wolf dogs

[ownerof3dogs]

I was just wondering about everyones opinion on wolf hybreds. ie if you've owned one, any experiences with wolf dogs stuff like that

[AdoreMyDogs]

Hi Ownerof3dogs,

I believe that a wild animal should be left in the wild. I don't agree with the owning of wolfs as pets, they are non-domestic and wild and unpredictable. However, at the dog park I take my dogs to, there's this wolf hybrid who's owners say he's 75% arctic wolf mixed with 25% shepherd. He's sure intimedating looking but he's very gentle, submissive and playful. With the right socialization they could fit in pretty well to domestic life, however, I still don't trust them and would not ever own one...no matter how gorgous they are! Even the most so-called gentle wolf hybrid will have many traits of a wild animal that are instintual, stuff that you can't train out of them.

Just my 2 cents http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

[blue_heeler]

Hi,

I honestly think that wolf hybrids are the best pet. They definately do not make good pets around kids. My horse riding instructor has two wolf hybrids. One is 25% German Shepherd and 75% is grey wolf. The other is 25% Alaskan Malamute and 75% grey wolf. I have not had a good chance to reinact with them because we have been riding in another plave but this weekend we are riding at her place and I might get to then. They are supposidly registered (?¿). There is a breed of dog called the Woldhuund. It is suppost to be part German Shepherd and part Timber wolf. It is not part of the AKC but other registries. They are bred to protect flocks but I don't see how a wolf hybrid would be "hired" to protect flocks. I will have to do more research.....

[blue_heeler]

sorry for my mistake bu, i meant to say that i DONT think wolf ynrids make the best pets.

Sorry, my mistake.

[carrie]

As the wolf and the dog are the same species of animal then a cross between them is not strictly a hybrid. There is no way at present to determine wolf genes in dogs so it is impossible to tell what percentage of wolf is in each wolfdog unless the owner has been present at each mating, throughout each pregnancy and throughout the pups early life. Many people have made an awful lot of money selling and breeding "wolfdogs" that have as many recent wolf genes as the toy poodle down the road. This has done the true wolfdog no favours at all. People see these so called wolfdogs and are amazed at how like a pet dog they behave and rush out to get one. Some of them have the misfortune to come home with a true wolfdog and then the trouble begins.
They are not pet dogs and do not behave like pet dogs. They have different needs, drives and handling requirements. Just spend a few minutes reading through the posts on this site to see how badly we cope with the domestic dog that has been with us for thousands of years. Then ask yourself if we are ready for the wolfdog. I think not.

[Sophies Daddy]

When I was growing up, we adopted a dog that we believed to be a German Shepherd mix. She was a puppy at the time, so no thought was given to the idea that she could be anything but dog. She didn't look like a wolf by any stretch of the imagination...

She was a wonderful and very smart pet until after she reached her first season. After that, she started gaining wilder traits, even though we had her fixed shortly afterward. She lost her housebreaking almost immediately and would not retrain. She started to get destructive and wanted to be out of the house all of the time. She gradually became more and more agressive with people and children. After a short period of time, she would no longer tolerate the leash and collar and would often snap at my parents when they tried to put them on her.

We also noticed some abnormal physical traits of the dog. Her paws were huge, but she had ceased growing. She appeared to have a "wet spot" on the outside of her tail, and her head and markings became more wolf-like. We took her to the vet and were informed that the "wet spot" was a scent gland found in wolves, but no longer in dogs. The vet determined that she was probably a direct mix between a wolf and a German shepherd.

We were informed that she would become more and more unmanageable as she grew older. On the vet's recommendation, we gave her up. I do not know to where.

From this experience, I would have to say that any mixing of the wolf with a dog should not be used as a family pet. As these wolf-dogs get older, they get more wild and it takes a trained animal specialist to keep them in line. I have heard that the only way to control them is with physical methods that are completely inappropriate with pets. These animals are also much more likely to turn on their masters. Keep these animals in the wild or don't keep them at all.

[carrie]

Although I am strongly against these animals being bred for the pet market and have reservations against them in general I have to say that they can be kept without physical cruelty. For a truly socialised animal it is recommended that the pup is hand reared from about 2-4 weeks of age. The natural instinct of the wolf is to fear man, not befriend him, that and the animals incredibly strong prey drive (not being nasty or viscious, but kids are still being hurt and killed) are two reasons why true wolfdogs are not for ordinary pet owners.

[This message has been edited by carrie (edited November 06, 2000).]

[ownerof3dogs]

All of your posts are very interesting.

My moms boyfriend bought a "suppositly" pure bred white german Shephard when he was younger and even bred her but as she got older she became more aggressive and even killed a neighbrs dog that stepped foot on her property. He started to relize that her eyes were more set together on her head like a wolf so he did some investagating in to her pedigree and found out that a couple generations before a wolf had been added. Edventually he had to give her up because she became way too aggressive and dangerous.

[dogncatluvr]

OK, I had nothing to do with this, I was a very little kid at the time....but I am told that my aunt and uncle had a wolf/collie cross. He was so gentle that he would take the cat for a stroll to 'grandma's house' two blocks away (no Little Red Riding Hood pun intended at all). They would receive a treat and go home again. If the cat would think of doing anything to the guinea pigs, Bear would make sure the piggies came to no harm. He would let little babies ride on his back - he was huge. This is my only experience with wolf hybrids. I don't think I would not ever own one.

