Is there a breed of dog that could take down a wolf?

Question

Im basicaly talking stats here, for example not taking into account that the wolf is wild ect. Basicaly, is there a dog that is stronger and/or faster than a wolf, to the point where he could beat a wolf in theory?

Answer 1

Of course there are and I know of a few that have actually done it. Go back to Europe and look at the Kangal dogs, the Russian shepherds, etc. ALL these dogs were bred to guard livestock from wolves and my Godfather owned several. On many occasions one of those dogs did kill a wolf.

We are not talking about your average "pet" here, we are talking of HUGE dogs that are bred specifically for the express purpose of killing any animal that threatens the pack!

Answer 2

well there is actually a breed called the Borzoi (also known as the Russian Wolfhound) that was used in Russia for pinning wolves down. They would send the dogs in groups of (I think it was three) and they would pin the wolf down until the hunter got there and the wolf would be released.

There is also a breed called the Irish Wolfhound (its actually the tallest dog breed btw, look at pic below for size reference) that was used to hunt wolves in Ireland.

There are also other breeds of dogs that would be strong enough to take down a wolf, such as mastiff type breeds, however these dogs are very large and bulky and don't have great agility. So in a fight with a wolf, they could actually be quickly wripped to shreds by the simple fact that in terms of agility, the wolf would have the upper hand. Thats why the Borzoi and Irish Wolfhounds are similar (in shape) to a greyhound. Because they had to be fast and agile.



Borzoi:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/Borzoi_female.jpg



Irish Wolfhound:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Irish_Wolfhound_Sam.jpg



Irish Wolfhound Size Pic:

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/images15/IrishWolfhoundFrankBrendan.JPG

Answer 3

The only breeds likely to survive a one-on-one battle against a wolf are the designated Wolfhound breeds - VERY large animals (but be aware that the real Irish Wolfhounds died out; the modern ones were created from other breeds). But 1-on-1 is rare - normally a wolf would have its pack in support. And anyone hunting wolves would take his own pack of dogs, not a single dog.



Sheep protection breeds such as the Puli have been bred to have a VERY thick & tangled coat, to reduce how far the wolf's fangs can penetrate.



Many so-called hunting dogs are NOT attackers/killers, their job is to track the prey animal then act as a pack to bail up (threatening loudly, but staying just out of range) the cougar/deer/lion/pig/wolf until the hunter can arrive and dispatch it with spear or bullet (or tranquilliser dart for predators that have strayed from the wilderness range that mankind has set aside for them).

It is the Terrier breeds and the Dachshunds and the Gazehounds that were developed to go in and kill vermin.

Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_Friendly

"In GSDs" as of 1967

Answer 4

yes many in fact. You could consider most wolfhounds which were bred to hunt wolfs. You could also look at dogs like the Rhodesian Ridge back which were bred to hunt lions? Basically, depending on size, weight etc, most dogs trained properly can hunt a wolf.

hope this helps!

Answer 5

Borzoi, but they were traditionally used in sets of 3 to course and hold down wolves for sport until the huntsman could kill it. It would be a very lucky domesticated dog who could take down a fit wolf all on his own.

Answer 6

alone? I honestly dont think any domestic dog could do that.



Domestic dogs were bred to serve our purposes, not to survive in the wild, or to survive a fight against a wild animal. Even dogs that were bred for hunting wolf were not really bred to fight against the wolf. They would track, alert, and keep the animal at bay until the hunter could arrive to finish the job.

Answer 7

Both the Borzoi (also known as russian WOLFhound) and the Irish WOLFhound were originally bred to hunt wolves Since neither have been used much for that reciently don't know if they still could, but Borzoi are used in western US on Jackrabbits & coyotes

Answer 8

The Irish Wolfhound was bred to hunt wolves. Since they stopped, they may have gotten softer, but they still probably have the instinct and ability.

Answer 9

well Karelian bear dogs can take down bears so i think that wolf is GOING DOWN!



i dont know if any of these can take down a wolf but there are suppose to be the strongest dogs.





http://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t134322.html

Answer 10

i would have thought a pit-bull terrier would stand a chance, but there is no dog that is faster. the wolf is one of the fastest animals on the land, and although the cheater can run at the fastest speed, the wolf can maintain a slower speed for much longer. the wolf therefore would win any race over a great distance. but there are some fierce dogs out there, wolfs aren't the hardest animals on the land.

Answer 11

Russian Wolfhounds (this is their old name, the breed changed names and pre coffee I can't remember the new one!)

Answer 12

Yes there is. South Russian Ovcharka.

Answer 13

i can't remember what they're calld but there are dogs bred 4 hunting lions...then there's just intimidatingly tall dogs like irish wolf hounds....meh.

Answer 14

maybe hunting dogs, well i'm sure they are strong enough to take on a wolf...

Answer 15

A Rhodesian ridgeback they originated in Africa and used to hunt lions, so there you go.



ILY its a Rhodesian ridgeback, lol.

Answer 16

"....Taking into account..." that you *CAN'T* force any animal to fight.....NO!



"...taking in account ...." that ALL THE HUNTING DOGS MENTIONED WORK IN ***PACKS***.....a PACK will hold big game at BAY until the GUNS arrive!

Answer 17

I don't know but there is one dog I know that is look a like of a wolf it is the Siberian husky.

Answer 18

Yes! Definitely one of these:

http://www.xtremebullypitbulls.com/males.htm

Answer 19

I don't think so, but who knows, maybe a pitbull?