A typically dog-like carnivore likened to a small, rather shaggy wolf. The head is like that of a domestic dog with a distinct and rather slender muzzle and relatively small, slightly pointed, erect ears. Legs long and slender. Tail relatively short and normally held below the line of the back. Coat is shaggy, individual hairs varicol­ored giving a grizzled or pepper-and-salt appearance, though looks grayish brown at a distance. There is a mane of longer hairs along the back. Ears are covered in much shorter hair and are rufous behind. Legs buffish with black stripe along the back of the foreleg. Inside of legs, throat, and belly whitish. Tail rather bushy, black along the top and at the tip. Does not touch the ground.