Is a wolfdog bigger than a wolf

How Big Are Wolves Compared to Dogs? (Size Chart & Comparison)

Wolves are feared and held in awe, but they have been the subject of many movies, TV shows, and books. While they are often seen as villainous (such as in the story of Little Red Riding Hood), wolves are just animalsno more evil than your dog.

But how big are they compared to dogs? This depends on the dog, of course; wolves are among the largest in the canine family and are bigger than most breeds. But there are a few breeds of dogs that can give wolves a run for their money!

Below, well discuss the size of wolves and dogs, which is particularly important because wolves are ancestors of our beloved pet dogs.

Are Wolves Bigger Than Dogs?

The largest wolf species is theGray Wolf,¹ also known as the Timber Wolf. The average male Gray Wolf can be 6.6 feet long, 30 inches tall at the shoulder, and weigh 100 pounds.Remember that this is just an average wolf; the largest Gray Wolf on record weighed about 175 pounds!

But how do they compare to dogs? Wolves are larger than most dogs, but a few extra-large breeds are bigger than wolves. For example, most Great Danes are taller and heavier than the average wolf. The following chart compares the height and weight of the Gray Wolf to a few other animals and humans to put the wolfs size in perspective.

As you can see, the wolf is technically smaller than the average Great Dane and human, but of course, everything depends on the size of the individual. There are many small and large dogs, as well as small and large wolves.

A Little About Wolves

Despite their name, Gray Wolves range in color from white to black, and most have gray or light brown fur. They are considered a keystone species, which essentially means they are critical to the ecosystem.Gray Wolves are the largest species of wolf, and the largest of these wolves are found in west-central Canada, Alaska, and northern Asia. The smallest Gray Wolves are located in the southern parts of their distribution, such as India and the Middle East.

The Gray Wolf is the most common wolf species, but the Red Wolf, the Eastern Wolf, and 40 subspecies have smaller populations.The Red Wolf iscritically endangered and is only found around eastern North Carolina. As of July 2024, there are 18 collared Red Wolves in North Carolina and an estimated 19 to 21 in the wild. In a bid to save them from extinction, there are 263 Red Wolves in captivity as part of the Species Survival Plan.

The Eastern Wolf is only found around the Great Lakes and southeastern parts of Canada. They are small to medium in size and are reddish or light brown in color. They are also known as the Algonquin Wolf and the Timber Wolf (like the Gray).

What Are the Largest Dog Breeds?

The Great Dane is considered the largest dog breed, but several other breeds are nearly as big. The Dane is the largest by height (though sometimes challenged by the Irish Wolfhound), but the English Mastiff can be considered the biggest by weight. The following are 10 of the worlds largest breeds of dogs.

• Great Dane: They are definitely the tallest dogs on record. Great Danes stand an average of 32 inches tall and weigh up to 170 pounds. The world record for the tallest dog ever is for Zeus, a Great Dane that was 44 inches tall (3.5 feet tall)!
• English Mastiff: These dogs weigh an average of 150 to 250 pounds. An English Mastiff named Zorba was recorded as being the longest dog (83 from nose to tip) and the heaviest (343 pounds)!
• Neapolitan Mastiff: The Neapolitan is 2631 inches tall and weighs an average of 130155 pounds.
• Bullmastiff: Bullmastiffs weigh about 100130 pounds and stand 27 inches at the shoulder.
• Saint Bernard: The lovable St. Bernard is an average of 27.5 inches tall and can weigh 140 to 260 pounds.
• Newfoundland: Newfies are big, lovable dogs that stand about 28 inches at the shoulder and weigh an average of 150 pounds.
• Cane Corso: The Cane (pronounced KAH-NAY) Corso is about 23 to 28 inches tall and weighs 88 to 120 pounds.
• French Mastiff: This Mastiff is 24 to 27 inches tall and can weigh an average of 150 pounds.
• Great Pyrenees: These giant white, fluffy dogs stand about 25 to 32 inches tall and weigh 90 to 130 pounds.
• Bernese Mountain Dog: Berners stand 25 to 27.5 inches tall and weigh about 100 to 160 pounds.

What Are the Main Differences Between Wolves and Dogs?

There are several differences between wolves and dogs, though you can see the resemblance when you look at a breed like the German Shepherd.

