There are many genetic studies related to dog families claiming that German Shepherds are descended from wolves. Scientifically, domesticated dogs such as GSDs, foxes, jackals, and wolves belong to the canine family, making it more likely that the GSD gene originated from wolves.
German Shepherds have many things in common with wolves, including pointed ears and muzzles, as well as the same number of chromosomes.
It is these differences that are most important to remember. German Shepherds make excellent companions, cooperators, and pets. This is not the case with wolves.
Before we explore these and other differences between German Shepherds and wolves in detail, let's look at the facts.
| German Shepherd | Wolf | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Smaller skull. Shorter legs. Slightly smaller in size. | Wolves are generally larger |
| Coat | The colors are mainly black and tan, with other different colors black and red, black and silver, sable, and white (rare) solid black. | Mainly black, grey and brown |
| Bite Force | 238 PSI (defense up to 750) | 400 PSI (defense up to 1200) |
| Running Speed | 30 mph (48 km/h) | 43 mph (69 km/h) |
| Socialization | German Shepherds are generally better at socializing with humans, children, other animals and other pets. | More shy and fearful. Will not usually attack humans. Will run away from hunters. |
| Sexual Maturity | 5-9 months | 2 years |
| Mating | Can be born twice a year. Mating can take place year round. Average litter size - 8 | Only one litter per year. Mating takes place from January to April. Average litter size - 5 |
| Diet | Omnivore | Carnivore |
1: Differences in size
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Although they are considered large dogs, only the largest ones reach the height and weight of the smallest wolves. According to wikipedia[1], there are three species of wolves, but their average size ranges from 2.2 feet to 2.7 feet. German Shepherds range in size from 22 inches to 2.2 feet.
Wolves range in weight from 51 pounds for small females to 180 pounds for large males. As with dogs, male wolves are larger, longer and heavier than females. In contrast, German Shepherds weigh only 49 to 88 pounds.
2: Differences in attention to people
Puppies find people fascinating. Their pleasant nature makes them the most popular dogs for jobs where people and dogs must work closely together. German Shepherds make excellent search and rescue dogs, guide dogs, police dogs and (surprise!) sheepdogs.
On the other hand (or paws), wolves don't want to know anything about people at all, except how to avoid them. If you point your finger at an interesting object, such as a tennis ball, the German Shepherd will follow the direction of your finger towards the ball. The wolf will either stare at you or ignore you.
3: German Shepherds are better actors
Because German Shepherds love to please, they learn a variety of complex tricks. They willingly follow the advice of their breeder or trainer. As a result, they are constantly appearing on the big and small screen - and often playing wolves.
Because they are very difficult to train and have little interest in pleasing people, wolves are poor actors. If they were human, they'd stay in the trailer the whole time. Unless it's a nature documentary, the wolf you see in the movie is actually a husky or German shepherd.
4: Differences in the shape of the hind legs
The German Shepherd gets its name from honesty and is a sheepdog. The hind legs are permanently crouched in order to mimic the wolf approaching the herd.
This breed has been bred to the extreme in the United States, as shown in the current breed standard on the American Kennel Club website.
Wolves do not require a permanent false crouch because they move so well that they do not require any human modification. Their hind legs are much straighter and arguably much stronger than those of the modern German Shepherd.
5: German Shepherds suffer from hip dysplasia much more often than wolves.
Partly because of the unusual fashion of the hind legs, and partly because of inbreeding, German Shepherds suffer from a painful genetic condition unknown to wolves.
This is hip dysplasia. It occurs in German Shepherds of all ages, but especially in puppies and young dogs, like Riley in this YouTube video. Can wolves develop hip dysplasia? Yes, but this is only seen in very old wolves, due to arthritis, as author and animal behaviorist Jeffrey Moussaieff Maison points out in his popular 1998 book Dogs never lie about love.
6: Differences in eye color
Wolves' eyes come in a variety of colors, from light gray to dark brown and almost black. Other colors include yellow, amber, gray-blue and blue-green. In contrast, all German Shepherds have brown eyes.