[karen israel]

Excuse my stupidity, I can't imagine how you'd get a wild wolf to mate with a "domesticated' GSD in the first place. I visited friends in rural Minnesota ages ago who had a wolf hybrid. The biggest, meanest dog I ever saw. The test whether or not the dog stayed in the house, while I was there, was his first reaction to me. Great. Loving dogs, and never being afraid, I walked right in and was greeted with a whine, circles, and lots of licks. I had never had a dog sleep on my bed before, and I remember kicking it all night without any reaction. It started growling and barking when a neighbor came home late and I clearly remember yelling "shut up" and it laid right back down next to me. Looking back, I can't believe I took that chance.

[carrie]

As dogs and wolfs are the same species it is not unusual for them to mate, in fact in some parts of the States and especially in the parts of Europe that wolves still inhabit this cross breeding is threatening the very survival of the wolf. (In America wolves commonly breed with coyotes too.) Some wolves will not tolerate dogs however, or coyotes.
It is one of the basic rules of keeping wolfdogs to never let any sign of dominance by the animal go unnoticed or undealt with. Your friend was wise to gauge his animals reaction to you! Many people just don't understand the very subtle language of this animal to keep it safely.

[Breezybabe01]

I love wolf dogs. I think they are beautiful http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/tongue.gifretty: My friend has 2 shelties, and one of them is part wolf. He is such a sweetie! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/wink.gif

[samualjcat]

A few years ago, my family adopted a dog that was said to be a sheperd/husky mix. She was 6 mo. old at the time. After 5 years she has many features that "look" wolf. Ears, eyes, snout, coat color and texture, etc. Without testing ($$$$$$) the vet isn't sure. She is one of the best dogs we've had. She is not aggressive, but very protective. She has NEVER had an accident in the house, but leaves a profound hair trail wherever she goes. She loves my kids (ages 4 and 7), but also likes her "alone time". Overall, I can't complain a bit. If she is part wolf than so be it. She is my baby and she knows and loves it.

I just wanted to share a good experience with a wolf hybrid.

[carrie]

You are far more likely to have a husky/shepherd mix than a wolf cross. Your vet, if he has offered a test to show if your dog has any wolf blood in it, is trying to rip you off. There is no test to determine wolf genes in the domestic dog. This is why so many domestic dogs can be passed off as wolfdogs and so many prople are making money out of it. It is also why nearly everyone has a 75% or higher wolfdog - it is what they are told so they part with their money and there is no way to check up on the claim. Most people you will hear saying how easy and biddable their wolfdogs are have domestic dogs that last saw wolf blood thousands of years ago. Sadly many of them will then aquire a real wolf mix with no idea of the behaviour or psychology of these animals. They will treat it as though it were a dog and the consequences can be tragic for everyone involved, not least the animal.

[samualjcat]

Thanks for your input. My vet did offer the tests but did tell me that quite frankly it would be a huge waste of money. So I have taken his other advice and am enjoying my dog whatever she may be.

[This message has been edited by samualjcat (edited November 16, 2000).]

[carrie]

Phew! Thanks for putting my mind at rest. Your dog sounds like a treasure.

[SheltieLover234]

I have heard of that breed before .My close friend hase one she loves it to death and it`s ssooo sweet! http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif

[HowieDawn]

Hmmmm this topic is interesting, and of course I have to put my two cents in. As a child, My family had a "wolf dog" This dog came to us as a puppy. We live in a "country area" so a lot of people think that they can drop off dogs and the dogs will be able to make it. WHICH IS VERY UNTRUE. Anyway, We definately know that this dog was some sort of wolf because it had the scent gland, which are not found in house hold dogs. We named him Shep because we thought that he was some sort of shephard. The dog was very protective of us. He would take us to the school bus every morning, which was about a mile down the road, and he would be waiting for us at the bus stop in the evening to walk us home. Shep was very gentle. Before our cat had got fix she had a litter of kittens. Shep and the cat would have their rounds because Shep thought that he was the mommy. He would gently pick the cats up and carry them until he had them all in one spot. Soooo, in conclusion to my novel http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif We fortunately had a very good dog. We did not know that he was some type of wolf, but he was a very good family pet, and very protective of the children. Shep left us as he came. One day he went out and never came back http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/frown.gif

[ownerof3dogs]

Yesterday I was watching animal planet and there was a show on called wild on the set. and it was about the dog "Buck" on the show call of the wild. I found out that he is a Malamute/wolf cross and wieghs 150lbs! i knew he wasn't a pure bred malamute you could tell by his eyes and his ears.

Thanks everyone for giving me your input about the wolf/dog cross

[Kendall2]

Although I think wolves are about the most majestic animal going, I would certainly never try to domesticate one or breed it with the domesticated dog.
I found out something interesting about a year ago, and that is that wolves and wolf hybrids supposedly can't be vaccinated for rabies. I guess there is no vaccine that works with that species. I also found out, by virture of the science book from which I teach, that domesticated dogs and wolves are actually 2 different species. They belong to the same genus, but wolves are Canis lupus and dogs are Canis familiaris. I just thought that was interesting and thought you guys might too.

