Watching your canine grow from a pup to a fully-grown dog can evoke mixed emotions.
On one side, you find joy in witnessing your furry friend develop into a more seasoned and faithful buddy, yet on the flip side, you lament the loss of that inquisitive little pooch who used to scamper around your space, barking at everything in sight.
Fortunately, many of us ensured to capture their journey, so we might always remember their cuteness as tiny pups. Alyssa followed suit; however, after showcasing her now-matured dog on her social platforms, she left the online community astonished.
Introducing Lupin
Lupin is anything but an ordinary dog.
He is a five-year-old canine whose lineage isn’t as simple as one might believe. He is a rare combination of breeds that aren’t seen very often.
In an interview with Newsweek, Alyssa, Lupin’s guardian, disclosed that he is a mix of a German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, and Irish Wolfhound. But that’s not all! She explained that additional enormous breeds are blended “far back” in his ancestry, like the English Mastiff, Anatolian Shepherd, and Great Pyrenees.
The moment she uploaded a video showcasing the extent of Lupin’s transformation over the past five years, the entire online community was left stunned — and it wasn’t solely due to his orange beard.
“When he was younger, he had merely a few gray hairs on his chin that we suspected might fall out with time. Ironically, they proliferated and evolved into the patchy tufts you observe on him now,” Lupin’s owner mentioned.
Although Lupin may appear to be a wise sorcerer, he is genuinely a big softie who adores spending time with humans just like any other canine.
“It’s delightful to witness the smiles on people’s faces when they meet him; he becomes thrilled and rubs his face against their legs just like a giant feline. The most frequent remark we hear is how he resembles a werewolf, which is rather accurate,” Alyssa declared.
Information About The Dire Wolf Project
Lupin is indeed a member of the Dire Wolf Project (DWP) breeding initiative.
The DWP was established by Lous Elaine Denny in 1967, aiming to create a breed that would emulate the ancient Dire Wolf.
By integrating genetic material from the German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, Akita, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Anatolian Shepherd, Pyrenees, and English Mastiff, it took Lous several decades to develop the precise physical and behavioral characteristics of the Dire Wolf.
The physical characteristics comprised upright ears, yellow eyes, and large eyes, along with a long, shaggy coat exhibiting wild patterns, alongside the behavioral traits of a loving and gentle dog, perfect for companionship.
Each generation of these dogs was meticulously tracked and selected to ensure these sought-after traits, providing consistency and quality in the breed.
Thus, the American Alsatian breed, and ultimately Lupin, came into existence!
Now, Lupin is not only generously educating the internet about the past of his breed, but he is also enchanting everyone he encounters with his charm.
Alyssa explained that the viral nature of her video was not something they planned, yet she added that it is a “joyful moment to observe how many people’s days can be just a little brighter because they encountered us.”