Wolves have been bred with a few different dog breeds, but one of the most popular wolf hybrids is the German Shepherd Wolf Mix. While this is a fairly new breed, a lot is known about these unique, beautiful dogs.
So, you think you want a German Shepherd Wolf Mix? Before you decide on owning one, you should know as much as possible about your potential new dog. Once you are armed with the proper knowledge, you will be ready to decide if a German Shepherd Wolf Mix is actually the right pet for you and your family or not.
These dogs are definitely one-of-a-kind. Let’s find out why.
What Is A German Shepherd Wolf Mix?
The German Shepherd Wolf Mix is a result of crossbreed the German Shepherd with a wolf.
German Shepherds were first bred in 1899 by a German captain. Less than a century later, in 1935, the first ever dog of this cross breed came to be when Leendert Saarloos bred a German Shepherd with a Timber Wolf. This new mix resulted in the Saarloos Wulfhund, or Wolfhound, the first recorded German Shepherd Wolf Mix.
Twenty years later in Czechoslovakia, the German Shepherd was bred with a Carpathian Wolf, which resulted in the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, also known as the Czechoslovakian Vlcak.
This breed didn’t get any official recognition as a breed until 1982. The Czech Wolfdog is a rare, but beautiful breed of wolfdog.
Both of these wolf mixes are best suited for cold weather climates and made for herding other animals. They require a lot of exercise and don’t make for good apartment dogs.
Wolf mixes generally need space to roam, and a backyard or a home with acreage provide the room that these dogs will need to live happy lives.
Size
While both crossbreeds are from fairly similar mixes, they have a lot of differences, including size.
The Saarloos Wolfhound is typically only a little taller than the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, but the Saarloos Wolfhound is about 20 pounds heavier.
Saarloos Wolfhounds are generally between 24 and 30 inches tall and weigh between 70 and 90 pounds.
Czech Wolfdogs are usually between 24 and 26 inches tall, but they only weigh between 45 and 55 pounds, making them much lighter than Saarloos Wolfhounds.
Diet
While wolves are known as tough carnivores, and your wolf mix will need meat, you can feed a German Shepherd Wolf Mix a dog food that is high in protein.
The dog food you give to one of these mixes should be at least 50 percent meat. You will probably need to do a little research to select a food that contains enough protein to keep them energized and healthy.
Be sure to select a food that is formulated for large breed dogs as well. If your dog doesn’t seem to have enough energy, you may need to find a food that is made specifically for working breeds to help regulate that.
Regardless of the food you choose, you will need to be mindful of how much you are feeding your dog. Overfeeding can lead to obesity, which can cause a number of other health issues in this cross breed.
Health Problems & Lifespan
The heftier mix typically lives between 10 and 12 years, while the Czech mix lives between 12 and 14 years. Keeping your German Shepherd Wolf Mix at a healthy weight and getting it vaccinated regularly could help it live longer than average.
While the mixes are both fairly healthy, they are prone to hip dysplasia, which can cause a lot of physical pain. Other than that, there are the occasional eye and spine problems that are common in many breeds, including this cross breed.
Coats
German Shepherd Wolf Mixes, unsurprisingly, take on the coats of two mixed breeds. This can result in a variety of different colorations and markings.
The Saarloos Wolfhound typically has a short coat, but since they have an undercoat, they stay warm in winter.
Saarloos Wolfhounds come in a variety of colors, including grays and browns. These grays and browns often are in an agouti pattern, which is common in dogs that look like wolves.
The Czech Wolfdog has a similar coat as the Saarloos Wolfhound, but they come in a different range of colors. Czech Wolfdogs tend to be more yellow and silver, as well as gray.
Again, this breed often has a coat with an agouti pattern.
When it comes to grooming, these are both low-maintenance dogs.
Due to their undercoats, they will shed heavily though twice a year as they prepare for different seasons.
You will need to brush them regularly, but baths aren’t often necessary.
If you can get away with it, dry shampoo is a great way to keep your German Shepherd Wolf Mix smelling clean without stripping away the natural oils that live on the skin.
Behavior?
As you probably know, all dog breeds act a little differently than other breeds. This is due to breeding practices used to develop the breed over time.
While each individual dog will have a slightly different temperament, there are some breed-specific traits that most German Shepherd Wolf Mixes will exhibit.
Since wolves are den-dwelling dogs, these mixes are more likely to try to build a den or dig in your yard. You may want to invest in a space that is den-like for your dog and teach them that it is their space.
In nature, wolves are curious roamers. They like to explore, which means you need to be careful that they can’t escape your fences. They may also mark their territory more than other dog breeds, but they are great protectors.
With the strong predatory instinct of wolves, these dogs are likely to try to hunt other animals. You may want to avoid this breed if you have cats or small dogs.
If you get a German Shepherd Wolf Mix as a puppy, you may be better able to prevent the hunting instinct when it comes to your other pets. You will also want to socialize these dogs to avoid issues with trying to hunt children or other dogs.
In general, the Saarloos Wolfhound is much less likely to be aggressive than the Czech Wolfdog, but caution should be exercised with both mixes.
If you want a quiet dog, this may not be the pet for you. They are known for howling, much like wolves do. See a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog howl in the following video.
One way to predict the temperament of an individual German Shepherd Wolf Mix is to look at the traits its ancestors exhibited.
Remember that this is a combination of two different breeds, so it is completely normal for a dog of this breed to exhibit both wolf-like and German Shepherd-like behaviors.
If you know the ancestry of the puppies you are considering, you can select one that is likely to have more of the traits you are looking for in a puppy.
Training
When it comes to training a dog that is part wolf, you will have your work cut out for you. Wolves are known for being stubborn, but German Shepherds are smart and ready to learn.
Depending on your dog’s temperament, they may either be very easy or very difficult to train.
The key for training this breed is consistency.
You will need to be a firm and consistent trainer to see the results you want out of your dog.
Starting obedience training at a young age will make it easier to train these dogs. You may never get 100 percent of the results that you want, however.
It is also not recommended to keep this dog kenneled. Instead, it is more important that you train them to act in an appropriate manner in your home whether you are there or not.
Because of their strong personalities and the difficulty that training can cause for an owner, these dogs are not recommended for first-time pet owners or households with young children or other pets.
Exercise Requirements
Like many herding breeds, German Shepherd Wolf Mixes require a lot of exercise to keep them happy and healthy.
While it is obvious that dogs need exercise to burn off excess energy, these mixes have a particularly special need for exercise.
High energy breeds, such as these two, are prone to behavioral issues and destruction when they are bored.
If you don’t have a yard for this dog to run around in, you will need to be physically able and have the time to take them on daily walks or runs.
Without it, you may notice that this breed will start destroying things around your home. This is especially true if you keep them kenneled for hours at a time.
Wrapping Up About The Wolf German Shepherd Mix
Now that you know everything you need to know about this cross breed, you are ready to decide if you can introduce one into your household.
Consider all of the information above and decide what is best for both you and your family and the dog.
Do you have or have you considered a German Shepherd Wolf Mix? Let us know your experience with this unique dog breed in the comments!
Neighbors have decided they no longer want their Shepherd-Wolf Mix, so with some research on proper feeding for her, I’m taking her as my own with my Shepherd-Lab Mix.
Way to go – I wish you the best adoption!