[carrie]

Sorry to disagree but classification of the dog has been changed quite recently. The wolf is Canis lupus x (x being the sub species such as arctos) and the dog is now Canis lupus familiaris.

[Kendall2]

Thanks carrie for the info...starting on Monday we will be starting our classification chapter, so I can straighten out the book...timing is everything.

[dogluvr]

I have a beautiful wolf hybrid named Lakota. She is one of the sweetest most wonderful animals in the world!! She does not have an aggressive bone in her body. She loves my other dogs, she adores kids-- in fact I have a picture of my friend's 1 year old sleeping on her.
Now, as far as all the "big bad wolf" stuff, I have not encountered any and Lakota is about 92% wolf. I would trust her over my roomates pitbull terrier pup (who he raised with kids and other animals since it was 4 weeks old)-- hands down. Neither dog has had any reason for aggression, yet the pitbull is very very aggressive to many other animals, kids and adults she doesn't know.
So what I am saying is-- who knows with any dogs.. Poodles bite!! You can hear about any breed becoming agressive.
My story is a positive one. http://PetoftheDay.com/talk/smile.gif I am completely in love with my hybrid and she has proven to be a fantastic pet.
Michelle

[cdippy]

I have a 11 month old malamute husky part wolf, and me and my husband love her to death!! she is a very good dog and they say that they seem to be very intelligent (which i can see). They have their own personality and are very strong dogs. They are listed under as a "working dog" and say to be very good with small children. Ours seems to be very good with our 2 month old. Shes very protective of the baby and watches her every move. I think that any dog weather it being "part wolf" can harm any person any time, it just depends on how the owner raises that dog and trains the dog.

[b10OML]

Can someone tell me why there is a need to have a wolfdog?

Is it for macho reasons, curiosity or just because they are available.

Virtually every temperament, shape, colour, size, etc is already available in established breads.

Also if they escape and return to the wild (I think it's called ferral), then they will breed with the few remaining wild wolves. Potentially, the wolf may be lost for ever

[cdippy]

Theres isnt any reason for having a "wolfdog" its just like having any other dog... why have a German Sherperd or a Rottweiler..wouldnt that be the same as this "macho" reason that youre talking about??and any dog is pretty much available to have, and its not a FULL BREED wolf theres other breeds mixed in. So its not like the dog is gonna run away and go "back to the wild".
This is just my own opionion.....

[This message has been edited by cdippy (edited January 20, 2001).]

[wolflady]

Having conducted volunteer work at a Wolf education and research facility in IN, I have been able to learn a lot about my favorite animal in the wild: wolves. Wolves and dogs are as different as night and day. Dogs were domisticated for a reason over hundreds of years. Wolf hybrids are very unpredictable and often fall into the hands of inexperienced people thus making them a threat to anyone who comes into contact with them, including the owner. It also gives a misunderstood animal more negative connotations to the public when a wolf hybrid attacks a child(high prey instinct), injures a family member or kills a family pet. A wolf is fearful of man. They protect their families and hunt for the food they need. A hybrid is unpredictable and should be treated as as a wild animal. I personally think all wolves, pure or hybrid are beautiful animals, but I don't think it's right for private ownership of such animals unless it's for education to the public about this misunderstood animal, and it's done properly. People buy these animals because they think it's cool. This is not a good reason. Also, many breeders of 'wolf hybrids' will misrepresent their breeding stock. A lot of research must be done if you are considereing one of these animals. If anyone is interested in reading a guide to keeping a wolf hybrid(and seeing what's all involved), please email me and I can send along the details.

[lakaria_2000]

I wish to know how to breed and raise a wolfdog, can u kindly please email me the detail

[wolf_Q]

I wish to know how to breed and raise a wolfdog, can u kindly please email me the detail

Did you even read the thread? Please at least read the post right before yours.

I have loved wolves all of my life, but I do not believe they are pets, they are wild animals. If you have a wolf or wolf hybrid that was rescued, is used for positive education purposes about wolves, etc. then that is fine but I strongly disagree with purposely breeding them to sell to the general public as pets. I have met several wolf hybrids and they were extremely sweet animals, but they were owned by people who knew how to handle them, most don't. It seems the majority of people that get them (and breed them) want them just to say they have a "wolf" they really don't have a clue. :rolleyes:

[Glacier]

I own a hybrid. Kayleigh is part wolf, part malamute. The percentage varies by who you ask from a quarter wolf to a full half. I didn't know about the wolf when I adopted her. I adore Kayleigh. She's a great dog, friendly with people(most of the time), good with kids, smart, and tons of fun.

But I NEVER want another dog like her. Kayleigh has an out of control prey drive. Anything smaller than her is prey. She weighs 120 pounds so alot of things are smaller than her! She is highly aggressive to other animals. She, like a wolf, is a true predator. Her pen looks like an armed fortress--just to keep her in and my other dogs safe from her. Kayleigh, like most hybrids, is hard to contain. Even a fence that works for a normal husky escape artist isn't good enough for Kayleigh. Due to the dangerous dog laws where I live, I have spent a ton of time & money to prevent Kay from being declared dangerous--one bite to another animal off my property and she's dead. There is nothing relaxing about taking Kayleigh for a walk.

