Dog vs. Wolf: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are domesticated animals, bred for various traits, while wolves (Canis lupus) are wild, undomesticated canines.
Key Differences
Dogs have been domesticated for thousands of years, selectively bred for traits like companionship and work. Wolves are wild animals, ancestors to dogs, but have remained largely untouched by selective breeding, maintaining their survival instincts.
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Dogs are known for their loyalty, trainability, and ability to bond with humans. Wolves, on the other hand, are naturally cautious and aloof around humans, exhibiting strong pack instincts and a preference for wild habitats.
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Dogs vary widely in size, shape, and coat due to selective breeding. Wolves typically have a uniform appearance, with a larger, more robust build and thicker coats, adapted for survival in the wild.
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Dogs have adapted to a more varied diet, often consuming what their human caretakers provide. Wolves are carnivorous hunters, relying on their natural instincts and environment for food.
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Dogs play diverse roles in human society, including companionship, service, and protection. Wolves, being wild animals, do not have a direct role in human society and are often subjects of conservation efforts.
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Comparison Chart
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Dog and Wolf Definitions
Dog
A dog is a domesticated mammal, often kept as a pet or for work.
My dog loves to play fetch in the park.
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Wolf
Wolves are known for living and hunting in packs.
A pack of wolves was spotted near the forest edge.
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Dog
Dogs are known for their loyalty and companionship.
The family's dog waited patiently for them to return home.
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Wolf
Wolves are apex predators in many habitats.
The wolf tracked its prey with stealth and precision.
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Dog
Dogs have a keen sense of smell and hearing.
The search and rescue dog located the missing person.
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Wolf
Any of several carnivorous mammals of the genus Canis, especially the gray wolf of northern regions, that typically live and hunt in packs.
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Dog
A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris syn. Canis lupus subsp. familiaris) occurring as a wide variety of breeds, many of which are traditionally used for hunting, herding, drawing sleds, and other tasks, and are kept as pets.
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Dog
Any of various carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, such as the dingo.
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Dog
A male animal of the family Canidae, especially of a fox or a domesticated breed.
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Wolf
(Slang)A man who habitually makes aggressive sexual advances to women.
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Wolf
A harshness in some tones of a bowed stringed instrument produced by defective vibration.
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Wolf
Dissonance in perfect fifths on a keyboard instrument tuned to a system of unequal temperament.
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Dog
Something of inferior or low quality
"The President had read the speech to some of his friends and they told him it was a dog" (John P. Roche).
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Wolf
To eat greedily or voraciously:"The town's big shots were ... wolfing down the buffet"(Ralph Ellison).
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Wolf
Any of several related canines that resemble Canis lupus in appearance, especially those of the genus Canis.
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Wolf
(music) A wolf tone or wolf note.
The soft violin solo was marred by persistent wolves.
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Dog
Any of various hooked or U-shaped metallic devices used for gripping or holding heavy objects.
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Wolf
(figurative) Any very ravenous, rapacious, or destructive person or thing; especially, want; starvation.
They toiled hard to keep the wolf from the door.
The bee wolf
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Wolf
One of the destructive, and usually hairy, larvae of several species of beetles and grain moths.
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Wolf
A white worm which infests granaries, the larva of Nemapogon granella, a tineid moth.
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Dog
To track or trail persistently
"A stranger then is still dogging us" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
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Dog
To hold or fasten with a mechanical device
"Watertight doors and hatches were dropped into place and dogged down to give the ship full watertight integrity" (Tom Clancy).
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Dog
To be persistently or inescapably associated with
Questions about his youthful indiscretions dogged him throughout his career.
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Dog
To be recurrently or persistently in the mind; haunt
Despair dogged him in his final years.
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Wolf
To make amorous advances to many women; to hit on women; to cruise for sex.
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Dog
The species Canis familiaris (sometimes designated Canis lupus familiaris), domesticated for thousands of years and of highly variable appearance because of human breeding.
The dog barked all night long.
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Dog
Any member of the family Canidae, including domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, and their relatives extant and extinct; canid.
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Wolf
Any one of several species of wild and savage carnivores belonging to the genus Canis and closely allied to the common dog. The best-known and most destructive species are the European wolf (Canis lupus), the American gray, or timber, wolf (Canis occidentalis), and the prairie wolf, or coyote. Wolves often hunt in packs, and may thus attack large animals and even man.
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Wolf
One of the destructive, and usually hairy, larvæ of several species of beetles and grain moths; as, the bee wolf.
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Dog
The meat of this animal, eaten as food:
Did you know that in South Korea, they eat dog?
