wolf dogs

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

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

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.....

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

Sorry, my mistake.

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.

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.

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).]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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).]

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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).]

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.