wolf dogs

[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 Dogs by nature are drawn to people --- wolves by nature are very withdrawn from people.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!

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.

**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!
Only people that know 100% what they are doing should ever have a wolfdog!!

Here's Phoenix and I a few years ago:

He's a HUGE baby, she's recently taught him to rollover!!
Here he is with my hubby.


This is Phoenix with Harley (she's camera shy)


Here's Phoenix playing with a friend's wolf pup.


Phoenix is 80% wolf and Harley is 75% the puppy in the picture is Ronan, he is pure wolf.

[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 )

[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.