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Wolf
Fig.: Any very ravenous, rapacious, or destructive person or thing; especially, want; starvation; as, they toiled hard to keep the wolf from the door.
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Wolf
An eating ulcer or sore. Cf. Lupus.
If God should send a cancer upon thy face, or a wolf into thy side.
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Wolf
The harsh, howling sound of some of the chords on an organ or piano tuned by unequal temperament.
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Dog
(derogatory) Someone who is cowardly, worthless, or morally reprehensible.
Come back and fight, you dogs!
You dirty dog.
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Wolf
Any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs
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Dog
Any of various mechanical devices for holding, gripping, or fastening something, particularly with a tooth-like projection.
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Wolf
German classical scholar who claimed that the Iliad and Odyssey were composed by several authors (1759-1824)
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Dog
A click or pallet adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel, to restrain the back action.
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Dog
A metal support for logs in a fireplace.
The dogs were too hot to touch.
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Dog
A hot dog: a frankfurter, wiener, or similar sausage; or a sandwich made from this.
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Wolf
A wolf is a wild carnivorous mammal, a member of the canine family.
The wolf howled under the full moon.
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Wolf
Wolves play a crucial role in their natural ecosystems.
The reintroduction of wolves helped balance the ecosystem.
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Wolf
Wolves communicate through howls, barks, and body language.
The alpha wolf's howl signaled the pack to gather.
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Dog
(informal) Something that performs poorly.
That modification turned his Dodge hemi into a dog.
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Dog
(transitive) To follow in an annoying or harassing way.
The woman cursed him so that trouble would dog his every step.
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Dog
To fasten a hatch securely.
It is very important to dog down these hatches.
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Dog
To watch, or participate, in sexual activity in a public place.
I admit that I like to dog at my local country park.
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Dog
To intentionally restrict one's productivity as employee; to work at the slowest rate that goes unpunished.
A surprise inspection of the night shift found that some workers were dogging it.
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Dog
A quadruped of the genus Canis, esp. the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).
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Dog
A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch.
What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?
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Dog
A fellow; - used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly dog; a lazy dog.
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Dog
One of the two constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis Major contains the Dog Star (Sirius).
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Dog
A grappling iron, with a claw or claws, for fastening into wood or other heavy articles, for the purpose of raising or moving them.
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Dog
To hunt or track like a hound; to follow insidiously or indefatigably; to chase with a dog or dogs; to worry, as if by dogs; to hound with importunity.
I have been pursued, dogged, and waylaid.
Your sins will dog you, pursue you.
Eager ill-bred petitioners, who do not so properly supplicate as hunt the person whom they address to, dogging him from place to place, till they even extort an answer to their rude requests.
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Dog
A member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds;
The dog barked all night
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Dog
A dull unattractive unpleasant girl or woman;
She got a reputation as a frump
She's a real dog
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Dog
A smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked; often served on a bread roll
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Dog
A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
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Dog
Metal supports for logs in a fireplace;
The andirons were too hot to touch
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Dog
Go after with the intent to catch;
The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
The dog chased the rabbit
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Dog
Various breeds of dogs serve different purposes, from hunting to therapy.
Her service dog assists her with daily tasks.
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Dog
Dogs are capable of learning commands and tricks.
I taught my dog to sit and roll over.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
How long have dogs been domesticated?
For thousands of years, since prehistoric times.
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What do wolves primarily eat?
Wolves are carnivores, mainly eating large ungulates.
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Do wolves make good pets?
No, wolves are wild animals and not suitable as pets.
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Are wolves endangered?
Some wolf species are endangered, while others are not.
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Do all dogs descend from wolves?
Yes, dogs are domesticated descendants of wolves.
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What is the social structure of a wolf pack?
A hierarchical structure with alpha male and female.
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What is the natural habitat of wolves?
Forests, tundras, and wilderness areas.
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Are dogs omnivores or carnivores?
Dogs are omnivores and can eat a varied diet.
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What roles do wolves play in folklore?
Wolves often appear as symbols of wilderness and mystery.
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Do dogs have a natural instinct to hunt?
Many retain hunting instincts, though it varies by breed.
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How do wolves communicate?
Through howls, body language, and scent marking.
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Can dogs live in the wild?
While some can, most domestic dogs are not adapted for wild survival.
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What conservation efforts exist for wolves?
There are numerous initiatives for habitat preservation and protection.
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What is the average lifespan of a dog?
Typically 10-13 years, varying by breed.
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How large can wolves get?
Wolves can weigh up to 175 pounds (80 kilograms).
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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