Back in the mid 60's, my brother brought home a dog from Alaska - Neiwa was her name. She was an Alaskan Malemute (Husky) crossed with a timber wolf, had most of the markings of both and looked like a big sled dog with longer legs. Seems they are common in Alaska, where they're called Wolamutes, and they can look very intimidating from the wolf markings, one blue and one gray eye that looked right through you and long, sharp teeth. She was our other sister, back then, and very protective - She loved riding on the back of a snowmobile, too!
My Mom told us that she could leave $1,000 on the seat of her convertible, top down with the dog in the car and nobody, outside of the family, would ever touch it. She was probably right.