Kayleigh is somewhat unpredictable. I wouldn't call her temperment stable. That's one of the biggest problems with intermixing a wild and a domestic animal. You never know when the wild side will take over.

Kayleigh is 7 years old now and I hope she is with me for many more years. I'll do whatever I have to keep her happy and healthy. She has taught me a great deal--the difficult ones are the best teachers. When the time comes and Kayleigh moves on to the next world, I will not be looking for another like her!

The banning of breeding wolf hybrids is the only form of breed specific legislation I will ever support. It is now illegal in the Yukon to breed or own a wolf or hybrid. Dogs like Kayleigh who were around before that law are "grandfathered", but are supposed to be altered. (Kayleigh was spayed years ago)

[IRescue452]

I honestly think wild animals should be left wild and we shouldn't purposely be doing anything to crossbreed or mess with any wild animal.

[Suki Wingy]

As the wolf and the dog are the same species of animal then a cross between them is not strictly a hybrid.
No, this is false. The domestic dog is Canis familiaris. The Wolf is Canis lupus. All breeds are the same specis

[Aria.k]

I live on 5 1/4 acres almost entirely fenced in. 4 of the acres are heavily wooded. We have 4 dogs. Corky, F, lab/corgi mix, recently gone a tad too territorial when she turned 12 1/2. Silver, F, wolf mix, she came to the shelter where I volunteered at about four weeks, sweetest dog you'd ever meet, likes to hunt just as much as Corky but otherwise dosent have a mean bone in her body. Amy, F, lab mix, my other shelter puppy, doesn't hunt and is slightly obese, and thinks everything is a lolipop. and Rex, M, spainel, 11 sleeps most of the time. any way, Silver is 3 and has never 'gone mean', never bitten humans or dogs, never tried to escape, and is the most behaved out of all the others. I think that too many wolfdogs are taken in by inexperinced handlers and thus gave them such a bad rap.

[wolfsoul]

No, this is false. The domestic dog is Canis familiaris. The Wolf is Canis lupus. All breeds are the same specis
Actually this is no longer true --- wolves and dogs are now considered the same species. That is why they have changed the name of dogs to "Canis lupus familiaris."

I completely disagree with breeding wolfdogs or "pet" wolves. Wolves are wild animals and they should be in the wild. It isn't fair to breed them to dogs and it isn't fair to try and domesticate them -- we already have a domesticated wolf -- it's called the dog. Dogs by nature are drawn to people --- wolves by nature are very withdrawn from people. It isn't fair to make a creature that has to be at war with two completely different natures. People just don't understand that these animals need very special homes. They can make great pets, but for a very rare kind of person. You have to remember that wolves are very shy animals with high prey drives, amazing intelligence, a constant need to roam, etc. Heck, the average person can barely handle any kind of dog, let alone a wolf or a wolfdog. I have nothing against people rescuing them -- it's the people that breed them and buy them. These animals are poorly misunderstood and the more people that own them, the more misunderstood they will be.

[.sarah]

My friend has 3 wolf hybrids and her parents bred two together therefore getting the third one. I thought it was neat at the time (this was 5 + years ago) but now it really angers me. Like others have said, wolves should be left in the wild. Her dogs barely have wolf in them, they are mostly husky and malamute, but they are still highly dog agressive and I think the male is wary with strangers. I love her dogs dearly but I do not want to own a wolf or wolf hybrid because ... well, they're wild!

[Suki Wingy]

Actually this is no longer true --- wolves and dogs are now considered the same species. That is why they have changed the name of dogs to "Canis lupus familiaris."

Whoa, when did this happen?! That is sertainly good to know!

[Lady's Human]

According to U of Mich website, the SPECIES is canis lupus. The subspecies of the domesticated dog is canis lupus familiaris.

[wolfsoul]

According to U of Mich website, the SPECIES is canis lupus. The subspecies of the domesticated dog is canis lupus familiaris.
A subspecies is just a subdivision of that species --- one species can be made up of several different divisions. It doesn't make it any more or less that species. They are still the same species.

[cane_corso_mom]

Hi there!

I think it is cruel to have wolves as pets... they need to be in the wild, it's not fair to the wolf.

[wolflady]

Wow, how did I miss this thread! :o

Most people on PT know that I adore wolves, and even worked with them in college when I volunteered at Wolf Park. Wolves and wolfdog hybrids are beautiful animals and I respect them. However, I do not agree with anyone keeping wolves as pets. I used to think the idea of having a hybrid was cool, until I worked at wolf park and discovered that you have to treat a hybrid like you would a wild animal because of their unpredictability. It's a full time job.

There are a few folks who own hybrids that care for them in a proper way (our very own Souraya, for instance), but sadly, too many people get hybrids because "they're cool" or they inaccurately think they will make good guard dogs. This is, in fact, a very large misconception. Hybrids are very unpredictable, and can exhibit largely wolf-like traits, while others might exhibit more dog-like traits. Wolves and dogs are actually cousins...it has taken hundreds of years to domesticate the wolf into the domestic pets that people have today. Dogs and wolves are actually quite different, which may come as a surprise to some people. Although dogs do maintain some of their wolf-like traits, they are still two very different species.