• Physical differences: Beyond the breeds that look nothing like wolves (Pugs, for example), there are other noteworthy differences. Wolves have large, strong skulls and jaws, as well as large paws. Wolves also have small eyes, pointed ears, and long sickle tails. Some dogs fit this description, but many breeds have floppy ears and short or curly tails.
• Rate of maturation: Wolves mature faster than dogs, which is necessary for their survival in the wild.
• Breeding differences: Wolves breed once a year, only from February to mid-March, and pups are born in April. They have litters of four to five pups, and the mother and father help raise the young.
• Problem solvers: Some studies have found that if a problem is too difficult to manage, dogs will turn to their owners for help. Wolves dont have that luxury and are better at figuring out things for themselves.
• Shy: Wolves are shy creatures, particularly compared to dogs. This goes against how wolves have been portrayed in media, but most wolves will run from a person most of the time.
• Play: Dogs play for fun, and it is a form of mental and physical exercise that helps form a bond between the dog and the owner. Wolf pups play to learn social skills and survival techniques. They need to be efficient pack members and learn how to hunt.
• Nutrition: Wolves are carnivores, whereas dogs are omnivores. Wolves can go longer without meals and absorb nutrients differently than dogs. Neither species would thrive on the others diet.
• Human dependence: Its clear that wolves have no dependence on us, while dogs certainly do. There are many cases where an attempt to train wolves and form a bond with them has failed. Wolves never exhibit any of the same behaviors as dogs.

Summary

Wolves are bigger than most dog breeds, but a few giant pups are even larger! However, while a few dog breeds resemble wolves and have a few other similarities, the differences between the two species are quite striking.

Wolves are beautiful animals that are essential to many of the worlds ecosystems. If youd like to bring home a breed that reminds you of a wolf, consider adopting a Husky, Akita, Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, or German Shepherd.

See also:

Featured Image Credit: Piqsels

Wolf Size Comparison: How Big Are Wolves Really?

Wolves arent the biggest predators out there. The gray wolf, the most common wolf species, is about 80-100 pounds, 4.5 to 6.5 feet long, and 26 to 32 inches tall

Some people believe that wolves are very big creatures, a myth that most likely comes from the movies of the Twighlight Saga.

However, theyre not small either.

So just how big are they? And how do they compare to humans and other animals?

Thats what well discuss in this article.

How Big Are Wolves?

Wolves are the largest of the canines, and they come in a variety of sizes. The gray wolf, which is the most common species, typically weighs between 80-100 pounds but can get as big as 175 pounds. They measure about 30 inches tall at the shoulder.

Adult male wolves are about 5 to 6.5 feet long, while female wolves measure about 4.5 to 6 feet in length.

This does depend on species though, as the red wolf, as an example, is smaller than the grey wolf.

What Is the Biggest Wolf Species?

The biggest wolf species is the Northwestern Wolf (Mackenzie Valley Wolf). These wolves are primarily found in Canada and Alaska and weigh between 105 to 130 pounds (74 to 58 kg). They stand tall at about 27 to 36 inches.

Related: Largest Wolf Species

What Is the Smallest Wolf Species?

The smallest wolf species is the Arabian wolf. They average about 45 pounds and are 2526 inches (6466 cm) tall at shoulder height. Thats only about half as big as the Northwestern wolf (in terms of weight).

They live in smaller groups and hunt for small and mid-sized prey.

Wolf Size Compared to Human Size

Wolves and humans are very alike in size, though wolves are generally smaller than the average man.

The average human height is about 5 feet 9 inches, while gray wolves range from 5 to 6 feet in height. The average human weight is about 135 pounds (62 kg), while wolves weigh a little less than that.

These are the averages, and there are cases where wolves are bigger than the average human.

It may also surprise most people, that humans have been observed taking on wolves in one-to-one combat, barehanded even.

Wolf Compared to Dog Sizes

Some people think of wolves like dogs, while others think of them as these big, ferocious predators.

In general, wolves are bigger than dogs. There are some dog species that can grow bigger than wolves, but these are not plentiful. Most dogs are much smaller than wolves.

Here, well compare the following dog breeds with wolves:

• Great Danes
• Wolfdogs
• Huskies
• German Shepherd
• Rottweilers

Wolf vs. Great Dane

The Great Dane and wolves are very similar in size. They both grow to be 33 inches tall, but the great Dane weighs a bit more on average, beating the wolf with about 20 pounds at least. This large dog breed can even grow to weigh 200 pounds.

All in all, the Great Dane beats the wolf in size.

