The Lupo Italiano, also known as the Italian Wolfdog, was a dog created by Mario Messi in 1966 by crossing a wolf from Northern Lazio raised as a puppy with a German Shepherd. Its female ancestor is described as a German Shepherd and, confusingly, a wild wolf. Although the breed is claimed to be a hybrid of the German shepherd with an Italian wolf, a genetic study conducted in 2018 could find no connection between this dog and the Italian wolf. The Lupo Italiano is well adapted for work in a mountain environment, as an avalanche dog and as a rescue dog.