There is some really good information about wolfdogs here. (http://www.wolfpark.org/wolfdogs/index.html)

**hugs**

[cyber-sibes]

wow - this thread started in 2001!
i met a guy & his wife & kids at the dogpark a couple months ago - they were at a picnic and saw my huskies and came over to see them. They were telling me that years ago they used to own 1 timber wolf and 1 mal-wolf hybrid, about 75% wolf. They said both were incredibly loving, sweet, and gentle - and big! Both animals lived outdoors and were together their entire lives. I knew that the gland "dark spot" on every husky's tail was the remnants of a gland, but they told me the gland on the wolf secrets a thick oily must, with a very strong odor. These were the first people I ever met that owned wolves or hybrids. Now that they have kids, they have a golden mix. sounded like they might like to get a sibe, but not another wolf.

[pitc9]

I love wolves, they belong in the wild where we can enjoy them the most, but a friend of mine has two and I love them both. They are a sweet as can be, an I'd trust them with a puppy before I'd ever trust Buddy with a puppy! :o
Only people that know 100% what they are doing should ever have a wolfdog!!

Here's Phoenix and I a few years ago:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid99/p38148fb6de47a00eded661ea495ac239/f9f7cf14.jpg
He's a HUGE baby, she's recently taught him to rollover!!
Here he is with my hubby.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid99/p77d17857c5a9313e9c784bb624ff4777/f9f7d164.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid99/p851183237ca8dac0ff40be3e80be43de/f9f7c266.jpg
This is Phoenix with Harley (she's camera shy)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid99/p8b2af386c07c5a72ba4268e2d3397f86/f9f7c267.jpg

Here's Phoenix playing with a friend's wolf pup.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid129/p4724af5862bbe6dd96ffee2e68297a99/f7c62c7a.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid129/pd8429ddfa07bf938a870ddbb0530543e/f7c62c80.jpg
Phoenix is 80% wolf and Harley is 75% the puppy in the picture is Ronan, he is pure wolf.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid129/pe3e705b037917f1e527b6464a0eef718/f7c62c71.jpg

[cyber-sibes]

Hmmm, does anyone remember the guy who works with wolf-dog rescue that used to post on PT? like a year ago? He had a great web site...just can't remember his name (old age creeping in :rolleyes: )

[ramanth]

I know who you're talking about Pat. :) Can't recall the name either.

There is also our very own Souraya (DoggiesAreTheBest) and her wolf-dog Drake.

Wolf-dogs are not allowed to be owned as pets in MI.

But if you take the time to work with them and prove to be responsible, like Souraya and Glacier, then I don't see why people can't have one. I don't agree with future breeding of the two. Just finding good homes for those that already exist.

I once saw a litter of cats crossed with Bobcat. We were offered a kitten but my parents declined.

[WolvesRawk]

I've never owned a wolf dog but I do have wolves. They're very loyal dogs. I love them.

[CagneyDog]

I've never owned a wolf dog but I do have wolves. They're very loyal dogs. I love them.

Your keep a wolf on a chain? :(

[buttercup132]

This is a good site
http://www.felid.org/activities/page_185.htm

[WolvesRawk]

Your keep a wolf on a chain? :(Don't worry, I let them run around and play plenty. Also, the chain is a really long dog run so even when chained, they have a large area to play. The thing is, they can climb out of, tear through, or dig under any fencing. That's a bad thing. They can take down tons of deer. The chains are the only way that I can contain them. If I don't, they'd be killed.

[Suki Wingy]

I'm sure there are zoos looking for tamer wolves, that's an alternative to a chain

[TheFarmersWife]

I currently own a wolf/husky mix. She is approximately 9 years old; I've had her for the last 4 years.

Kiva was basically a puppy factory for my neighbors, who abandoned her when they had to move. She managed to escape the chain link kennel they left her locked in, and wound up at my house. My daughter was friends with their children, so she knew where the dog came from; otherwise I would have thought she was a drop-off.

Kiva is a good dog, great with kids, etc. However, I do not EVER forget that she has wolf blood flowing through her veins. The wolf instincts definitely show through her behaviors. And like any other breed of dog, she could snap at any moment and turn vicious. (My mother owns a Pom-a-Poo that scares me worse!)

I swore to myself that I would never breed her, because I feel there are far too many of these mixes in the world. People seem to think it's COOL to own a wolf. But you don't own them; they own you.

BTW, Kiva is also kept on a chain. I do take her for walks, and she does get her exercise. I think she probably prefers the 25 foot chain to the 8 x 10 kennel she shared with another female wolf.

I have tried to place this beautiful girl with a sanctuary for wolves and wolfdogs, but due to the overbreeding of these animals, there is no room.