Wolf vs. Wolfdog

Wolfdogs are crossbreeds between dogs and wolves. Hence, it makes sense why most wolfdogs are about the size of a regular wolf.

However, the size of a wolfdog very much depends on what dog breed was used for breeding. If its a smaller dog, the wolfdog may be significantly smaller than a wolf. If it was a larger dog, then it may grow even bigger than a regular wolf.

Wolf vs. Husky

Huskies are one of the dogs breeds closest to wolves in terms of DNA and looks. However, theyve evolved to be significantly smaller than wolves.

Where wolves typically weigh about 80 to 100 pounds, huskies only weigh about half of that, about 36 to 60 pounds. Theyre also shorter in height, measuring 19 to 23 inches from their paws to their shoulders, whereas wolves stand tall at 26 to 33 inches.

Related: Husky vs. Wolf

Wolf vs. German Shepherd

Compared to domesticated dogs like German Shepherds, wolves are quite a bit bigger. German Shepherds weigh anywhere from 48 to 88 lbs pounds and stand about 22-26 inches tall at the shoulder. The smallest gray wolves typically grow to be 26 inches tall, outgrowing the german shepherd.

Wolf vs. Rottweiler Size

The Rottweiler is a large dog, measuring in at 77 to 130 lbs and 22 to 27 inches. In terms of height, theyre beaten by wolves, but when it comes to weight, the two animals are very alike. Some Rottweilers are bigger than wolves though.

Wolf Size Compared to Coyote Size

Wolves and coyotes are both in the Canidae family, which means theyre related. They look similar but theres a big difference between their sizes. Wolves are generally bigger than coyotes.

A wolf can weigh as little as 80 pounds or as much as 200 lbs (45 to 91 kg). Coyotes only weigh 25 to 40 lbs (11 to 18kg).

Wolves also stand taller as they reach about 30 inches tall (76cm) while a coyote is about 23 inches high (59 cm).

There are however very small wolves, which are about the same size as coyotes.

Related: Wolf vs. Coyote

Wolf Size Compared to Dire Wolf Size

The dire wolf was the largest in North America. While they died out during the last ice age about 12,000 years ago, they were very big animals. Some believe they were bigger than the wolves we know today, while others suggest they were smaller.

One study suggests that the dire wolf weighed about 75 to 150 pounds (34 to 68 kg), was 4 feet and 1 inch in length (125 cm), and stood tall at about 30 inches (80 cm).

These measurements are very alike the common gray wolf.

Wolf Size Compared to Fox Size

Wolves are much bigger than foxes. Where wolves weigh about 80 to 100 pounds, the average red fox weighs only 10 to 15 pounds (5 to 7 kg).

Foxes tend to be taller than they are wide. Theyre very slender animals, and their shoulder height averages 13 to 20 inches. This is still much less than wolves, which are about 26 to 33 inches tall.

Wolves and foxes are related, as both are members of the Canidae family. Theres some discussion about when foxes came to be, but some sources suggest it was 9 million years ago, while others claim it was 1.8 to 3.5 million years ago. [1]

Wolf Size Compared to Tiger Size

Tigers are generally bigger than wolves, weighing significantly more and standing some inches taller. Tigers are also known to prey on wolves in habitats where both live.

Wolves typically weigh in at around 80-100 pounds and stand at about 36 to 33 inches tall. Tigers, on the other hand, can weigh anywhere from 200 to 680 pounds and measure in at 27 to 47 inches tall.

All in all, tigers are definitely larger animals than wolves.

Related: Tiger vs. Wolf

Wolf Size Compared to Lion Size

Wolves are significantly smaller than lions, with the average wolf weighing in at around 80-100 pounds, while the average lion weighs in at around 400 pounds.

Wolves also stand much shorter than lions, typically measuring in at just 30 inches tall at the shoulder, compared to a lions height of 40 to 48 inches.

Despite their relatively small size when compared to other predators like lions and tigers, wolves are still incredibly powerful animals whose bite force is among the strongest of any land mammal.

In terms of sheer size, however, there is no doubt that lions reign supreme as the king of the jungle. With males growing up to weigh over 400 pounds and standing nearly four feet tall at the shoulder, they are easily one of the largest cats on the planet.

Related: Lion vs. Wolf

While wolves may not be as large as lions, they are still one of the largest predators in North America and should never be underestimated.

Their keen intelligence, powerful jaws, and pack hunting tactics make them a force to be reckoned with for any prey animal that dares cross their path.