeders should perform extensive genetic testing to avoid introducing genetic diseases and abnormalities to their bloodlines. An uncommon breed with a recent genetic history, there isn’t a large pool of Czech Wolfdogs to choose from, and inbreeding is a relatively high risk. 

Some common health issues to be aware of if you own a Czech Vlcak include: 

• Dental disease
• Eye and vision problems (e.g. lens luxation)
• Joint problems (e.g. elbow and hip dysplasia)
• Back and spine issues (e.g. degenerative myelopathy)
• Heart disease
• Pituitary dwarfism (growth hormone deficiency) 

Where To Find Czechoslovakian Vlcak Puppies For Sale

Remember that very few people have the right combination of experience, resources, and time to raise a Czech Wolfdog puppy. If you think you have all the right qualities, your next hurdle will be finding a Czechoslovakian Vlcak for sale, USA or abroad. 

It is no easy task to find a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog for sale. USA breeders are few and far between, and there are currently only four Czechoslovakian Vlcak breeders in the US affiliated with the Czechoslovakian Vlciak Club of America. If you live in Europe or can get to the Czech Republic, finding a Czech Vlcak for sale from an ethical breeder will be easier, but you may run into issues trying to import the dog. 

If you can’t find a Czech Wolfdog breeder or a Czech Wolfdog for sale (USA in the search bar can help!) in your area, consider joining online forums or groups of Czech Wolfdog owners and breeders. By getting to know people in the community, you can learn more about the breed and whether it’s right for you, and get connections to Vlcak dog breeders with upcoming litters. 

Czech Wolf Dog FAQ

You probably have more questions, and I don’t blame you! Here are some quick answers to some of the most common queries about the Czech Wolf Dog.