[wahya]

I have a Wolf/Dog and I think he is he best thing in my life right this moment. Sure he isn't housebroken yet and he is the hardest thing to train (I have had him for 4 mouths and he only sits down and hi fives) and he chews everything in site, and he wont learn his name. But I love the poor thing and I know he love me with all his heart! I couldn't ask for more from him or any of my other dogs. He gets along with everyone of them, he has 10 Acers to run with my shepherd, he hasn't bothers my birds, snake or ferret, I have got him to come to me even without his name. He is extremely shy but he's not scared. I breed labs so I have people coming over all the time and he doesn't mind them he just goes to his spot and watches as people pick there puppy and when they have a treat in hand he just waits tell they give it to him and pets him and goes on about his life. He goes through rawhides and howls in the middle of the night because he wants up on my bed he hasn't fingered out he can just jump up there but then again my bed is pretty far off the floor I need a stool to get up on it. BUT ALL IN ALL I DONT THINK HE IS ALL THAT BAD AN I CANT THINK OF NOT HAVEING THE BIG LUG. I LOVE HIM TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

LOVE,
ROSA
>^..^<

[howl4metok]

Hi, I'm Jen. I volunteer for several groups who work to rescue wolfdogs.
By the way, that is now the proper terminology, as the wolf and the dog have recently been classified as the same species. They are genetically identical. That is why, even though blood tests are offered, no one bothers because it can tell you nothing as far as wolf DNA is concerned.
I have personally owned 4. Tok, my first, very recently passed away. He was 11 years old. Tikaani was number 2, now 5 yrs old, is the only female, and she likes it that way. Taku was found wandering the city, no name and no info, only a severely painful condition called perianal fistula. We think he may be about 7 years old now, and stayed with us for nearly a year before we decided he'd be better in a sanctuary that could handle his expensive condition, which has since gone into remission. Teekan is our 4th, the baby, and just turned 2.
I could tell you all about what percentage they are, 75%, 50%, 5.29%. In all honesty, percentages mean nothing. Don't tell that to a breeder, you'll make them angry. Higher percentages yield higher prices.
If you took 100 blue marbles, and 100 red ones, dumped them in a big bucket and blindly picked 100 marbles out, would 50 be blue and 50 be red? Probably not. Same with wolfdogs, a supposed 50-50 could look and act like a dog, or look and act like a wolf, or a little of both, or look like one and act like the other. You can't tell.
As far as the danger factor, every wolfdog I've handled, even those from really horrible places, have been on the timid side, and some will do anything to get away. The only bite situation I've ever known of personally was one large male who was not socialized, he was afraid of being handled and had been injured. As a woman tried to push him into a crate to be transported to the vet, he quickly bit her hand and took off across the enclosure. He simply wanted to get away.

No, they are NOT ideal pets. Why? because they are incredible and unrelenting balls of burning energy and curiosity. It takes a lot of time and patience to train them to stay off the counter, or out of the trash. You also need to be knowlegable in dog language, so you can combat unique problems like submissive urination, chewing on your couch, and most of all, convincing the wolfdog that while your in charge, they need not fear you. Otherwise you have a beautiful animal who knows your god, but won't come near you because your god. They are very sensitive.

Breeders will use gimmicks like "highly intelligent and trainable" (they are too intelligent, and therefore self sufficient and independent), or they "make great guard dogs" (if that were true, the police would use them. They are too easily startled by new things, theyre more likely to run from strangers than anything).

Can they be dangerous? Sure, so can a lab. Any animal not properly contained or cared for can result in a very tragic end.

So thats my two cents. I beleive wolves are incredible animals, and are only truely happy when they are free. I wish more people would leave them there. But what about all the wolfdogs already here? The one's who someone got because of some false ad, and can't handle? Is there no room for them with someone willing to take the time for them? When I took Tok in 6 years ago I did it on a whim, he was in such a bad place and needed a home and I thought, I could give it a whirl. As I researched the "breed" I found out some very troubling things that I wish more wolfdog breeders knew.

The natural life expectancy of a wolfdog is the same as any larger breed dog, about 12-14 years, yet their average life span is only 3 years. Most people can't handle the skiddishness, or they beleive the stories, or the training gets to be too much. They are usually destroyed before they've even matured.

Also, as of 2000 there were an estimated 300,000 wolfdogs in the US in rescue. I'm quite sure that number has climbed.

They are a difficult breed, I wish people would look past the myth and the rumor and all the foolish static from breeders and see that there is a place for wolfdogs. I have had many dogs of many breeds, and Tok was by far the best "dog" I've ever had. We miss him terribly.

If you do think you'd like to have a wolfdog, don't go to a breeder, contact a rescue and get all the correct info you can, and if your not sure, than please don't.
If you think you've got a wolfdog, and your not sure, then good for you. Enjoy your dog and forget the word "wolf" ever crossed your mind. The safest thing you could do for your furry friend is let them be a dog. If fido runs away and is picked up by a shelter, fido may never see another day if "wolfdog" is whispered. And if Fido, for any reason, nips someone, Fido will be destroyed if someone says wolf, because rabies vaccinations are not legally approved for wolves and wolfdogs, and to ensure he doesn't have rabies, they'll have to test him. They don't test them alive.

Ok, I'll shut up now. I hope everyone has a great day!
Jen and Pack

[Ravette]

My family and I have had many wolf mixes over the years. Fewer here in the last 4/5years because we moved to town but my sister has one.

