It’s a common question. They look a lot alike, after all, but are huskies wolves? Is there a connection between huskies and wolves?
While huskies and wolves look a lot alike, they aren’t considered closely related. Huskies are domesticated dogs with specific care and socialization needs. They can’t be left to their own devices. Wolves are wild animals that cannot be domesticated or controlled by experienced professional dog trainers and handlers. They share physical traits but not emotional traits. Their DNA is similar but very different in a beautiful juxtaposition.
Is a husky part wolf?
If you go back far enough into DNA and genetics, all dogs have part wolf genes in them. A husky is a unique kind of dog that is considered to be closely related to a specific kind of wolf — a gray wolf.
Huskies and gray wolves can share DNA and enough genetics to interbreed successfully. The offspring would never be entirely domesticated or entirely wild, stick instead firmly in the middle.
That being said, when it comes to the actual temperament and noticeable traits of a husky, they would have more in common with a pomeranian than a wolf.
How much percent wolf is a husky
It depends on the breeding of your husky! If you have a mixed breed (commonly called a wolf-dog), it could be as much as 50% of each. Classic huskies that you can buy from breeders have much, much less. It would be, again, comparable to other kinds of dog breeds.
The actual percentage of DNA is a common augment. Most agree that while they share enough DNA to mate correctly, huskies and wolves are entirely different species.
Huskies, along with other dogs, share DNA with wolves. Most agree that dogs originally were wild animals, though their ancestry is very different from the classic wolves that we see today.
This is why experts agree that there is no way to turn a husky wild or a wolf domesticated. It can’t be done either way because the split between them goes too far back into their DNA’s history.
Do huskies have wolf blood?
No, huskies don’t have wolf blood in them because they are a different species than a wolf entirely unless you were to go way back into the generations and use that as your test subject! Modern-day huskies, even purebreds, don’t have any wolf blood.
Why do Huskies look like wolves?
Huskies look like wolves because they’re bred to live in similar ways. Huskies are often working dogs and are still used in many remote locations to pull dog sleds. Being bred to live in this kind of climate means that they need to survive cold temperatures, strong winds, and be strong and muscular creatures.
This, combined with careful breeding through selective gene mapping, creates a husky that arguably looks similar to a wolf!
Are huskies the closest dog to a wolf?
Dingos and coyotes are closest to the wolf as far as their DNA is concerned, though they are still entirely separated from it if you went to compare them in make-up, size, etc.
As mentioned above, many find that wolfhounds or wolf dogs (which are mixed breeds) would be considered the closest dog to a wolf. However, it depends on how you define “close” since they are still different species!
Which dog breed has the most wolf DNA?
There is quite a lot of lively discussion about this! Many feel that the wolfhounds would be closest. Many find that Alaskan Malamutes are the closest as far as actual dog breeds. Others find that German Shepherds are closest.
You’ll find as many that will disagree as will agree with what dog breed is closest, though. So, what’s the answer? It’s a jump shot between Malamutes and German Shepherds as long as you don’t look too closely!
Many people make this assumption because even those in the professional world quickly admit that a husky looks a lot like a grey wolf. They can have the same behaviors, body language, and expressions. However, their thinking processes and instincts will be different enough that you will always be able to tell the difference by studying them. Despite the argument that they share DNA, they are distinctively different animals.
The differences between wolf and husky
So, no matter how you look at it, a wolf and a husky are going to be pretty different dogs. What are the differences between them? Take a look!
Wolves:
- Are 33” (83 cm) and weigh 200 lb (90.7 kg) on average
- Are naturally fearful of humans
- Are alpha and don’t want a leader around
- Have large heads and muscular bodies
- Have large, sharp teeth
Huskies:
- Are 24” (60 cm) and weigh up to 65 lbs (29 kg)
- Are sociable and friendly to other animals and humans
- Hunt for a leader and alpha
- Have smaller heads and lean but thin bodies
- Have regular dog-sized teeth
How can you tell a wolf from a husky?
You can use the traits above to help you determine whether you’re dealing with a husky or a wolf. Generally, a wolf will never let you see them. A husky will be food-motivated if you’re eating a snack, whereas a wolf will simply wait until you fall asleep or leave and take what’s left. Their goal is to get the food and avoid you since you are a predator. A husky’s goal is to get the food — whether you’re there or not.
The only way you can tell a wolf from a husky is if you watch a movie and take a look at the “wolves.” You’ll find that most wolves in the movies are actually huskies! They’re trained as professional dog actors (yes, really), and they are used in movies because they are obedient and will follow directions on set!
Can wolves be domesticated?
No, a wolf can’t be domesticated. There have been numerous attempts over the years to do so, but they haven’t ended well. Even after being conditioned to be obedient, a wolf will still remain its wild self. This is one of the reasons why all wild animals should never be mistaken for house pets.
That wild nature can come back out in complete form with no warning. It can mean that this wild animal will hurt or kill both other pets and humans. A wolf can never be domesticated, and even a wolf bred with a husky can never be entirely domesticated.
A wild animal is entirely different from a domesticated one and is never safe to have around like you would with a domestic dog. Many animal professionals agree that trying to domesticate a wolf through careful interbreeding is nothing but cruel to the animals they create since they will never be at home in the wild or in captivity.
Likewise, a husky can never be turned wild. Even if you were to leave it on its own, it would survive and find its way, but it would never become a wild dog. Since it’s a different species entirely, this wouldn’t be an option at all because of that core difference.
In conclusion
Huskies and wolves look similar, but they are distinctively different species. Huskies are domestic dogs, and wolves are wild animals. Huskies are pack animals and will want to be sociable with humans.
Wolves will be alphas of packs and will hide from humans. It is easy to mix them up visually, but not in their attitude and behaviors.
While a husky and a wolf may look very similar and act similar at times, they are very different creatures and should never be mixed up with each other when it comes to adding one to your family!
