Watching your dog grow from a puppy to an adult can bring mixed emotions. On one hand, it’s wonderful to see your furry friend mature into a loyal companion. On the other, you might miss the playful puppy days. Many of us document this growth to remember how cute they were as little pups. A dog mom named Alyssa did the same, but when she shared her now grown-up dog on social media, the internet was stunned. Lupin is not your typical dog. Lupin is a five-year-old with a unique mix of breeds.
Alyssa explained to Newsweek that Lupin is a blend of German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, and Irish Wolfhound. There are also traces of other large breeds in his genetics, such as English Mastiff, Anatolian Shepherd, and Great Pyrenees. When Alyssa posted a video showing Lupin’s transformation over five years, the internet was amazed—not just because of his orange beard. “When he was a puppy, he only had a few gray whiskers on his chin that we thought might fall out. Ironically, they multiplied and became the patchy featherings you see today,” Alyssa shared. Despite his wizard-like appearance, Lupin is a gentle giant who loves hanging out with people just like any other dog.
“It’s fun to see people smile when they meet him; he gets excited and rubs his face on their legs like a giant cat. The most common comment is how he looks like a werewolf, which is quite true,” Alyssa said. Lupin is part of the Dire Wolf Project (DWP) breeding program.
The DWP was started by Lois Elaine Denny in 1967 with the goal of creating a breed that resembled the prehistoric Dire Wolf. By incorporating genes from breeds like the German Shepherd, Alaskan Malamute, Akita, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Anatolian Shepherd, Pyrenees, and English Mastiff, it took decades to develop the specific physical and temperamental traits desired for the Dire Wolf look-alike.
These traits included upright ears, yellow eyes, and a long, wild-patterned coat, along with a loving and kind temperament suited for companionship. Each generation was carefully monitored to maintain these traits, leading to the creation of the American Alsatian breed and, eventually, Lupin.
Now, Lupin not only educates people about the history of his breed but also charms everyone with his looks. Alyssa mentioned that the viral success of her video wasn’t planned but added that it’s a “joyful experience to see how many people’s days can be just a little bit brighter because they stumbled upon us.” Click on the video below to see Lupin’s before and after!
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https://www.tiktok.com/@lupin.the.direwolf/video/7377118805283097902?embed_source=121374463%2C121442748%2C121439635%2C121433650%2C121404359%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_blank&refer=embed&referer_url=www.pupvine.com%2Fwoman-had-the-internet-guessing-the-breed-of-her-majestic-pup%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2ygV36xmNjWUE6EY2JpWrd6Ckjac14CVYM730ugfNSlmI40Df-8-6Eifc_aem_k9oJYSUTNMvT280XsugdRg&referer_video_id=7377118805283097902
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