Rollo is introduced in Outlander Season 4 in the show and in Drums of Autumn in the books. What breed of dog is he, and why is he so big?
When it comes to bonds, there is one that can never be broken in the world of Outlander. It’s all about Young Ian and Rollo.
Rollo was introduced in the fourth book/season. Young Ian wins him in a game of dice, and he quickly makes it clear that Rollo will come with them as they figure out what to do next. He becomes responsible for this lovable and loyal dog, who becomes a best friend and hunting partner.
What type of breed is Rollo in Outlander?
A lot of people want to know his breed type. Just what type of dogs does Young Ian end up getting?
Rollo is a very special breed of dog. He’s the product of an Irish Wolfhound and a wolf. The Irish wolfhound gets out while in heat, and naturally, that leads to a male wolf finding her and going with his natural instincts.
It’s certainly the wolfhound side of him that comes through when it comes to loyalty. Sure enough, the wolf side is there. Rollo is fierce and protective when he needs to be. That makes him such a fan-favorite character in the books and on the show. However, he’s loyal in the way that dogs are with their humans.
Rollo refuses to leave Young Ian’s side when he catches the measles. He stays with Young Ian when Ian becomes a member of the Mohawk tribe. He returns to the Ridge when Young Ian does. And Rollo is an important member of the entire family.
What breed plays Rollo on the series?
Of course, the show couldn’t get an actual half-wolf, half-wolfhound for the series. Instead, Outlander worked with a slightly different breed.
Rollo is played by Dui, a Northern Inuit dog. This breed does look a lot like a Siberian or Alaskan Husky more than the wolfhound. In fact, this breed was developed in the 1980s during a breeding project in the UK with the idea that the dog would look like a wolf.
While Rollo doesn’t look exactly like the breed he should be, he is still a firm favorite within the fandom. What’s not to love about him?