There are about 20 Tamaskans and five breeders in the United States, where the first litter was born last June in New York.

A new breed of dog, the Tamaskan, offers the ultimate homage to the dog’s wild ancestor: It aims to look like a wolf, without benefit of even a drop of wild blood.

Meaning “mighty wolf” in some American Indian tongue, the Tamaskan has been around for less than two decades and was crafted out of crosses among Siberian huskies, Alaskan malamutes and German shepherds. (Another breed, the Czechoslovakian wolfdog, also aims squarely at this lupine look, with the difference that it went back to the primordial well to do so, originating from a 1955 breeding between a German shepherd and a Carpathian wolf.)

The Tamaskan started out as the Northern Inuit (not to be confused with the plain ol’ Inuit, a working sled dog), only to become the Utonagan. Then, amid concerns that the Utonagan was not “wolfy”-looking enough, it officially became the Tamaskan in 2002.

There are about 200 Tamaskans worldwide (most in Finland and England) and about 20 dogs and five breeders in the United States, where the first litter was born last June on Long Island, N.Y.

“The most appealing thing is that the Tamaskan looks like a wolf, but there’s no wolf in it,” says Gina D’Andraia of Ronkonkoma, N.Y., who bought one of the puppies, Cody, from that inaugural litter. Her groomer, however, remained unconvinced. “He kept asking us, ‘Is he acting funny?’ We had to assure him he’s not going to turn on us.”

Cody’s breeder, Judy Haight of Great River, N.Y., is sometimes less quick to correct such cases of mistaken identity. “Why tell people differently?” she jokes. “It keeps people away from the house.”

In truth, Tamaskan breeders say, their dogs are effusively friendly. “They’re very loving and extremely social, and are not bred to be a guard dog,” says Kim Monagas, vice president of the National Tamaskan Club of America ( www.tamaskan-dog.us).

Compared with the Northern sledding breeds on which it is based, the Tamaskan is far less independent, and, Monagas says, “more easily trained.”

Female Tamaskans weigh 55 to 90 pounds, and are 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder; males are 70 to 110 pounds, and a whopping 25 to 33 inches.

The Tamaskan is too young for major health issues to have surfaced yet, Monagas says, but, given the large breeds in its background, hip dysplasia is a concern, and reputable breeders are required to submit hip X-rays to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals ( www.offa.org) or a similar reputable registry. Eye screenings are recommended.

The Tamaskan Dog Register ( www.tamaskan-dog.com), is lobbying to have its dogs recognized.