Thor - Large 100+ male Alaskan Malamute X Wolf X GSD - This was about the greatest animal I will have ever owned. We lived on about 27 acres land out in the boonies. He protected our livestock from the coyotes and he guarded us. My year old nieces at the time climbed all over him with no problem at all but it did help that he was raised around them since we got him at 6wks old. Only issues we really had with him is that he liked to get out and roam the mountain. We turned in some people for child abuse and 2wks later we heard gun shots on a night he got out of "yard" and we never saw him again. ((was 5/6yrs old))

Mariah - She was about 2 when we got her. She was seriously abused. Her owner thought they could beat her into being a mean fighting dog. They watched a little bit too much White Fang type movies because she was very very submissive. She came to us weighing almost 40lbs under what she should have been. She stayed shy and submissve and disliked children and men but took to my dad as an alpha. She treated my nieces like her puppies. She would actually go kill mice and ahh try and feed them. Nasty but makes for a great story. Put down due to poison. ((had her for two years)) ((mother was a wolf cub raised by a man that found it and father was a wolf husky ((story told to us by abuser not sure how real it is)

Tasha - Wolf X GSD - We rescued her from a man that was feeding her raw chicken and only raw chicken because she was part wolf :( . We had her for about six months then she came down with some serious medical problems and we had to find a new home for her that could afford the 200$ in medication and the monthly vet visits she required.

current dog: My sister owns a wolf mutt Chelsea is a Akita/Mal/GSD/Samoyed/Wolf - She lived under a deck for the first 4wks of her life. My sister took her home and she stayed unsocialized and now has some serious dog agression but other than that she is about the biggest teddy bear I have ever seen and the biggest baby. If you yell at her she POUTS and she holds some serious grudges! lmao

I have several others I could tell about but *shrugs* Those were the three we had the longest

[beyond_me]

When I was growing up we adopted a wolf hybrid. He had had a very bad home and needed a new one. They are different then regular dogs but they are very family orriented. Simba is his name and he would do anything for his family. Also he accidently breed and we kept one of the puppies and she was the best dog. I loved her so... much. The thing with wolf hybrids is that they more so own you, not you them, which I think is a pretty coo thing. :)

[little sioux]

I currently have a chow chow / wolf and he is super. He can do all kinds of tricks and is very loving to our boxer pup plus he loves kids. We are getting ready to get a female that is 75% timber arctic,tundra and mackenzie valley wolf 25% husky,malamute to breed with him. To me these dogs are great if they are brought up in a loving home. They make great pets and even better friends.
Little Sioux

[king2005]

I knew a guy who kept 2 wolves in his house. He had a baby & a wife 7 all was well. The wolves were 6+years old when they were accidently mistaken as wild wolves & shot. the farmer didn't notice their collars & when he went to remove from the field, he saw the collars & realized who they were, it was Teddy & Sarah. He was atleast nice enough to admit it was him & returned the bodies to the owner

[howl4metok]

Not to step on anybodies toes here, but in my humble opinion, breeding wolfdogs is just plain wrong.
I know everyone thinks they'll be better and more responsible than everyone else out there, but when push comes to shove thats never the case. Teekon came from a very reputable breeder, but when his owner had to move on his first birthday, the breeder agreed to take him back under only one condition: either the owner dropped him at the vet to be euthanized, or she would shoot him the day he was delivered to her door.
He got lucky, he was rescued.
Tikaani's owners loved the idea of having a wolfdog. They kept their labs in the house while Tikaani lived in a small kennel outside. No walks, no bed. When they got bored with her they abandoned her at a boarding kennel because the overpriced breeding facility refused to take her back since she'd already been spayed. A spayed dog is worthless to them.

Taku was released in the suburbs of Chicago, left to fend for himself and live in pain with a severe condition called Perianal fistula. He got real lucky, normally standard procedure in any shelter is to destroy a wolfdog or any suspected wolfdog. Luckily the Grey Wolf Rescue got him out of the hands of AC and flew him here. Our best guess, the owner couldn't afford his treatment, and being in an illegal state decided the safest thing he could do for himself was just dispose of the animal. The breeder most likely refused him back because of the PF.

Tok had been tied to a tree. His owner thought he was neat enough, but the "wolf" stigma left her too afraid of him to interact with him or let him in the house. He was tied up in alaska year round at the end of a chain. Living in his own filth and nothing but an old wooden box for shelter.
His breeder never returned phone calls.

I can go on and on with other fosters we've had, and countless others in rescue that I've worked with.

In 2000, there were an estimated 300,000 wolfdogs (not including captive pure wolves) in rescue. Beleive me, that number has gone up since.
Sanctuaries continure to pop up all over the country, and ALL are currently filled to capacity.

Keep in mind that many vet's need a special lisence to even treat them, and many states have banned them. Other states require a permit which costs a pretty penny. Only a handful have no legistation reguarding wolfdogs.
Federally, the rabies vaccine is NOT APPROVED FOR WOLVES AND WOLFDOGS.
Not because it doesn't work, they just refuse to approve it. What does that mean? If you can find someone to vaccinate your wolfdog for rabies, good, do it. Protect your animal as best you can. However, if ever your wolfdog should bite a person or another animal, there will be no quarrentine, no watch and wait, no "let me see your proof of vaccination". Instead there will be a court order to take that animal, have it euthanized, and have it's brain tissue tested for rabies. There are efforts to get the vaccine approved, but thus far the federal gov't predicts that such approval will make it that much easier for people to own wolfdogs. They don't want that.