Other eye colors, especially blue, have been seen in German Shepherds, but they have been disqualified in shows, so few have been bred to pass on the gene for this eye color. All dog and wolf pups are born with blue eyes, but their true color appears a few months later.
7: Different tolerance for temperature extremes
You can find wolves living outdoors in a variety of weather conditions, from blizzards near the Arctic Circle to the scorching deserts of the Middle East.
Not only are wolves physically developed to thrive in extreme hot or cold outdoor conditions, but they also learn how to cope with severe weather from older pack members.
In contrast, German Shepherds require what is called "creature comforts". Any dog, including the apparently robust German Shepherd, needs warmth and shelter from the cold, and lots of shade when it's hot. They have no one to teach them about the weather but us.
8: Differences in population
According to the American Kennel Club, the German Shepherd is the second most popular breed of dog. This means that there are millions of German Shepherds and half-German Shepherds in the United States alone. The future of our companion, this descendant of the wolf, is assured.
This is not the case with wolves. Many species are on the brink of extinction because they are hunted mercilessly by humans. According to Wikipedia, there are only about 300,000 wolves left in the world.
9: Differences in diet
Wolves eat meat all the time, right? In fact, they eat anything they can get their hands on. However, meat seems to be their favorite, and their digestive systems attack meat easily.
Dogs eat differently, and perhaps that's why they've been domesticated, while wolves remain wild. According to the journal Science, dogs have 122 genes in their digestive tracts that are different from wolves, which makes human foods like rice easier to digest than meat.
The wolf is the largest extant member of the Canidae family, and is further distinguished from coyotes and jackals by a broader snout, shorter ears, a shorter torso and a longer tail. It is slender and powerfully built, with a large, deeply descending rib cage, a sloping back, and a heavily muscled neck.[1]
German Shepherds differ from wolves in size, eye color, jaw strength and leg posture. They are friendlier to humans, slower, but easier to tame. They also eat a different diet.
Although they were bred to resemble wolves and were once called Alsatian Wolfhounds, German Shepherds are very different from wolves.
Smaller, lighter, and friendlier, they see through dark brown eyes. They are more popular than wolves.
Everyone loves German Shepherds, but not wolves. This has driven this noble and independent creature to the brink of extinction. It is as if they would rather die than get used to living with us.
Can German Shepherds Defeat Wolves?
Remember, wolves are born and trained in forests and deserts, have high intelligence and survival rates, and are accustomed to surviving in harsh wildlife environments. German Shepherds, on the other hand, are being trained by rational humans and are intelligent and strong.
When they meet, it is really hard to tell who will win if given the chance. However, wolves are actually stronger than German Shepherds because they have higher stamina and strong different instincts.
German Shepherds cannot defeat wolves in a fight and may sustain serious injuries or be killed in the event of a wolf attack. Although they are very strong, German Shepherds do not have the necessary physique to withstand wolf bites or consistently force wolves to retreat.
Although German Shepherds are not strong enough to defeat wolves in combat, some exceptionally strong dogs can match wolves in the best of circumstances.
The bite of an enraged wolf may still be twice as strong as the strongest dog, but the following dogs are most likely to meet the challenge of a confrontation with it.
German Shepherd Wolf Mix
Is it really possible to crossbreed German Shepherds and wolves? There are actually breeders of wolf dogs or half wolf, half German Shepherd, but they are still subject to state or local laws. These policies may vary, depending on the area in which it will be bred. For example, some areas require standard wolfdog cages or other areas require licensing and vaccinations where the breed is categorized as a dog. Therefore, it is necessary to review the laws governing the ownership of wolfdog crosses before adopting or purchasing.
What is a German Shepherd Wolf mix or crossbreed?
Apparently, German Shepherd and Wolf crosses are the result of a cross between a German Shepherd and a Wolf. This breed is not a purebred and is also known as a "wolf dog" or sometimes as a "wolf shepherd".
Conclusion
Now you know that German Shepherds and wolves can really crossbreed. However, those who want to own a German Shepherd mix should be knowledgeable and trained before owning a German Shepherd, as they are not easy to train.
References and Resources
[1] wolf-wikipedia
