the_only_lol_king: How would a German Shepherd fair against a wolf?
1 vs 1 battle.
I expect a wolf to win but I have heard of golden retrievers fighting a cougar to protect there owners and survive. So since German shepherds are stronger than retrievers how would they fair against a wolf?
Photo Credit: 2Tales/Flickr
Answers and Views:
Answer by PT
Depends on the physical condition and age of the GSD and wolf. Many types of dog breeds were bred to kill wolves, so it would not be a surprise if the GSD won. I would not underestimate a wolf though.
Answer by Ernest
Yes, a German Shepherd with a strong dominant and aggressive fight drive could hurt a wolf. Some German Shepherds are just as big as wolves and if an alpha wolf and alpha GSD fought, it could probably go either way... yes I understand a wolf is wild but do not underestimate the power of a strong work or fight drive in a GSD. Wolves might have a slight advantage but a big agile shepherd could definitely give him a serious run for his money.
Answer by G'hound
The wolf wouldn't waste its energy attacking in such a situation unless it was starving and had a den full of pups to feed or protect, and the GSD would need to be the dumbest GSD on the planet to antagonize a wild wolf.
Answer by Panthera onca
Are you serious? Have you seen two alpha males fighting?
Answer by Finnik
I owned a German Shepherd. We sadly had to have him put down last year due to cancer which had destroyed his liver and spleen. But let me tell you: he most definitely would've killed a wolf fair and square. How do I know that? Because he once almost did.
While we were going on a walk one evening at around 8 pm in the winter we were attacked by what I first thought to be a husky. However, during the fight I got one or two good looks at the "dog" and realized that it was definitely a grey wolf.
The fight didn't last very long because my GSD simply grabbed the wolf by the back of his head. Have you ever heard a wolf screaming in fear for his life? That sound belongs to a horror movie! However, while my dog was holding him like that, the wolf slowly laid down as if he had accepted his fate. Once he was on the ground and stayed there for a good few seconds my dog let go of him and the wolf ran away.
I wonder to this day why he didn't kill the wolf, because by now I know that he definitely would've been able to. How do I know that? Because he broke my arm through a biting glove (I dared him to, I wanted to see if he could) and he actually bit holes in about 3mm strong steel.
However, my dog can't be seen as an example for the average GSD as he was way taller and heavier than German Shepherds usually are, weighing about 130 lbs while standing 2 feet and 8 inches tall.
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Answer by Rayven ~ Here we Go
well first off the GR was protecting her territory and sell not her owner. The only reason the dog lived is was like most predators the cougar decided to go for easier prey.
At the end of the day unless one turns tail and runs the wild predator will have the advantage over the domestic dog.
Answer by Grady
The size is so close that I’d say half the time the wolf would win and half the time the German shepherd would win. If it was 5 wolves vs 1 German shepherd, then the wolves. 5 German shepherds vs 1 wolf, German shepherds would win.
Answer by george in reply to Grady
ever heard the saying: “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog that counts”. I’ve read the comments on many of these “GSD vs wolf” forums and have heard some of the dumbest things. in most cases the “experts” give it to the wolf, citing wild instincts, bite force and the like. a wolf’s strength is his pack. but all things being equal I'll give it to the GSD.
even when two alpha males fight it’s never to the death. one always ends up running away with his tail between his legs. therefore, l believe that an equal-sized dog with a strong temperament could win the fight. after all, the wolf’s ultimate instinct is to survive.
Answer by James Dean
Depends on the GSD and on the wolf….
Know better? Give your own answer to this question!
Danno says
I have a GSD Female, I live in Montana and I Hunt Wolves. For years I was a Houndsman. I previously had a mastiff before GSD, One on one if the GSD is Defending you, Yes i give it to my GSD, Wolves are very smart, they will soon realize that too much energy will be spent and leave. If it came to a Fight to the Death, it would Depend on how good of shape the Shepherd is in, I love my Dogs and I Certainly would Dispatch the wolf before chanced and Damage to my Dogs
Marcos says
I believe that the individual dog’s environmental training and personality matters. If you are talking about a German shepherd raised in the suburbs and treated like a shih-tzu, maybe he/she won’t understand how to deal with a gray wolf as well. If we are talking about a German shepherd on a farm that stays outdoors, hears coyotes or wolves howling every night, and has already encountered wild animals and challenged/killed them, then the German shepherd can do it. If that’s its job, my recommendation is that you give it a spiked collar to wear because there will be some mornings that the spikes will have hair and blood on them because your dog fended off wolf attacks at night. One German shepherd in Spain back in the 60s had that wonderful job.
Ivar says
Hi so answering the guy talking about the grey wolf almost dying, I think that’s a king shepherd, they look like GSD but are overall bigger and have a lot more coatto protect themselves, but a GSD would put up a fight definitely
pius Emmanuel says
I love German Shepherds but I gotta admit it a Wolf would easily beat a gsd but don’t underestimate the power of the gsd as they were bred to be flock guardians and a German Shepherd can also kill a small or young and inexperienced Wolf.
you're retarded says
Wait, did someone say Wolves are 180lbs? There hasn’t been a recorded wolf that size in nearly 80 years. The average modern wolf is well under 100lbs, most likely around 80lbs. I have a 110lbs GSD that would destroy any wolf 1v1. GSDs were bred with wolves at the start of the breed around 100 years ago, they share far more wolf DNA than any other domestic dog breed. If any breed were to win against a wolf, it would be a GSD.
Charles Reid says
I love the internet. Everyone has the biggest baddest dog and they all can kill a wolf. Well I have a large dominant German Sheppard and had an even larger Rottie. Neither dog is capable of winning against a wolf. These Alaskan and Canadian wolves are huge and they are in packs. They hunt in packs and they hunt very large game like bison, elk and moose. I’ve have seen large wolves that have range between 140 to 220 lbs. The size is not as relevant as the size of their head and teeth. Twice the size of my Rottie and 3 times that if my GSD. Teeth twice the size too. My friend who is a biologist pulled bite force data on the American grey wolf. It is over 1300 lbs compared to 320 for your gsd and 400 for my dottie. In simple terms that even the dumbest can understand is that nature built the wolf to kill for survival. They are smarter stronger and more organized that any dog could hope to be. In the wild your dog is food for the wolf. Stop lying like little stupid children and understand that nature can builds predators not pets.
Gillekard says
lol, a 220 lb wolf? Yea, okay….And I’ve seen 300 lb Great Dane’s. Wolves are NOT typically over 90-100 lb’s. The largest specimen found was at 175 lb’s, so 200 lb’s would already be pushing it, let alone another 20 on top of that. My guess is you have no idea what you’re talking about. And your “friend” who’s a biologist must be the dumbest biologist this side of the world, since a PSI of 1300 is a load of piss, as that’s the same bite force as a Bull Shark. Actual measurements for wolf bite force is around 390-410 PSI, which is less than a Mastiff.
A German Shephard could absolutely take on an average wolf. Similar height, weight, and were bred as shepharding dogs (duh) and bred to defend and potentially kill predators. A Kangal would absolutely destroy a wolf, another shephard dog twice the bite force of a German Shephard and another 60 lb’s heavier.
Gillekard says
In fact, here’s some video evidence of a Shephard dog killing 2 wolves.
Finnik says
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