Wolf lookalike breed standard.
All credit to Becky Smith (Mahooli)
This is the standard we are working towards, its important to note not all breeders of Wolf lookalike dogs use this one, any additional info or changes to it by us will be highlighted.
(We are saddened to note that despite a considerable amount of time by Becky working on this standard that most breeders who use it or base their standard on it have neither gained Becky's permission to publish it or given her any credit for it)
General Appearance
That of a North American Tundra Wolf.
Characteristics
Large, powerful dog of imposing appearance. Long legged with a thickly coated body.
Temperament
Friendly, intelligent and biddable. May be reserved with strangers until they get to know them. Not overly shy. Should not display any signs of aggression.
Head and Skull
When viewed from above skull is relatively narrow in comparison to size of dog. The apparent broadness of the head is caused by the fur ruff in mature specimens. Muzzle is of a moderate width, neither too broad nor too narrow and tapering to nose. Muzzle length slightly less than length of stop to occiput. Slight stop but not overly pronounced. Jaw muscles are powerful but not over developed. Nose pigment is black in all colours.
Eyes
Oblique set of almond shape, of medium size appropriate to the facial features of the dog. Colour ranges from amber through to yellow.
Ears
Small, erect and thickly furred. Rounded tips. Distance between ears when alert only slightly more than the distance between the eyes.
Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips should be tight.
Neck
Thick and muscular of moderate length with a crest of longer hair which is more pronounced in mature specimens. No excessive dewlap or throatiness.
Forequarters
Slightly sloping shoulders of moderate length. Good shoulder angulation and elbows close to the body turning neither in nor out. Chest narrow and of reasonable depth but no lower than point of elbows. Legs are straight and relatively long in comparison to size of animal.
Body
Length from chest to rump slightly longer than height from withers to ground. Back straight with a slightly sloping croup to tail. Back muscular and kept level when on the move.
Hindquarters
Muscular and slightly rounded at rump. Legs straight when viewed from behind, good turn of stifle with second thigh. Moderate angulation allowing for powerful drive when on the move. Hocks well let down. Cow or Sickle hocks undesirable. Pasterns should be straight and no longer than a 3rd of the total length of the hind leg. Dew claws not to be removed, except for medical reasons, if present are undesirable.
Feet
Feet are large in comparison to size of animal. Front feet larger than hind. Tight but not excessively arched and thickly padded allowing for spread of weight. Toes are webbed and thickly furred between pads. Flat or hare feet undesirable. Nails black.
Tail
Low set and thickly furred. When on the move tail can be raised in a gentle curve. May be dropped when the dog is relaxed. Never curled over the back.
Gait/Movement
Free, loping gait covering the ground.
Coat
Thick double coat with dense soft undercoat and coarse guard hairs. Guard hairs longer over shoulders and spine. Pronounced ruff around face in mature specimens. Coat less dense and flatter in the summer months after the spring moult. No excessive feathering on backs of legs or thighs
Colour
Wolf Sable ranging from pale cream undercoat through to all shades of fawn, apricot and red, must have pronounced sabling (black tips) with a pale throat and underbelly. Face in the sables can be lighter down the sides of the muzzle and extending under the eyes and cheeks. May extend to rings around the eyes. No obvious chest patches or pronounced eyebrows.
Black ranging from all black through smoke and charcoal due to paler undercoat.
White ranging from pure white through to pale cream.
Pigment in all colours should be black.
Size
Height at the shoulder 66cm – 76cm (26 – 30ins) males are larger than females.
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
This is the standard we are working towards, its important to note not all breeders of Wolf lookalike dogs use this one, any additional info or changes to it by us will be highlighted.
(We are saddened to note that despite a considerable amount of time by Becky working on this standard that most breeders who use it or base their standard on it have neither gained Becky's permission to publish it or given her any credit for it)
General Appearance
That of a North American Tundra Wolf.
Characteristics
Large, powerful dog of imposing appearance. Long legged with a thickly coated body.
Temperament
Friendly, intelligent and biddable. May be reserved with strangers until they get to know them. Not overly shy. Should not display any signs of aggression.
Head and Skull
When viewed from above skull is relatively narrow in comparison to size of dog. The apparent broadness of the head is caused by the fur ruff in mature specimens. Muzzle is of a moderate width, neither too broad nor too narrow and tapering to nose. Muzzle length slightly less than length of stop to occiput. Slight stop but not overly pronounced. Jaw muscles are powerful but not over developed. Nose pigment is black in all colours.
Eyes
Oblique set of almond shape, of medium size appropriate to the facial features of the dog. Colour ranges from amber through to yellow.
Ears
Small, erect and thickly furred. Rounded tips. Distance between ears when alert only slightly more than the distance between the eyes.
Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Lips should be tight.
Neck
Thick and muscular of moderate length with a crest of longer hair which is more pronounced in mature specimens. No excessive dewlap or throatiness.
Forequarters
Slightly sloping shoulders of moderate length. Good shoulder angulation and elbows close to the body turning neither in nor out. Chest narrow and of reasonable depth but no lower than point of elbows. Legs are straight and relatively long in comparison to size of animal.
Body
Length from chest to rump slightly longer than height from withers to ground. Back straight with a slightly sloping croup to tail. Back muscular and kept level when on the move.
Hindquarters
Muscular and slightly rounded at rump. Legs straight when viewed from behind, good turn of stifle with second thigh. Moderate angulation allowing for powerful drive when on the move. Hocks well let down. Cow or Sickle hocks undesirable. Pasterns should be straight and no longer than a 3rd of the total length of the hind leg. Dew claws not to be removed, except for medical reasons, if present are undesirable.
Feet
Feet are large in comparison to size of animal. Front feet larger than hind. Tight but not excessively arched and thickly padded allowing for spread of weight. Toes are webbed and thickly furred between pads. Flat or hare feet undesirable. Nails black.
Tail
Low set and thickly furred. When on the move tail can be raised in a gentle curve. May be dropped when the dog is relaxed. Never curled over the back.
Gait/Movement
Free, loping gait covering the ground.
Coat
Thick double coat with dense soft undercoat and coarse guard hairs. Guard hairs longer over shoulders and spine. Pronounced ruff around face in mature specimens. Coat less dense and flatter in the summer months after the spring moult. No excessive feathering on backs of legs or thighs
Colour
Wolf Sable ranging from pale cream undercoat through to all shades of fawn, apricot and red, must have pronounced sabling (black tips) with a pale throat and underbelly. Face in the sables can be lighter down the sides of the muzzle and extending under the eyes and cheeks. May extend to rings around the eyes. No obvious chest patches or pronounced eyebrows.
Black ranging from all black through smoke and charcoal due to paler undercoat.
White ranging from pure white through to pale cream.
Pigment in all colours should be black.
Size
Height at the shoulder 66cm – 76cm (26 – 30ins) males are larger than females.
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
