the WolfDog is one of the most misunderstood animals in existence today. A WolfDog is defined as a dog with recent wolf ancestry, usually one of the Northern/Spitz or Shepherd breeds.
A High Content WolfDog is is one with a parent or grandparent that is a Wolf. A Low Content WolfDog is is one with wolf ancestry further back in the line.
Due to increasing popularity and much misinformation these animals are suffering and falling through the cracks because they are special needs animals. The high level of commitment, time, money and special attention nessecary to responsibly own a WolfDog is is quite honestly beyond most people. A WolfDog is likely to be a sixteen plus year commitment involving special licensing in some places, special enclosure requirements, innate knowledge of wolf behavior, the ability to deal with the fear that surrounds these creatures and much much more.
Section One: What makes a WolfDog?
When learning about WolfDogs one will run into claims that:
"WolfDogs are dangerous. They should not ever be pets."
"WolfDogs are just like any other dog. Sweet as can be."
In reality the truth is that BOTH claims can be true. Genetic variation is a difficult thing to predict.
No matter what anyone tells you..a Wolf does not behave like a Dog. Wolves have had millenia of natural selection behind them telling their instincts that humans are not to be trusted, that humans must be feared and run from. A full Wolf will not often readily approach any human. If a human approaches a full blooded adult Wolf, that animal will most likely either
A. Run Away.
B. Go on the defensive.
These behaviors are ingrained. They can be modified somewhat through removing a wolf pup from its mother at birth and carefully handraising it. Even this is no guarantee. Instinct is a powerful force in the mind of an animal and is based in genetics. Wolves are typically very intelligent and sensitive animals.
A Dog on the other hand has had centuries of selective breeding telling their instincts that humans are givers of food, warmth and comfort. A full blooded Dog will more often than not readily and happily approach and interact with humans.
There are physical differences as well. A Wolf's head is proportionally larger in relation to its body than a Dog's. Wolf ears are smaller than a dog's, always stand erect and have a layer of dense fur. Dog ear size and carriage vary and lack the dense fur of the Wolf. Another difference is to be found in Black animals. A Black Wolf's coat may fade significantly with age to grey on larger proportions of the body. This is not typical of Black Dogs. Female Wolves only have one estrus period a year and a Male Wolf is only fertile when the female is. Female dogs have two and sometimes more cycles and males are consistenly fertile.
What this means is that when you cross a Wolf with a Dog you are going to get a random selection of wildly different physical and mental characteristics, ranging from exactly like a Wolf to exactly like a Dog or somewhere in between.
Content is a general guideline. The more Wolf ancestry in an animals background the more likely it is to be Wolf like. And Wolves make terrible, dangerous pets. The more Dog ancestry in an animals background the more likely it is to be Dog like. Dogs make wonderful pets....but this general guidline is no guarantee. You can have low content Hybrids who appear Dog like and yet behave exactly as a Wolf would. You can have a high content Hybrid that looks exactly like a Wolf and behaves just like a dog. Or infinite variations on this theme.
Stay tuned for Section Two: Buyer Beware!!!!!!!
A High Content WolfDog is is one with a parent or grandparent that is a Wolf. A Low Content WolfDog is is one with wolf ancestry further back in the line.
Due to increasing popularity and much misinformation these animals are suffering and falling through the cracks because they are special needs animals. The high level of commitment, time, money and special attention nessecary to responsibly own a WolfDog is is quite honestly beyond most people. A WolfDog is likely to be a sixteen plus year commitment involving special licensing in some places, special enclosure requirements, innate knowledge of wolf behavior, the ability to deal with the fear that surrounds these creatures and much much more.
Section One: What makes a WolfDog?
When learning about WolfDogs one will run into claims that:
"WolfDogs are dangerous. They should not ever be pets."
"WolfDogs are just like any other dog. Sweet as can be."
In reality the truth is that BOTH claims can be true. Genetic variation is a difficult thing to predict.
No matter what anyone tells you..a Wolf does not behave like a Dog. Wolves have had millenia of natural selection behind them telling their instincts that humans are not to be trusted, that humans must be feared and run from. A full Wolf will not often readily approach any human. If a human approaches a full blooded adult Wolf, that animal will most likely either
A. Run Away.
B. Go on the defensive.
These behaviors are ingrained. They can be modified somewhat through removing a wolf pup from its mother at birth and carefully handraising it. Even this is no guarantee. Instinct is a powerful force in the mind of an animal and is based in genetics. Wolves are typically very intelligent and sensitive animals.
A Dog on the other hand has had centuries of selective breeding telling their instincts that humans are givers of food, warmth and comfort. A full blooded Dog will more often than not readily and happily approach and interact with humans.
There are physical differences as well. A Wolf's head is proportionally larger in relation to its body than a Dog's. Wolf ears are smaller than a dog's, always stand erect and have a layer of dense fur. Dog ear size and carriage vary and lack the dense fur of the Wolf. Another difference is to be found in Black animals. A Black Wolf's coat may fade significantly with age to grey on larger proportions of the body. This is not typical of Black Dogs. Female Wolves only have one estrus period a year and a Male Wolf is only fertile when the female is. Female dogs have two and sometimes more cycles and males are consistenly fertile.
What this means is that when you cross a Wolf with a Dog you are going to get a random selection of wildly different physical and mental characteristics, ranging from exactly like a Wolf to exactly like a Dog or somewhere in between.
Content is a general guideline. The more Wolf ancestry in an animals background the more likely it is to be Wolf like. And Wolves make terrible, dangerous pets. The more Dog ancestry in an animals background the more likely it is to be Dog like. Dogs make wonderful pets....but this general guidline is no guarantee. You can have low content Hybrids who appear Dog like and yet behave exactly as a Wolf would. You can have a high content Hybrid that looks exactly like a Wolf and behaves just like a dog. Or infinite variations on this theme.
Stay tuned for Section Two: Buyer Beware!!!!!!!
