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Have you ever wondered and thought, ‘can a German shepherd can kill a wolf?’ Or is it even possible for this to happen?
Although German Shepherds are very strong, they cannot kill a wolf in a fight, and they would likely sustain serious injuries or get killed should a wolf attack.
The reason why wolves are bigger and stronger than dogs has been answered in detail here!
Can A German Shepherd Kill A Wolf?
No, a German Shepherd cannot kill a wolf. Wolves are much larger than German Shepherds and have sharper teeth to rip open their prey’s thick skin.
German Shepherds are not the appropriate type of dog to go into a fight with. These dogs are powerful, but they rarely take on animals that would put them in harm’s way. Instead, they make excellent family pets and hunting partners for their speed and agility.
To know more about why a german shepherd will not be able to kill a wolf, let’s compare them.
German Shepherd vs. Wolf
Size
A German shepherd may look enormous to the naked eye, and many may think they are as big as a wolf.
However, a german shepherd is much smaller than a wolf in height and length, with adult males reaching 65 cm or 25 inches at the shoulder.
In terms of size, german shepherds are much more similar to coyotes, which can potentially grow to be 25 inches tall at the shoulder.
Wolves, on the other hand, can grow to be 35 inches tall at the shoulder.
A difference of 10 inches at the shoulder is enormous; 2 inches at the shoulder is considerable and noticeable. The size difference between a wolf and a German shepherd would be startling if you saw them side by side.
There are hardly a few dogs that are as tall as wolves. Great Danes, Irish wolfhounds, and maybe kangals and bully kuttas are close to a wolf in terms of size.
If you’ve ever seen an extremely tall wolfhound or Great Dane with other dogs, you’ve probably noticed how ridiculously tall they are; a wolf is just as tall.
Surprisingly, they don’t weigh all that much. Although some reports over 200 pounds have been made, these have not been verified. The heaviest empty stomach wolf reliably reported from populations of the most prominent wolf subspecies (lupus occidentalis) is around 145 pounds.
There were roughly eight wolves that weighed more than 140 pounds after thousands of mature wolves were measured. Most are around 100–110 pounds, but they’re still massive adult male wolves (those in the above images are likely no larger than 115 lbs).
German shepherds can weigh between 100 and 110 pounds, with most weighing between 75 and 90 pounds, yet even a massive 110-pound German shepherd would not appear to be as large as a wolf.
Other dogs that are the same height as the wolves and appear to be the same size are significantly heavier.
The majority of Irish wolfhounds weigh between 160 and 180 pounds, while most Great Danes weigh between 175 and 200 pounds (and kangals and central Asian ovcharkas and bully kuttas are sometimes over 200 lbs).
Speed
A mature German shepherd can reach a speed of around 30-34 miles per hour (48 – 54 km per hour), while wolves like timber wolves, arctic wolves, and red wolves can run at a speed of around 38 – 45 miles per hour (56- 72 km per hour).
Territorial nature
Wolves are territorial, establishing territories far larger than they require to ensure a constant supply of prey. The amount of prey available and the age of the pack’s pups determine the size of the territory.
Wolves often fight for territory, and it is the main cause of the fight among wolves.
When the pups reach the age of six months and have the same dietary needs as adults, they tend to grow in size in locations with low prey concentrations.
Wolf packs are continuously on the move to pursue prey, covering around 9% of their territory each day at a speed of 25 km/h (16 mi/h). They spend 50% of their time in the center of their region, which is on average 35 km2 (14 sq mi).
German shepherds are also very territorial, but their territory is the amount of space the owner has as they are pets.
The less your dog is exposed to the outside world and the more secluded and confined its ” territory,” the more protective of its territory it will be.
Bite force
The bite force of an ordinary dog is 230-250 psi, which is twice that of a human. Dogs with larger jaws, on the other hand, will have stronger bites than an ordinary dogs.
The German Shepherd is one of the most powerful canines, with an average biting force of 238 pounds per square inch.
Wolves are far more powerful, with bite forces ranging from 400 to 1,200 pounds per square inch, depending on whether the wolf is defending itself orbiting for another cause.
Are German Shepherds Considered Wolf Breeds?
The German Shepherd is a domesticated large working dog breed, originally bred for herding and guarding livestock. The modern-day German Shepherd is known as the world’s most popular dog breed and the most popular breed in Canada, the United States, and Germany.
German Shepherds are not considered wolf breeds but rather descendants from gray wolves. This means that they can’t kill large prey like a wolf because of their size and lack of hunting skills.
They have some distinct characteristics that make them different than other dogs. These include their thick coat of fur, strong body structure, and the way they act around humans.
What Kind Of Dogs Could Kill A Wolf?
Unless the dog has a significant size advantage, there seem to be no dogs that could kill a wolf. Wolves appear to be stronger and faster (in response time, that is—they cannot outrun greyhounds) than any domestic dog, pound for pound.
Even though the average Rottweiler is much larger than the average wolf, their bite is significantly more powerful than that of a Rottweiler, often the strongest dog.
And a Pitbull is a powerful dog for its size, but it’s not a particularly large dog, weighing in at roughly 60 pounds for males vs. 80 pounds for the average male wolf (though it varies greatly by population, with some populations rarely above 40 lbs and others in rare cases reaching as much as 120 lbs or more).
Conclusion
German shepherds are extremely smart and loyal dogs, but they will not win a fight against a wolf. They are naturally protective of their owners and other family members, so don’t be surprised if your dog tries to attack a wolf.