Sure people can be screened, but whats to really stop them from breeding, or doing what too many other owners do. Most wolfdogs are kept as designer pets, locked up and ignored, fed food that does not meet their needs, and bragged about.
Everyday I get emails about wolfdogs and wolves who need homes. 2 out of three are listed as urgent, and so many don't make it. Before we can get to them they are destroyed, because someone didn't take the time to care for it properly.
They are a very social pack animal, and they are in fact NOT a domestic dog. They need time, they need space, they need interaction, special diets, special vets and permits. They need involved training and they need something more than a chain around the neck and an occasional bone to chew to keep them happy.
Please don't breed them. If someone wants one that bad, there are so many with excellent temperments who need homes. Contact a rescue and save a life, don't just make more.

[adiana whitewolf]

One thing that I don't agree with is the statement that wolves and dogs are the same species. They, biologically, are not. I have written several papers on the subject, and have owned several wolf hybrids in my life. Domesticated dogs, while both a part of "canis" diverged on the evolutionary tree very slightly. There is a difference in species, however slight it might be. Also, there is, in fact, a way to track wolf genes in bloodlines, as well as through protein markers that the animal itself posesses. This is only one way that wildlife biologists determine what pack an animal is from if they have to relocate it within a park or wild area. This is how vets or breeders determine the "content" of wolf in a hybrid. I actually was raised with a pure bred artic wolf ( my father rescued her as a pup from a drunken airforce pilot) and I must say, while she was nothing like a dog, she could not have been a better caretaker. She treated my sister and I like we were pups, and would have protected us with her life. Her mate was Malamute/timberwolf cross, and he was incredibly sweet as well as protective of his family, but not dangerously so. Their pups were sold to various people we knew and three of them my family members owned until they died. All of these wolf hybrids were wonderful "pets" (as far as anyone can say a hybrid is a pet)and would have saved our lives over again many times had there been a need. While I don't agree with some people owning wolf hybrids simply because they know nothing about them, or because they live in some states where they might be shot, I don't think that anyone has enough right to be critical of owning an animal they know nothing about. For instance, I know nothing about sleddogs, but I don't agree with people owning a dog built for hardwork, and for freezing temperatures in an apartment setting in a country or state that has a hot or humid climate. I know of a friend who thought she was doing her malamute a favor in the summer time and shaved him, and he died because the coat actually acts like an insulator to keep them cool. He died of heat stroke because his body couldn't handle the heat. This is also a problem with huskies, which most people who own them say are "hyperactive." No wonder, they were built to WORK. Without work, these dogs go crazy!
Wolf hybrids, few people know, actually depend on a high percentage of wolf in their breeding, otherwise they are dangerous dogs. That is why most hybrids are refered to as being 75% or higher content wolf. If a hybrid does not possess this high content in breeding they can "snap" as many refer to a dog mauling or hurting a human being for no reason, because of what some biologists believe is a conflict of instinct. Pit bulls, German sheperds (another breed which I have had the pleasure of dealing with and loved) have the same problem if they are inbred. To wrap up my rant and apologise for anyone I might have offended, I will say that my experience with wolves and hybrids alike has been nothing but pleasant; it is what lead me to want to be a wildlife biologist, and to work with the wolf program in Yellowstone. Wolves act nothing like dogs, indeed few hybrids do either, but if you are thinking of owning one, or do own one and are worried about what the animal is doing, do some research and e-mail a professional who works with the wolf adoption program out west, there are several online and they can be a real help.

[TMPF]

I am currently preparing myself to finiah my senior year in High School and then continue on to college. I know owning a wolf or Hybred is a very involved situation and requires one to learn in depth about the specific Wolf or Hybred one wishes to obtain. I do NOT plan to own a wolf in college or soon after while I will be busy getting married, going to college, finising a job, ect. I would like to start now so that when I am ready All My Wife, My wolf, and Myself can live in perfect harmony. Thank you for any information anyone can give.

Sincerely,

All4Him

PS. I have had pets all of my life. Currently I have 3 dogs 3 cats and a snake all living in my house.

[MajesticCollies]

OK, I had nothing to do with this, I was a very little kid at the time....but I am told that my aunt and uncle had a wolf/collie cross.

Thank God for the Collie Temperment. lol :D

I truly wouldn't want my kids around a wolf hybred. We all pick our breeds for the Temperment they carry and what the breed was used for in the first place.
I find it hard to believe a wolf can carry a good Temperment. But I guess you'll find many wolf hybryd owners that will disagree.

[i_luv_my_Max]

i have a wolf/dog mix.he is (i guess you would say) 25% akita ,25%chow,25% malamute and 25%timber wolf.hes the best dog ever!! hes rather huge and pure black .I love him so much its hard hearing people say all those things about them.Mebye because hes only 1 quarter wolf he dosent count but ive never had a bad experience with him. He does however (as someone has said) have wolf traits that i cannot change such as he often hunts when hes loose,and usually brings somthing home.and he is quite protective of the family. but on the upside, he is great with kids any age.i guess mebye i just got lucky with Max . In my case,i found him, so before i adopted him i had only seen his mother ,a rather small akita,chow mix so i figured he would be the same .but anyhow i just wanted to share that story with anyone who wants to hear a positive wolf/dog story. ;)

[critter crazy]

My brother in law had a 1/2 wolf and 1/2 half shepard mix, and she was the greatesT she loved everyone, including other dogs. She did however not like cats! she was also very renowned to bring something home, if she ever got loose! But she was the worlds largets sweetheart! She passed away a couple of years ago at the ripe old age of 16! R.I.P Tiko!!