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
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. 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.
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